Jomart

Hi, I'd like to drive up for a week to see relatives in Toronto via Buffalo first week or second week of March but wanted to ask your input on driving conditions, distance, driving scenery, border crossing time and issues, since will be with the wife and kid. How far is Niagara and is it open or nice to visit this time of year? We enjoy scenic drives of any sort being bored with the flatness of Texas so any suggestions are welcome. How about Windsor which I heard is like Atlantic City? Any tips on travel with a two year old on the road will be most welcome. Thank you!

Gavin

Niagara Falls is always open! If you are crossing at Buffalo I would suggest that after you cross the Peace Bridge into Canada that you leave the highway at the first exit and make your way back to the Niagara River. Follow the Niagara River Parkway downstream (north) to the falls. It is a very nice drive. You can park well above the falls for free and walk or very close and pay. There is a casio at Niagara Falls if that appeals to you. From the city of Niagara Falls you can get back on the QEW and head straight to Toronto if time is short or continue along the Parkway downstream and view the Niagara gorge at various view points, quite impressive. The Parkway continues to the pretty town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. It is about 90 minutes to Toronto from Niargara Falls. It is mostly 6 lanes and fairly busy. Very busy at rush hour.

Nobody knows what the weather will be like in March yet. Most likely it will be fine on any given day. Obviously it will be colder than Texas. The possibility of a snowstorm cannot be excluded. In that event you (and everybody) should be cautious about driving.

You can check current "border wait times" by searching those words in Google to find the Canadian Border Services page of that name. As I write this the longest posted wait at any border crossing is 10 minutes. Most are "No Delay". Be sure that all of you have proper documentation to cross the border.

starfish1

Hi Jomart, March is not the greatest month here for scenery. Pretty bleak and the weather can be unpredictable. Niagara region will not be in its glory either, except for the falls which are spectacular anytime. This whole region can be so beautiful from May to October - any chance you can change your dates? You would be much happier about having made the trek. Also, the only similarity between Windsor and Atlantic City is the Windsor Casino. Definitely not a part of Ontario one would go out of their way to visit - no offence to any Windsorites but I wouldn't even stop there if it was on my way. It's a border town - enough said.

kodi

If you have a choice , come through Buffalo and see Niagara rather than Windsor. I agree totally with starfish. There is NO reason to see Windsor. Also the drive from Windsor to Toronto is very flat and boring.
At least at Niagara , you can see the falls and surrounding area. Follow Gavin's advice and follow the Niagara Parkway along to NIagara on the Lake. From there you will be on a major highway though, but at least it's only for an hour or a bit more. Try to avoid coming into the city at rush hour.

I think Niagara is always nice to visit. If you haven't seen the falls, they area beautiful at any time of the year.
Although there is a risk of snow, the highways are kept in pretty good shape. Even if you had to sit it out for a few hours til the plows go through, you'll be ok.
The border crossing shoulnd't take that long. Usually just a few minutes unless you hit a really busy time on the weekend.

Timlin

I can only add that you need to be certain you have complete identification papers on your 2 year old. You may have trouble taking a baby that age out of the country without proof that you are the legal parents. If you are only one parent be sure you have a letter from the other parent with you.

In Canada you cannot carry a gun in your vehicle.....keep that in mind.

If the weather turns bad holiday for a day where ever you are. The roads clear quickly at that time of year so you wouldn't be held up long.

Jomart

Thank you to everyone for your advise and input. Yes, both parents will be traveling w/ baby (and no guns either-we carry that only in TX--haha) and unfortunately those dates are about fixed for us based on the relatives' plans. We are eager to visit up there and am sure it is much more beautiful than down here in TX. Best regards to everyone.

BAK

How are you getting to Canda from Texas?
Vast numbers of Torontonians spend the winter in Florida, and the route south depends in large part on the time of the year.

When I used to do this a lot, it was via Detroit, Toledo, Interstate 75.

The idea was to stay on flat land (Ohio) in the northn USA, instead of being on mountain roads through Pennsylvania, in oprder to avoid snow and ice in mountains.

Coming back in the spring, if we were late enough (mid-April)we'd come north tghorugh the mountains, hitting Lake Erie at Erie, PA.

If you come up 75, you can still turn east along the south shore of Lake Erie, through Cleveland and Erie and Buffalo.

BAK

Jomart

Hi,

We're gonna fly in either to Buffalo or Detroit from Texas then drive to Toronto (not yet sure which city to fly into but we've not been to both either). Based on replies here, I am inclined to take Buffalo instead and skip Windsor altogether (not big gamblers anyways.) We only get to spend a week in Toronto as well on this first trip, so wanted to maximize the drive time while sneaking in some nice sights along the way if any... from the advise posted here looks like Niagara (and its Parkway) is a winner! We also will be flying back up to visit Toronto for sure in August for a big wedding so this March, will be our "scouting trip" so to speak. I have been reading up also on Montreal (Quebec) and it looks beautiful too-- have a lot of planning to do. Thanks again for all your advise folks- we really appreciate your taking the time to help us out!

starfish1

Hi Jomart, good decision to fly into Buffalo - although neither it or Detroit is anything special - it does get you closer to the Niagara region. As Gavin said, make sure you take in Niagara on the Lake, maybe even stay there if you have a night to spare. It really is a beautiful spot. Glad you can return in August - Toronto is really much nicer then. Also, you can't go wrong with either Montreal or Ottawa to include in that trip. Happy travels!

BAK

We do have airports in Canada, with direct service from Texas. Compare your prices, and you may find the price is good, and life is easier.

It's easy to take a day in a rental car and leave Toronto in the morning, have your fill of Niagara Flls, visit Niagra on the Lake, have a really nice dinner there, and be back in Toronto by bedtime.

But if you want to stay within the USA while flying, Buffalo is the only airport that makes sense, unless you find some carrier that flies in Niagara Falls, NY. Detroit is a long, boring, inconvenient drive away.

BAK