am planning a family drive from Richmond to Niagara Falls next summer. is mid July a good time? I like the route of 219 (?) through MD, PA and NY. I love finding small towns with neat restaurants, the local faves, not touristy. I realize we can make it in a day, but is there any town worthwhile stopping over either way? Where is a good place to stay, Canada or NY side with 3-4 teens and 2 parents? Any suggestions to make this a memorable trip. Want to do it all within 4 -5 days max, because I think we can unless anyone has a side trip idea we should take.

If you like baseball (or opera) the Baseball Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown, as is Glimmerglass Opera. There is also a wonderful outdoor/farm museum, and the whole place is on a beautiful lake.

I don't think it is too far out of your way, but you will need to make hotel/motel reservations a long time in advance.

Mid July is perfect... weather 75 to 80... the Finger Lakes are interesting... cooperstown for Baseball interests... Letchworth State Park is pretty amazing, For a totally unique experience, look into Lily Dale NY a village of psychic readers and spiritual funkiness... the Chautauqua Institute for Arts... for an old favorite in Chafee NY, consider Earls Drive-in... home cooking and pies for over 50 years

For accomodations in Niagara, most families choose the Embassy Suites in Canada... Good views and Location as well as free breakfast... spend a little more for a fallsview room, but the hotel is on a cliff so you don't want to be on a higher floor...

For the teens, must do's include Cave of the Winds (Walk over Rainbow Bridge to US Goat island), Maid of the Mist, Whirlpool JetBoats (#1 for teens) and Clifton Hill... there are also Concerts and Fireworks on Friday's...

For the adults, there's a Casino Next door, as well as the above...

Cooperstown is several (like 4-5) hours away from Niagara Falls. If your'e planning on doing it all in 4-5 days, I don't think that would work. You might consider going to Toronto from Niagara Falls. Once you are across the bridge, it's about 75 minutes away. It's a very international city-great theatre, musuems, etc. Lots of ethnic areas. Niagara On the Lake is a beautiful town, about 20 minutes from Niagara Falls. It is home to the shaw Festival, a great theatre company, that does many different shows during the summer. The town is lovely-full of shops and restaurants, right on the lake. Don't overlook Buffalo. There is some sort of festival there everyweekend in the summer. Fun minor league baseball (although the team is awful this year), great architecture, great food-home of chicken wings! Don't forget your passports if you will be going to Canada. And if you are bringing children under the age of 18 who aren't yours, you probably want a notarized statment from their parents that is it ok for them to be travling with you if you will be entering Canada.

No doubt stay on the Canadian side, there's nothing on the New York side. We stayed at the Marriott and had a wonderful view of the falls from our room. The room rate included breakfast and the restaurant also had a great view of the falls.

I agree - stay on the Canadian side. Check out Niagara On the Lake for a side trip (about 20 min away)- very quaint town, lots of wineries and great turn off points to take some great pictures and while you're there do the jet boats. It's an amazing experience but be prepared to be soaked!!