Niagara Falls with kids/discounts?
 

Besides the AAA deals, is there a good source for coupons, discounts etc for major tourist attractions with kids...June...Niagara Falls?
Have any thoughts about the BEST time of day/week to enjoy attractions and reduce the wait time on lines etc.?

Any tips on where to eat - avoiding tourist trap prices and poor food/service?

THANK YOU.
SG

hi mrs go,
I've been getting emails from the Entertainment book people lately saying they're selling off this year's book for $9.99. If I remember correctly, the Toronto book had quite a few Niagara Falls coupons in it. If you can get one before you come, at $9.99 it would pay for itself with one or two uses. If there are a lot of you, you might even consider buying two. I wish I'd bought one this year -- I'd gladly pass along my NF coupons. I'll ask my friends and sisters if any of them have it.

How old are the kids? If they're anything over the age of toddlers, you really should take them for a ride on the Maid of the Mist. Where are you coming from?

Check out the Adventure Pass at the Niagara Parks website: www.niagaraparks.com

Depending on how much you do, you can save a fair amount of money. One trick is to arrange the activities by how far from the falls they are located. All the ones further away do on the same day and use the free People Mover coupon that day - that will give you all day transportation when you need it.

The pass provides you with a timed ticket for Journey Behind the Falls, Butterfly Conservatory and White Water Walk - use them so you don't worry about missing something.

An example is:

Day 1 -

In morning get timed ticket for JBTF for afternoon, then head straight to Maid of the Mist for an early trip. After MOTM, take a leisurely stroll towards Table Rock enjoying the view. Then do JBTF. Then head to Clifton Hill to do some "tacky midway" activities.

Day 2 -

In morning get the People Mover pass and stop along the way doing:

White Water Walk
Whirlpool Aero Car
picnic lunch at Niagara Glen
Butterfly Conservatory
Sir Adam Beck 2 Generating Station
Floral Clock

head back the other way past the falls and see the Floral Showhouse

Day 3 - walk over Rainbow Bridge to the US side and take the Scenic Trolley ($2 for the day) to Goat Island, take a leisurely stroll, have a picnic lunch, then do Cave of the Winds. Do some more explorations of Goat Island and the Three Sisters Islands and then head back over Rainbow Bridge.

On any Friday or Sunday night, find a spot on the grass between MOTM and Table Rock and sit back and watch the fireworks.

Day 4 - take a leisurely drive along the parkway to Niagara on the Lake visiting some of the historical sites along the way.

Day 5 - Marineland.

Day 6 - head the opposite direction from day 4 and visit Old Fort Erie.

There's also the US version at www.niagarafallsstatepark.com.

For eating, Tim Hortons and Swiss Chalet offer good fare. Boston Pizza is on Clifton Hill and you can get a single size pizza for $10 - it was big enough to feed a woman and a small child. If you do picnics for lunch, you can cut costs enough that dinners don't seem so bad (or do a picnic dinner and eat out at lunch when prices may be lower).

Hope that helps.

Great Itinerary toedtoes!... the only addition I could offer are the Whirlpool jet boats... thats a full and great tour!

goddesstogo - Great idea on the Entertainment Book! I love mine here in Orlando but never thought about buying one for a trip elsewhere. I too am looking for discounts in Toronto and Niagara. However, FYI fellow Fodorites, I have checked and they are sold out for this area on EntertainmentBook.com. Just found it on EBay though!

I just sent an email to everyone I know who might have one. I'll let you know.

I just checked Entertainment.com and it's true that the Toronto book is sold out but it seems like the Buffalo and Hamilton books are still available for $9.99 and they're equally likely to have NF coupons in them.

mrs go,
I'm going to have some coupons for you. When are you going? I can mail them to you.

You are amazing!!! Thank you! Thank you!

Leonard Goodman
59 Main Street, Suite 203
West Orange, NJ 07039
USA

SG

I have to pick them up from a couple of friends but I'll get them in the mail asap. If I mail them before the end of this week, will you get them in time?

Mrsgo - may I suggest that you ask the editors to delete the post with your address. Otherwise it will be posted out here on the internet forever - and you may find a time when you don't want it accessible.

you can go ahead and delete it, mrsgo. I've copied it for myself.

Unfortunately, there were no NF coupons in the book but I have some good Toronto savings for you. I'll put them in the mail tomorrow.

Dear goddesstogo, Your letter arrived today and we are very grateful for your kindness! Not to worry about our address on the internet because it is not our home address...just a convenient pick-up place. We hope someone spoils you soon too! Hopefully, we can return the favor if you ever travel to NYC. SG

Darn! We were just in NYC a couple of weeks ago! Oh, well, next time then.

Have a wonderful time, mrsgo, and write a nice trip report about my city.