maoriqueen

HI, My husband and I are flying into NY on the 23 July. We then leave on the 5 August to fly to Los Angeles. We are staying in NY for at least 4 days and for the last week ,I have been trying to find out the best way to go to Niagara Falls, and do I stay in the Usa or go across to canada. We are from Australia and we have no idea on how to organize this trip to the best of our advantage. We also want to see Washington DC. So any help would be grateful

sf7307

Niagara Falls is very far (400+ miles) from New York City, about 7-8 hours of driving. The best way is to fly, either to Buffalo, NY or Toronto. Everyone seems to think the Canadian side is the better "falls" experience. Do a search on this forum -- this has been discussed recently.

vjpblovesitaly

You can take a bus or Amtrak to Washington, DC from NYC. I would stay at least one night.

sf7307

Oh, by contrast, Washington, DC is only 225 miles or so from New York. Best way is driving or train, but you can also fly or take the bus. Most people like the train, because you can go center-city to center-city.

vjpblovesitaly

Have you already booked your flight to LA?

Maybe you could go NYC then to Niagara via a recommended method above. You might be able to find a cheap one way flight from Buffalo to DCA (the closest airport to Washington, DC) and then fly to LA.

maoriqueen

Yes our flights are booked to LA. thanks for your replies, I had come across the discussion about the falls whilst i was looking for accommodation in Niagara. Will search and find.
will 2 days be enough for niagara and if thats the case where else would people recommend on seeing while we are in that part of the country

Rachel

2 days will be enough for Niagara Falls. 3 days is better, but 2 is better than nothing. Absolute must is a ride on the Maid of the Mist, a boat that takes you around the base of the Falls. Great on a hot day as you will get wet. You can take this boat ride from either the US or CAN side. Cave of the Winds is a great walk along the FAlls and goes behind the FAlls. Its on the US side. Goat Island is also a nice place-also on the US side. The CAN side is generally nicer, and more built up. Many hotels, nicer than the US side and 2 casinos. The US side has 1 casino. A great side trip is to Niagara On the Lake, a very quaint town with a great theater-The Shaw Festival, where many Canadian theatre stars are featured in plays from the era of Geroge Bernard Shaw. Its about 20-30 minutes away. Lots of wineries in the area also. Ice Wine is a local specialty. The town has flower lined streets, cute shops, restaruants, etc. Better restaurants and better hotels would lead me to stay on the CAN side.

hellen

With only 2 days I would definitely fly to Niagara (or more specifically to Buffalo, the closest airport) from NYC, otherwise you will spend 16 hrs on the road roundtrip, longer on the bus or train and factoring in picking up and dropping off a rental car. You will, I think, need a car once you get to Buffalo, unless you want to spend lots of $$ on cabs.

Two days, or even a day, is enough time to see NF. On the U.S. side Cave of the Winds is a must. You get so close to the falls - it's a real rush!
Most people prefer the Canada side because it's more developed, with better restaurants and hotels AND most importantly because you get a view facing the falls. On the U.S. side you're standing on the same side as the falls. So yes, do the Canadian side as well. By car, factor in an extra hour to cross the border, just in case.

You can cross the Rainbow Bridge on foot if you like (you need your passport) and go to one of the welcome center kiosks, where you can buy a ticket for the shuttle bus that goes along the waterfront if you don't want to walk or if you want to do one of the farther-off things, like the Whirlpool Aero Car, which is a cable-car over the river.

The Maid of the Mist is another must, and you can do it from the U.S. or Canada side. You WILL get wet! The Jet Boat tours look really fun, but I haven't done them. They leave from both sides as well, but I think the launch points are outside the city so you'll need a car.

As for hotels, if you want to see the falls from your room, you'll have to stay on the Canada side. On the U.S. side, I've stayed at the Seneca Niagara Casino hotel, which is nice but the (U.S.) city has zero to offer in terms of attractions and restaurants and the casino itself is smoky, though I don't gamble so it wasn't an issue for me.

