Marineland
 

We are visiting NOTL for 4 days in July. Can anyone let me know if Marineland is worth a visit?
Thank you

It depends - who will you be travelling with? Marineland is more geared toward families and kids. I used to go there with my family when I was a kid (grew up an hour from Niagara) and enjoyed it.

My 12 year old boy says Marineland is great for kids from six around 15.

He likes the rides now; when he was younger liked the shows.

We have a relative who teaches grade three in Niagara Falls, and she takes her kids there several times a year.

BAK

BAK

Thank you for your postings. My husband and I will be visiting with our two teenagers (17 and 19)and as this is probably the last time they will want to come on holiday with us, we want to make it as special as possible. I hadn't really considered the rides....I was more interested in the beluga and killer whales (okay...so I'm the one that really wants to go there!). If we just concentrated on the marine life would there be enough to occupy us for a day? Your responses are much appreciated.

Sorta in the same neighbourhood... African Lion Safari has a waterpark (apparently for youngr kids) and some great bird shows, plus the opportunity to drive through a wildlife park where you get very close to lots of animals.

There's jet-boatingon the Niagara River.

One the way to Toronto, in the Hamilton Beach area, there's a go-cart track.

North of Toronto is Paramount Canada Wonderland -- giant theme patrk with rides, but usually crowded and with longlines for the best rides.

We spend a lot of time at the Hamilton Airport, where The Canadian WArplane Heritage Museum is located, but my son cares deeply about military historic aircraft. We're takingone of the more senior members of his Air Cadet Squadron to themuseum on Sunday -- he's 17, but again, cares deeply about aviation.

If you are rich, the kids could go flying for about $400 each in a world war two trainer. Call in advance to make sure pilots are available.

BAK

BAK

Marineland is really geared for family's with small children. I live in the area and have taken my son there every summer. This year he said he doesn't want to go because "it's for babies" (he's 12). If you are going just to see the whales, I would not recommend it - there certainly would not be enough there to spend the day. With older teenagers, I would suggest hiking down the Niagara Gorge to the Niagara River - not a lot of visitors to the area know about this - you feel as though you are in a prehistoric world with the hugh boulders left over from the Ice Age scattered among the trails and when you walk the trail along the Niagara River you can really sense the greatness of it all.

Thank you for comments and ideas.
They are all appreciated.

MArineland is gross. I still have nightmares about it. It's all about animal abuse. The bear exhibit is disgusting. Yuk. Even my kids (who were young the time) thought it was gross. We still "laugh" about it to this day.

I tend to agree about Marineland with the above poster. I went 2 times and that was 2 times too many.

I feel that the animals are treated poorly.

The deer are in the sun all day long without shade and are constatly being chased by little children. The bears, who look sickly, are thrown corn pops by visitors.

If you can do a search of this site, I think that I posted somethiong on Marineland a long time ago. I cannot use the search function to find it for you as my Fodors site is not working properly and the search area is cut off from use by me.

Do the Maid of the Mist. It is great. Also, a nice thing to do is to rent roller blades or bikes and go along the Parkway from NOTL to the Falls.

Have fun.

Marineland is a waste of time for your teens... consider looking at the various Concert schedules for FallsView Casino...Seneca Casino, ArtPark, Darien Lake...The summer is alive with music venues and top stars in the Niagara region....

Also make sure the kids get on the Whirlpool Jetboats that leave from the NOTL Marina... they will love it!!!

Went years ago (at least 15yrs ago) with our kids and were disappointed. I felt really bad for the whales as I believe the tanks are way too small for them and I think its cruel. I vowed to never return to Marineland and I haven't.

I have family visiting from Newfoundland, arriving tomorrow who are anxious to go and they will...on Tuesday. Be curious to see what their feedback is like.

But I will never go again...once was enough!

Sadly - I agree with other posters re the conditions for the animals. I was traumatized visiting as an adult. My young niece and nephew enjoyed it, but I don't think it would hold any interest for teenagers.

If you like good food and wine you can bike to some of the vinyards and enjoy wine tastings. There are some great wineries with restaurants as well. Of course this will only be of interest to your teenagers if they are foodies, but it would make a nice family outing.