dgkp

I apologize if there are some similar posts out there to this. I didn't see any in my quick search. Feel free to redirect me if this is addressed elsewhere.

My husband and I are taking three kids (13, 12, 9) on a quick road trip that includes two nights and one whole day in Niagara Falls (arriving the evening of Sat. 7/9, departing the morning of Mon. 7/11). We are staying in NF, Ontario both nights. My question is, since we really only have one day in Niagara Falls, and knowing it's a Sunday in July, would we be best served by booking a tour that will take us to Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds, or should we just take our chances on seeing them ourselves? My understanding is that we could avoid waiting in lines for tickets if we book a tour, but please correct me if I'm misinformed on this. Since the tours are rather pricey and we tend not to take many tours as a rule, we are leaning toward seeing them on our own, but I'm open to considering a tour if it maximizes our limited time there.

Any recommendations on this would be most appreciated! Thanks in advance.

garyt22

There are three main attractions at Niagara Falls that you should take the family to... the Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, and Whirlpool Jetboats... everything else is OK, but add looking at the Falls and you will have a complete trip...

No need to buy a bus tour, just get the USA Discover pass, and discounts will help lower the cost and add a few more attractions... keep in mind that Maid and Cave are on the US side, so you could drive back to the US, do these attractions before crossing to Canada, or if you are a walking family,walk across the Rainbow bridge and enjoy the view (make sure you have the proper ID)

The Jetboats travel from both sides of the border and are the best attraction for your kids... spend the money on this as it is a memorable experience and worth every penny... check their Website for a discount...

Lines are not a problem at Niagara, they move thousands through the attractions hourly, but you can reserve the Jetboats by time...

PS you will get wet on these attractions,so dress the family swimsuitty... have fun

If you need more info, just ask...

laverendrye

While it is true that the Maid of the Mist only runs from the US side, the long-time Canadian Maid of the Mist has been replaced by a new provider, Hornblower Niagara Cruises, so take your pick.

garyt22

Discovery Pass does not include Hornblower...

dgkp

Thanks for the helpful advice. It affirmed my hunch that a tour isn't necessary.