9orange9

Hello,

I curious to know from people who have visited Niagara Falls (Canadian Side) what they feel the place is lacking in terms of type of businesses to make it an overall better experience. Personally I think if there were some high quality bakeries or a decent educational children’s museum in the tourist area it would improve the overall visitor experience.

I’m asking not only for curiosity but also for possible business ideas…

LJ

Maybe better (non-hotel-dining-room) restaurants? I am pretty sure you still have to go to NOTL if you want to eat elegantly.

toedtoes

Fewer people telling everyone that it's a waste of time and a 1/2 day is enough to "experience" it.

The only thing I'd suggest is getting rid of the "American chains" like Planet Hollywood and putting some independent restaurants in their places.

Other than that, I love Niagara Falls as it is.

As for your ideas, I don't think a bakery would have made much of a difference to my experience. A children's museum would be OK, but I'd rather see a real indepth museum dedicated to the history of the falls - perhaps with dioramas of the falls through the ages, showing the creation, man-made destruction, and "re-beautification" of the region.

irecommend

For me the bakery option would be a good one.

We went to Niagara on the lake and drove up the parway wanting to hava a picnic lunch, We had cheese, and wine but wanted to pick up some bakery itemas and knew there were "farm market/ with bakeries along the parkway.
We stopped at every single one and they really had nothing in their baking areas.

If marketed correctly I think a good bakery along with freshly made sandwiches could work very well.

QueScaisJe

I second the vote for more good restaurants in Niagara Falls. It seems that the volume of the tourist trade allows restauranteurs to just go through the motions while charging thru the nose.

So that being said, we were in town last month and had a very nice dinner at the AG restaurant. It is in the Sterling Hotel & Spa. Expensive, but very good, especially considering the other limited options available. The 17 Noir (in the Fallsview Casino) is much poorer value by comparison.

anatoleschadenfreude

A better quality tourist would make it "better" altho I would not favour that. I have watched tasteful, upscale, good quality shops go to of business there for 30 years. Every one of them had been warned by other merchants "Ya gotta sell T-shirts - nothing else makes money here - just t-shirts." You cannot combat bad taste which is the ONLY taste today. Just look at the crowds covered in tattoos and cheap silver jewellery and metal things sticking out their faces, and of course, all dressed in solid black even at the peak of summer.

anatoleschadenfreude

Apologies - above should read "go out of business for 30 years..." If you are thinking of starting a business in NF, think again. Very bad idea. I have never seen business there this bad.

knickerbocker

What would make NF better? A recognition on the part of all non-NFers as to just how majestic the Falls themselves are. I think that in this day and age, we take the majesty of the Falls for granted and seeing them from edge of the precipice first seems to diminish just how small we are in the great scheme of things.

It wasn't until a few years ago that I took the Maid of the Mist and accepted just how small and easily-crushed I am by the forces that are the Horseshoe Falls. We think ourselves grand but as individuals? Ah! That resets your perspective some

sdtravels

Nothing. We just got back last night, and it was a fabulous trip. I'll do a trip report separately..

Judyrem

I agree with SD travels, nothing beats the Falls.....OOoooh I LOVE the Falls! They make me so happy and content. They mesmerize me. We are going next week with a stop in NOTL and Toronto.

garyt22

If I had unlimited resources, I would build a large indoor food court with a central atrium eating area and international food choices... French Bakery... Bistro... Eastern European...Indian... Sushi... you get the idea... There are SOOO many international visitors looking to eat and millions of Canadian and American tourists that love international food.....

I would call it the International MarketPlace and also feature music, theatre and shops with imported products....

No Chains, no Junk, No T-shirts!

Judyrem

Gary, I agree...no junk, no chains no t-shirts. I like your concept on the Food court.

anita63

REASONABLY priced anything.

I miss the pre-casino days when NF was a deal. Sigh...