Niagara Falls on Canadian side with teen boy
Apr 21st, 2006, 09:25 AM
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Niagara Falls on Canadian side with teen boy
My husband, 15 year old son and I are planning to visit the falls on the Canadian side the end of June for a few days. I had a couple questions and then looking for any feedback on other things to do or see.
I have points that I could use for the Hilton, but the reviews are not great on Trip Advisor. Anyone have any feedback?
I saw that there is a Paramount amusement park outside of Toronto. Has anyone ever been there? Feedback?
Other than the falls and the boat tour - any other suggestions? I think I saw there is an aquarium near by? Thanks!!!
I have points that I could use for the Hilton, but the reviews are not great on Trip Advisor. Anyone have any feedback?
I saw that there is a Paramount amusement park outside of Toronto. Has anyone ever been there? Feedback?
Other than the falls and the boat tour - any other suggestions? I think I saw there is an aquarium near by? Thanks!!!
Apr 21st, 2006, 12:05 PM
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Sometimes I feel sorry for people traveling with teenagers. I was in new York once and saw a father, all excited at showing his son the Big Apple, and the kid was just a dolt.
So, who's to say?
Assuming a good kid, skip the amusement park. There are amustment parks all over the place, and a roller coaster is a roller coaster.
Niagra Falls is next door to Niagara on the Lake. NF is a city, and the waterfall is right downtown. It's worth looking at, and the Maid of the Miost Boat Tour at the bottom of the falls is great, too. You get the spray all over you.
Science meets nature, etc.
Further downriver, science meets nature meets adventure; take a jet boat ride in the rapids downriver from the falls. If he's an adverturesome teen, he'll love this.
In Niagara on the Lake, which is a tourist town downriver from the city of Niagara Falls, there's live theatre, feeturing George Bernard Shaw. Again, we're stuck, not knowing the boy. My daughter enjoyed plays, and now she's a singer. My young boy would love a play, perhaps even more than his Gameboy.
Wineries in NotL have tours. AGain, science meets nature, and there's lots of interestingthings to see if this is the kind of kid who watches the Discovery Channel for anything other than American Chopper.
African Lion Safari, near Niagara Falls, has a great waterpark, and excellent opportunities to see animals. If the boy is a photographer, he'll enjoy this place, too. Bring bathing suits.
Toronto has lots of interesting things for teenagers and their parents -- again, depending on the kid. I watched a boy about 15, obviously from out of town, with his father in a Starbucks inside a book store this morning. Looked really bored, but as i was leving he was down by the magzine racks, where there was a huge selection. Maybe more than at home of the kinds of magzzines that interet him.
Is the kid into cars? Depending on wwhere you come from, he may be able to see some cars here that he can't find at home. I was passed by a yellow Viper on my way to that Starbucks this morning; passed an Astom Martin DB9 yesterday on my way home from the train station. Passed a Bentley --just like I "drive" when I play X-Box Forza with my 11 year old -- the day before.
Oh, and for adults... I figure you'll like the same stuff the boy does.
Hockey fan? Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. General sports fan? Tour of Rogers Center (used to be SkyDome) in Toronto, where the Blue Jays play.
For that matter, go to a baseball game. I sometimes get given the cheapest tickets, and even these are pretty good.
Toronto to Niagara Falls, or the other way, is about a two hour drive, max.
Big casinos in Niagara FAlls, but no kids allowed.
Excellent butterfly conservatory in Niagara Falls; some boys love nature and others do not. Great public greenhosues, but even fewer boys like these.
BAK
So, who's to say?
Assuming a good kid, skip the amusement park. There are amustment parks all over the place, and a roller coaster is a roller coaster.
Niagra Falls is next door to Niagara on the Lake. NF is a city, and the waterfall is right downtown. It's worth looking at, and the Maid of the Miost Boat Tour at the bottom of the falls is great, too. You get the spray all over you.
Science meets nature, etc.
Further downriver, science meets nature meets adventure; take a jet boat ride in the rapids downriver from the falls. If he's an adverturesome teen, he'll love this.
In Niagara on the Lake, which is a tourist town downriver from the city of Niagara Falls, there's live theatre, feeturing George Bernard Shaw. Again, we're stuck, not knowing the boy. My daughter enjoyed plays, and now she's a singer. My young boy would love a play, perhaps even more than his Gameboy.
