Trip to Niagara-any comments?
 

This is our first trip to Canada. We will be arriving on Friday morning & plan to do the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds and explore Goat Island. Then we'll head over & check into our hotel. We'd like to explore the Canadian side for a little while as well. After dinner, we're planning on hitting Clifton Hills (we have a 7 year old & a four year old), and then going to see the illumination of the falls & fireworks at night. Would we have time to squeeze in Niagara on the Lake as well, or should I save that for Sunday? Will we have time to do all this in one day?

Laura

Laura,
i'm not sure i understand exactly which things your trying to do on friday vs. saturday. all your plans sound great(goat island is a beautiful walk thru woods,bridges, and close to the edge-you surely wouldn't want to turn your eye away from the little ones for a second-you'll see spots where they could fall in the river and be whisked to the falls in a moment because theres no fence.)not trying to be scary but you here it all in todays world. the kids will love clifton hill-there are a lot of places suited for them. there are also some great places along the gorge on the way to niagara on the lake that warrant a stop for the view. stop at the gondola for the view even if you don't go on it. personally i'd save niagara on the lake for sunday but its do-able on saturday if your cramped for time on sunday. there is an awesome butterfly observatory on the way to n.o.t.l. as well that everyone adores that is worth 1 visit-kids love it too. are you staying on the american or canadian side?

We'll be going to Toronto for the day on Saturday. I know I've been reading a lot of posts that say not to do Toronto for a day, but that's all we have & I'm not sure when we'd get a chance to come back. We're staying at the Doubletree on the Canadian side.

With a 7 and 4 yr old I wouldn't bother with Niagara on the Lake at all. The Butterfly Conservatory would be great but the town itself has little to offer children imo.

Spend the time with them in Toronto where there are more things to do, and see. I'd spend a fun day at the Toronto Zoo before I'd spend a day in NOTL with youngsters. For me, it's wineries, shops, restaurants and patio cafes....not for kids.

Just 5-10 minutes north of the falls area on the Canadian site is the White Water Walk, which is a walkway that goes right along the whirlpool rapids. I would definitely recommend this if you have the time.