We're driving to Toronto from the midwest, and the fastest route will have us going right past Niagara Falls. Our plan is to make it a very quick stop - less than an hour - just so DH can see the falls. I've been there before and he would like for us to return some day with our kids, but for now we figured it's worth a stop since we're right there anyway. It would be a Saturday morning before lunch.

1) is such a brief stop doable? (DH is starting to have doubts, though I believe it's still worth experiencing)
2) any suggestions where to park so we can walk to a good view of the falls on the Canadian side?
3) Any suggestions of routes to take? It looks like the Fort Erie border cross might be less chaotic, but is that too far out of the way?

A one hour stop will allow you to the chance to do one of the best things at the falls.... The Maid of the Mist...

... when you cross the Grand Island bridge on I-190 exit at the Robert Moses Parkway(first exit at the bottom of the bridge) follow the signs toward the Seneca Casino... just past the Casino, cross the Rainbow Bridge to Canada...

... the first right after the customs takes you down to the water... turn right and drive along the Falls following the Maid of the Mist signs.... the boats leave every 10 minutes and hold tons of people... that will be an hour well spent...

Parking is available along the center median and in public lots for a fee, but you will get a better look from the maid...

Fort Erie can be very busy on Saturday AM due to beach and cottage traffic, so it's better to cross at Niagara Falls... the Saturday AM traffic is INTO the US for shopping at the outlets... but less than 15 minutes into Canada... have fun

I'd second garyt22's suggestions. The Maid of the Mist gives you one of the best experiences of the majesty of Niagara Falls and they also are quite efficient in moving crowds through. It's also quite reasonably priced. If you can, the best view is to be had from the upper deck just in front of the wheelhouse.

As for getting to Toronto, unless you're on a mad-dash schedule I'd recommend taking Highway 8 along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment through Jordan, Grimsby and as far as Stoney Creek. It'd add maybe an hour's driving time but is a far more scenic route.

HTH
u

We always stop on our way to Toronto. The Maid of the Mist is a great idea. We have to do that some day. We just stop, walk around, see the Falls and then move on. If your husband has never seen the Falls, I think you should stop.

For your planning, allow more time than it looks for the drive from the Falls to Toronto. The Queen Elizabeth Way, Canada's first superhighway, is so heavily travelled that long traffic jams can delay you at any time of the day or night.

Thanks! I didn't realize it was such a short boat ride - great idea and terrific directions, Gary.

UTour - we were considering taking the 8 and hitting some wineries. Good to know that's a nice route.

If you want a great follow-up to the Maid... just drive along the Niagara Parkway (you are already on it when viewing the Falls) up to Niagara on the Lake... This 20 minute drive takes you through the orchards and vineyards as well as along the Niagara Gorge..

Winston Churchill once called this drive, "one of the most beautiful Sunday drives in the World"

...along the way there are several small wineries, inns, parks and homes... Reif, inniskillen, and Peller are all favorites... the drive ends in the Village of Niagara on the Lake, a small village that serves as home to the Shaw Festival, several restaurants and boutiques...

... from there you can pick-up the ride along the Lake up to Hwy 8 and Toronto... hey, you have to drive to the Lake, why not make it the best ride available?...

The Maid of the Mist ride isn't that short (going from memory but around 15-20 minutes or so; they're just pretty efficient at getting through a line of people). As for the wineries along #8, you have a really good cross-section with the Twenty Valley and Beamsville Bench. If you turn south on Lincoln Avenue in Beamsville, you have six wineries in a 2 1/2km loop that brings you back to #8; Hidden Bench, Fielding, Organized Crime, Angels Gate, Thirty Bench and Rosewood Estates [Mike Weir Wines is supposed to be taking over the former EastDell site but I'm not sure if they've done that just yet]. You can either pick up a hardcopy map at one of the Tourism Ontario centres:

Niagara Falls - northwest corner of Stanley and the 420 (N43.09632 W79.08647)
or
Welland - Toronto-bound QEW just west of Glendale (N43.16262 W79.17786)

or you can access their app at m.winecountryontario.ca

HTH
u