You could do both the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds in a day, plus eat at a restaurant with a view of the falls in Canada, and walk along the waterfront (Canada), see the fireworks at night, all in a full day and feel you've "done" Niagara Falls!

garyt22

Do not miss the Whirlpool Jetboats in Niagara... check out www.whirlpooljet.com

nytraveler

To do Niagara FAlls as a trip from NYC you really need to fly - or take several days. It's too bad you have flights from NYC to LA, since it would make sense to do an eastern circle by air then head west. The closest sights to Niagara Falls are in Toronto - but you need to make sure your visa allows for multiple entries into the US. (And yes, the Canadian side of the Falls is much better, nicer hotels, etc.)

I think I would take a train from NYC to DC (allow at least 3 nights - 4 is better), then fly to Buffalo and get local transport into Canada. You will need 2 nights at the falls to see anything - then fly back to NYC to head west.

And if you have to choose - DC is about 10 times as interesting as the Falls - which, after all, is just a lot of water.

toledo

I spent two nights in Niagara Falls but one would have been enough. Maid of the Mist was brilliant. I suggest staying on the Canadian side, much livelier although a bit "tacky"

maoriqueen

Thanks guys now let me see if I have got this right.If we leave NY on the 27 July,fly to Buffalo, hire a car( hope it is easy to get out of Buffalo to Niagara( remember we will be driving on the wrong side of the road) find accomodation on the Canadian side of the falls, spend at least 2 nights there then drive back to Buffalo and cath a flight to DC although looking at a map should we see what Boston has to offer then fly to DC from Boston then back to NY by train to fly out on the 5 August. ALL of this traveling will be between the 27 July to the 5 August which will be 8 days. So any itinerary ideas would be much appreciated.

maoriqueen

OKay, After a bit of research the flights I checked out go to Chicago then Buffalo, so I figure we may as well stay there 2 nights, then go to Niagara stay 2 nights then maybe go to Boston and stay 2 nights. Should we catch a train to New York from Boston rather than fly?

doug_stallings

If you want to stay on the Canadian side, make sure that you can take your car into Canada. Not all companies allow this.

I'm perplexed at why you suddenly feel that both Boston and Chicago are in relative proximity to Niagara Falls. They are nowhere close (perhaps 600 miles from Niagara Falls to Chicago and then 1000 miles from Chicago to Boston).

Regarding all this traveling, I think you're crazy, but if you want to spend literally 1/3 of your waking hours over a period if 8 days in transit, more power to you. You'll be left with less than a day in each of your three destinations. I understand that some people prefer to travel that way, but I'm not one of them, especially to places that are each worth at least 3 or 4 days of your time (except for Niagara Falls, where I've never really understood the draw).

bardo1

No, no , no. Do NOT stay in Buffalo. The only reason to fly into Buffalo NY is that it is the closest major airport to Niagara Falls (and, yes, stay on the Canadian side). The drive from Buffalo Airport to Niagara Falls Canada is about 30 minutes. Renting a car is by far the cheapest, most convenient way between Buffalo Airport and Niagara Falls, ON.

As to whether to train or fly NY to Boston, it's a tough call. The express train (one-way) is about 3-1/2 hours, cost about $100/person, and goes city center to city center. A one-way flight is also about $100 (JetBlue Airlines has best deal), is a 90 minute flight but you have to get out to and in from remote airports and have to be at airport 2 hours before take-off. A taxi from center city to JFK is about $30 - taxi from Logan airport (Boston) to downtown is about $25.

All in all, I would give the edge to taking the AMTRAK train (the Acela express).

maoriqueen

cheers everyone for all your input. After taking in what people have said we have now finalised our trip. We leave NY on the 27 July for Niagara, leave on the 29 and fly to Washington and stay there until the the 4 August. Maybe if we are lucky to come back we will see Boston then.

bardo1

Sounds perfect - enjoy your trip!