I was looking at the website for the falls about Maid of Mist and Cave of the Winds and I know they are open seasonally but can't really tell when they close. If we went up in mid November what would we be able to do besides walking around the top part of the falls?

Well, November is definitely the slower season, although they do start the Festival of Lights (Christmas light displays) that month - probably late November. The spectacular flower gardens in the parklands adjacent to the falls will be done. The casinos and souvenir shops will be open, as well as indoor attractions like the Butterfly Conservatory and Wings of Paradise. If you're interested in wine, the Niagara Peninsula area of Ontario is one of Canada's top wine producing regions and most wineries offer tours and tastings - there is a self-drive "Winery Tour" brochure and map readily available. The drive down the Niagara Parkway is nice (although will be less picturesque if the leaves are off the trees). The Parkway ends at the nearby historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake which is pretty and quaint, with many preserved Victoria Inns and homes. The main street is lined with specialty shops and restaurants.

sorry, should have clarified my post a bit. We'll be traveling w/ teens (19 and 17) so wine tour is out. Falls would be the big attraction.

The area does slow down that time of year but there is still plenty to do. The Maid of the Mist looks as though its final sailing is the end of October. However the Festival of Lights begins November 4th this year with a light show and usually a daily evening parade which may or may not run this year.
Here are some websites about upcoming events in the city and environs.
http://www.cliftonhill.com/events/ni...falls/2006/11/
http://www.10best.com/Niagara_Falls/...p;_Activities/
By the way, here in Ontario the legal drinking age is 19 so your one teen would be ok if he/she wanted to sample the wines. The wine tours referred to are just that, a tour of the wineries to see how the product is made, not a "drinking" tour. People of any age can go on these tours. We often take our 10 year old grandson to learn about the different processes and watch the wine being made from vine to bottle. It's an interesting diversion and many of the larger wineries have great restaurants which may be nice for a family lunch after a tour. Seeing how Canadian ice wine is made makes for a very interesting educational afternoon and if you want to purchase a bottle to take home for yourself it's a good chance to buy some wine that you can't buy anywhere else but the winery.
Enjoy our area,
regards
P.S. It is spelled "Niagara"

We've also got the Bills and Sabres if you like sports...

You could take an audio driving tour of the area from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake. It is a narrated tour on 2CDs that you play in your car CD player and it's like having a personal tour guide. It covers all the wonderful things about the region, including the geology, history (war of 1812) wineries, gardens, power production. There are 20 sites. Some of them are attractions that may be closed, but the tour is still worth it. You can spend time half way through in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Plenty of shops, boutiques, and restaurants.
www.cargoaudiotours.com

I "think" Maid of the Mist closes in October....probably along with a few other attractions.

Enjoy the views from both sides. The American side offers many views that are up close and personal at the brink on Goat Island. Also view the upper rapids before Goat Island.

There are all types of cheesy, but fun, things to do on the Canadian side. Wax museums, etc.

I would personally suggest Old Fort Niagara on the American side...just a few miles north of the falls on the American side.

www.oldfortniagara.org

The fort dates back to before the French and Indian War. It boasts the oldest building on the Great Lakes...The French Castle. The fort is in its' original condition. It's very beautiful and historic. It even has a nice, but small, museum. It sits directly across the lower Niagara River where it empties into Lake Ontario, just across from Niagara on the Lake, and sits within a state park. On a clear day you can see downtown Toronto.

I highly recommend it....for all ages.

November is definitely "off season," but I think you will enjoy the quiet beauty of the falls and the surrounding area.

P.S. Bring clothes for ALL types of weather. You never know what it will be like. One guarantee is that no matter what the weather is like, it will always be cooler near the falls.

Have fun!