Besides Maid of the Mist and Journey behind the Falls, what else is not to be missed? Has anyone stayed at the hotels that offer the 2 nite deals? Is there any special recommendations for someone traveling single? I plan to fly into Toronto, rent a car, then drive to NF, once there should I stick to public transportation/tours or drive my vehicle? I've reasearched this on the net and would now like personal opinions. Thanks

I enjoyed the falls for about 30 minutes and am glad I went. The rest is pretty touristy. I like you flew into Toronto and drove down.
We then went to Niagara on the Lake and a fabulous time. The flowers and lawns were so green and beautiful that I think it was one of the most beautiful places I had been. The town is very charming and touristy in the Carmenl kind of way. The theater there is great, we saw a production of Foggy ?? and it was wonderful, though the tickets are hard to find.
There are a lot of attractive B&Bs in the area of NF and the Lake.

Well, we couldn't get enough of the Falls. I thought 30 minutes would do it, but I really hated to leave and we're going back to NOTL for a week in June. No need to drive (and there's very limited parking) in Niagara Falls. You can walk to many things and take the People Mover to everything else. I highly recommend the Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens. We loved the Maid on the Mist. Be sure anything you don't want to get soaked is tucked in. Not to be missed is Niagara-on-the-Lake. We attended Lady Windermere's Fan last fall and it was outstanding. The Shaw Festival has a website: www.shawfest.com. You can purchase tickets on the web or call the 800 number. They'll mail the tickets, or you can pick them up when you arrive (this way you don't have to remember to bring them with you). We stayed at the South Landing Inn in Queenston (about halfway between the Falls and Niagara on the lake). Very nice, moderate prices. There are lots of wonderful places to stay in NOTL (www.niagaraonthelake.com).

Hi Fran ... Previous post recommendations were great, but in addition to those, you might want to include a stop at Casino Niagara. The former Maple Leaf Village has been converted into a 3-story casino. This is also home to The Hard Rock Cafe.

We've stayed at the Holiday Inn by the Falls (directly behind Skylon Tower) on 2-nite packages a few times and never experienced any problems. I think most hotel packages are based on double occupacy however.

The Greenhouse is definitely worth a stop,as is the Cave of the Winds tour underneath the Falls. Niagara On The Lake shouldn't be missed if you're in the area.

Drive time between Toronto and NF should be about 1-1/2-2 hrs, depending on traffic and roadwork.

Enjoy your trip.

A favorite of ours and all our visitors is a stop to walk out on the Three Sisters Islands off Goat Island on the American Side. You can walk to the water's edge and have a fantastic view of the rapids. Very non-commercial.

Fran,

when I went to Niagra about 8 years ago, I went to the "Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum". What a hoot! Yes, touristy, but thought it was fun and wierd all at the same time. Have fun!
Michelle

The Canadian side is much more beautiful and cleaner than the American side. At Niagara Falls you would not need a car; HOWEVER, there is much more to do outside of the falls that I would highly recommend. At the Falls make sure you visit the greenhouse right by the Falls but much better is the Niagara School of Horiculture and the Butterfly Conservatory at the other end. The rose gardens are amazing! Not too many people know about this place and it is quite peaceful in a congested tourist town. The casino is O.K.-I have gone twice and pumped $20 in a machine each time without a single quarter coming back to me. The only people I know to have won sat at one machine for a long time and spent considerable in order to get a large payout. Niagara has a wonderful wine country and the neat part is you can drive the back roads from N.F. to Niagara on the Lake and stop from winery to winery along the way. Nigara on the Lake is one of my favorite places on earth. The small boutiques, romantic atmosphere, excellent theater and wonderful food make it so nice. Try the Angel Inn for traditional English Pub food and ale. It is very old and the bacon wrapped scallops, fish and chips, and Shepard's Pie are to die for. When in NOTL make sure you buy scones at the bakery then head over to Graves for some of the best jams and preserves around. The apricot is my favorite. When at one of the wineries ask one of the locals for directions to the Avondale Dairy for some fantastic ice cream in unusual flavors. It is a little hard to find but worth the trip. Once there, you are a hop-skip and a jump from the Welland Canal. It is fascinating to watch to the large cargo ships from all over the world pass through the locks. Local children throw the foriegners fruit in exchange for coins from their countries.

Spend time in Niagara on the Lake--delightful town, lots of pastries (our weakness) and walk about the parks. At Niagara Falls we stayed at the Sheraton Falls View---what a view from our window, incredible. We were fascinated b the falls, watched the sunrise and set, felt the rumbling vibrations, held hot chocolate to warm our hands when we visited last fall.

Fran, as a native Buffalonian, I can honestly tell you that you should not overlook the American side of the falls.
Yes, stay on the Canadian side - safer, cleaner, tackier, and a great view of the falls. At least take a hop over to the NY side and check out Three Sisters Island and Goat Island. You will view the lower Niagara River, the rapids, and the top of Niagara Falls in a way that cannot be accomplished in Canada. Most days, these places are empty - but breathtaking!!! Tourists get so caught up in the "trappings" of the Canadian side that they never even know these places exist.

Also, if time permits, visit Old Fort Niagara in Lewiston, New York. Only about a 15 minute drive from the falls. The fort is in its' original condition, dating from the French and Indian War, through the Revolution and the War of 1812. A beautiful piece of history that is, like the American Falls, greatly overlooked by a vast majority of tourists. It sits on the mouth of the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario, directly across from Niagara On The Lake on the Canadian side. Do I sound like a travel brochure????? Have fun.

Fran,
My boyfriend and I spent 3 nights at the Falls in April. We stayed at the Skyline Foxhead. I suggest that you avoid this hotel due to construction. We were awoken each morning at 7:30a.m. by hammering and men yelling to each other in the halls.
On a brighter side, I do suggest that you go to the American side (either walk the bridge or drive) and go to Goat Island. You get a close up view of the Falls from there. Also the Maid of the Mist seems less crowded on the American side. We got right on.
We drove to the American side because we did not realize how short a walk it is accross the bridge. If you have "walkin' shoes" and like exercise then I suggest that you walk aroud Niagara Falls NY and ON.
We ate lunch at the Skylon Tower and had a marvelous time! The view is fantastic!
We ate dinner one night at the Brock Hotel next to the casino. The view was wonderful and they had the lights on the Falls. The summer hours for the "illumination", as they call it, are: May 1- Aug 23 9pm-midnight. It is really pretty and well worth getting a good view for.
The Brock Hotel ( sister hotel to the Foxhead) is an historic hotel. Marilyn Monroe stayed there while filming the movie "Niagara". You can stay in the room she stayed in if you ask.
I hope this helps.
Kittie