Wineries in NotL have tours. AGain, science meets nature, and there's lots of interestingthings to see if this is the kind of kid who watches the Discovery Channel for anything other than American Chopper.
African Lion Safari, near Niagara Falls, has a great waterpark, and excellent opportunities to see animals. If the boy is a photographer, he'll enjoy this place, too. Bring bathing suits.
Toronto has lots of interesting things for teenagers and their parents -- again, depending on the kid. I watched a boy about 15, obviously from out of town, with his father in a Starbucks inside a book store this morning. Looked really bored, but as i was leving he was down by the magzine racks, where there was a huge selection. Maybe more than at home of the kinds of magzzines that interet him.
Is the kid into cars? Depending on wwhere you come from, he may be able to see some cars here that he can't find at home. I was passed by a yellow Viper on my way to that Starbucks this morning; passed an Astom Martin DB9 yesterday on my way home from the train station. Passed a Bentley --just like I "drive" when I play X-Box Forza with my 11 year old -- the day before.
Oh, and for adults... I figure you'll like the same stuff the boy does.
Hockey fan? Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. General sports fan? Tour of Rogers Center (used to be SkyDome) in Toronto, where the Blue Jays play.
For that matter, go to a baseball game. I sometimes get given the cheapest tickets, and even these are pretty good.
Toronto to Niagara Falls, or the other way, is about a two hour drive, max.
Big casinos in Niagara FAlls, but no kids allowed.
Excellent butterfly conservatory in Niagara Falls; some boys love nature and others do not. Great public greenhosues, but even fewer boys like these.
BAK
Apr 21st, 2006, 12:43 PM
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We went to the Niagra Falls with our kids 14, 10, and 7 about 8 times in the past 3 years. We lived in Toronto for a few years and everytime someone came to visit they wanted to see the Falls.
Anyway, the Niagra Falls area is VERY, VERY, touristy. Mostly, Ripleys Belive it or Not, Wax Museum, Rainforest Cafe, Hershey Factory, etc. If you are into those things you'll be o.k., if not visit the Falls and drive to Toronto to stay. The Hilton is o.k. at the Falls I stayed there once. It has great views of the Falls but the hotel is just o.k. However,there isn't much else there to stay at that would be better.
I disagree with the BAK regarding the African Lion Safari. This IS a very cool place and another one we visited ofter (about 1 hour out of Toronto). However, the water park there is geared towards younger kids. My 15 year old wouldn't dream of using it. Unless they added something on in the past 2 years don't go for the water park. If it's a water park you want go to go to Ontario place. It is a water park on the lake and is better suited for older kids and nice for parents too.
We went to almost every possible tourist place while we lived in Toronto except the amusement park--I suspect it is like Great America. I think you'd have a better "Canadian" experience with Ontario Place.
Anyway, the Niagra Falls area is VERY, VERY, touristy. Mostly, Ripleys Belive it or Not, Wax Museum, Rainforest Cafe, Hershey Factory, etc. If you are into those things you'll be o.k., if not visit the Falls and drive to Toronto to stay. The Hilton is o.k. at the Falls I stayed there once. It has great views of the Falls but the hotel is just o.k. However,there isn't much else there to stay at that would be better.
I disagree with the BAK regarding the African Lion Safari. This IS a very cool place and another one we visited ofter (about 1 hour out of Toronto). However, the water park there is geared towards younger kids. My 15 year old wouldn't dream of using it. Unless they added something on in the past 2 years don't go for the water park. If it's a water park you want go to go to Ontario place. It is a water park on the lake and is better suited for older kids and nice for parents too.
We went to almost every possible tourist place while we lived in Toronto except the amusement park--I suspect it is like Great America. I think you'd have a better "Canadian" experience with Ontario Place.
Apr 21st, 2006, 12:54 PM
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Apr 21st, 2006, 02:42 PM
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Thanks for all of the great info. He would probably like to stay indoors in play Yu-Gi-Oh all week, but he does get into things where he has a say (not that he makes all of the decisions, but the more choices with people experiences, the better). Thanks again!
Apr 22nd, 2006, 06:34 AM
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The Clifton Hill tourist area has wax museums, the Ripley's museum, etc. Totally tacky stuff that young friends of ours enjoy just because it is, well, tacky.
Great Wolf Lodge mentioned above sounds like it would be an adventure.
Something that i always find fascinating is the Welland Canal near Thorold, a few miles from the Falls. Here you can watch ships up to 730 feet long travelling up and down the Niagara Escarpment through a series of locks.
There is an obsrvation platform and interpretive centre there. We stopped by with a couple of 14 year-olds last year and they were fascinated by the whole operation.
The jet boats are an adventure that my teen nephews would have repeated a dozen times.
cheers
Jerry
Great Wolf Lodge mentioned above sounds like it would be an adventure.
Something that i always find fascinating is the Welland Canal near Thorold, a few miles from the Falls. Here you can watch ships up to 730 feet long travelling up and down the Niagara Escarpment through a series of locks.
There is an obsrvation platform and interpretive centre there. We stopped by with a couple of 14 year-olds last year and they were fascinated by the whole operation.
The jet boats are an adventure that my teen nephews would have repeated a dozen times.
cheers
Jerry
Apr 22nd, 2006, 08:29 PM
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Let's hope the young man is like my grandson. We took a family outing overnight to Twin Falls Chalet in the Rockies. Jordan fell in love 3 times in one day: first, the scenery, second a blond his age from Edmonton,and third the chocolate cake we had for desert at the chalet. Just as I thought the young lady was about to make a comeback, Fran served seconds on the cake.
At Niagra Falls, this youngster would have had a blast.
I remember my first trip there at age 14. Incredible. And when I went back almost 60 years later, it was still incredible.
At Niagra Falls, this youngster would have had a blast.
I remember my first trip there at age 14. Incredible. And when I went back almost 60 years later, it was still incredible.
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Apr 26th, 2006, 08:45 AM
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Something else anout 40 minutes form Niagara you all might enjoy:
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (http://www.warplane.com/). My wife and I went there a couple of years ago and had a ball. She can barely stand airplane museums, yet she had a great time. I can't see a teenager not enjoying old and new planes.
Mark
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (http://www.warplane.com/). My wife and I went there a couple of years ago and had a ball. She can barely stand airplane museums, yet she had a great time. I can't see a teenager not enjoying old and new planes.
Mark
Apr 26th, 2006, 10:02 AM
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I was at the Great wolf lodge - it is amazing - and I am a jaded 62 y.o. It has a great water park and may have deals as it is so new. Right across from helicopters so kid may want to do that. There is a nice - very regular - hotel right near the falls called Michael's Inn. It is what non-giant-chain hotels looked like 20 years ago. Pleasant restaurant, free parking, handy and pleasant. Look at their website.
Apr 27th, 2006, 08:42 AM
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Theres a Hard Rock Cafe on both sides of the Border, take the Cave of the Winds tour on the US side, The Whirlpool Jet Boats are a must do, A walk up Clifton Hill is a 15 year olds dream... there is a Marineland and amusement park 3 minutes from the falls if that interests your kid.... there is also an Imax theatre, ride simulators, several major Golf Courses, and two indoor and one outdoor water parks...
Niagara on the lake may interest you and hubby but it may leave your boy out... the best course would be a drive along the Niagara parkway through the wine region on your way to the JetBoat ride... that would give you a taste of our great wine region and sonny an adventure.... be sure to dress for a wet ride and bring a change of clothes...
Niagara on the lake may interest you and hubby but it may leave your boy out... the best course would be a drive along the Niagara parkway through the wine region on your way to the JetBoat ride... that would give you a taste of our great wine region and sonny an adventure.... be sure to dress for a wet ride and bring a change of clothes...
Apr 27th, 2006, 05:41 PM
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The two tours are totally different... Cave of the Winds from Goat Island allows you to take the famous walkway and deck to the base of the American Falls and climb to the "hurricane deck"... this puts you into the charged ions of the Falls just a few feet from the rushing water... it is very wet, but extremely exciting... the Canadian side experience offers a "journey behind the Falls" and a view from behind the rushing water... both are good experiences, but theres nothing like walking right up to the Falls from below...
