TexasLeach

Hello from Texas!

We are taking our first family vacation to the lovely Niagara area. We have a lot that we want to do in just a small handfull of days. I have included our current itinerary below. There are questions throughout. Any hints, concerns, suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,
Tex

Question:
If one buys the Great Gorge Adventure Pass, can you board the Maid of the Mist from the US side with that pass?



Niagara Falls Itinerary


Friday, July 13, 2007
Flight Arrives 10:29 PM
Stay at Marriott Fallsview (Booked 3 nights)



Saturday, July 14, 2007
Wake up in CAN
Buy The Great Gorge Adventure Pass (where can I buy this on-line?)
(We can take the Falls Incline Rail from 9:00 to all the Falls attractions from our hotel for C$1 each.)

Ride Maid of the Mist (1 hr duration, starts at 9 AM)
Walk to US Side over Rainbow Bridge
Trolley to Goat Island
Do Cave of the Winds (US Side, pay separately)
Walk to Terrapin Point
Lunch - Top of the Falls Restaurant
trolly to Rainbow Bridge

Walk to CAN Side over Rainbow Bridge
Journey or Cave tour (CAN) (30 mins duration, 9 AM to 5 PM)
People Mover
White Water Walk
Butterfly Conservatory 1 hr minimum 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
People Mover back to
Clifton Hill
Dinner - where??? Table Rock Restaurant?

Fall fast asleep back at Marriott Fallsview

Can we really do all of this in 1 day????



Sunday, July 15, 2007
Church somewhere in Niagara - Catholic church suggestions???

Drive to Niagara on the Lake (NOTL) via the Niagara Parkway, 13 miles, a very pretty drive.
http://www.niagaraonthelake.com/

While there see the 200 year old homes, on Queen Street stop at Renaissance, a chocolate factory! Don't eat on this street due to the high prices!

See the fort.

Wine valley tour - which ones???

Head back south...
See Welland Canal near St. Catharines, Canada to watch ships in the locks.

Dinner? Where?

Back to Niagara for Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.
Sleep last night in Niagara at Marriott Fallsview.


Monday, July 16
Drive to Toronto
http://www.citypass.com/city/toronto.html
Is this a good value?

Go up in the tower
See the castle, Casa Loma
Other things to see/do?
Where to eat???
Spend night in Toronto


Tuesday. July 17
Drive back around to NOTL and follow Seaway Trail to Rochester
Maybe stop at a beach
Any other must see stops along the way???
Rochester - See toy museum
Spend the night there, maybe at the Best Western



Wednesday, July 18
Drive to Letchworth State Park
See the gorge
Lunch at the Inn

Drive to Buffalo.
Turn in Rental Car, shuttle to Hotel
Go to bed early (before 10 PM)
Spend the night near the airport in Buffalo



Thursday, July 19
Hotel Shuttle to Airport
Get up 5AM and fly home...


If you see any issue with time (both too much activity and not enought time <or> too much time and not enough activities), please point that out.

THANKS!!!

janisj

I'm going to hate myself for topping this thread but - - - I suggest you re-post w/ spaces in your title. There is no word wrap in the thread frame so your Niagara/NOTL/Rochester/Letchworth bit screws up the frame and folks have to scroll back and forth to see the full titles.

Hopefull you will re-post and let this thread eventually sink to the next page . . . . .

giro

When leaving letchworth state park, take the exit from the park that takes you near Warsaw n.y. from there map out your route to Buffalo by taking the Aurora Expressway (Rte 400) into Buffalo connecting with I-90. This route is very scenic driving through rolling hill country into Buffalo (as opposed to heading north from the park to the Thruway into Buffalo.
The whole area is very scenic! Enjoy.

Ginto

To answer just a few of the questions (sorry janisj)...

The Niagara Falls Saturday looks awfully rushed. Part of the charm of the Falls is just taking it in, and walking around in the Canadian side Queen Victoria Park. A picnic lunch would be great on a sunny day. I'd save the Butterfly Conservatory for the following day, since it's on the way to NOTL anyway.

The area's best dining options (either lunch or dinner) are in NOTL. We recently had a marvelous lunch at the Niagara Culinary Institute for C$24, rivalling experiences at Peller and Hillebrand (also good). Picnicking is also a great option, in NOTL or Queenston Heights Park.

The Toronto CityPass can be a good value if you plan to see more than a couple of the sights. Your itinerary seems short on time in Toronto, so it may be better just to pay admissions as you go.

Most Toronto attractions are easy to get to via TTC public transport (except the Zoo; use your car for that). The ROM has just opened their new crystal facade.

Personally I'd skip Rochester, unless there are compelling reasons to go. You have more than enough to keep you busy, either in Toronto or around the Falls.

Finally make sure you all have passports. They may not be essential (based on the latest news), but will still ease the border crossing.

wliwl

The Rochester toy museum is really good (Strong Museum). Also, the George Eastman House is close by and possibly worth a visit (but not really a kid place). Another good place to maybe try to see (but it takes a full day) is the Genesee Country Museum. It's good!
http://www.gcv.org/

starrsville

COWS ice cream in NOTL (I enjoyed my chocolate milkshake as a late breakfast option )

Who are "we"? If interested, try the afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales hotel in NOTL. Add the cheese course with the Prince of Wales tea.

starrsville

Also, VERY much enjoyed the IMAX theatre on the Canadian side of the Falls. Shows the legend of the Maid of the Mist, a recreation of the first person to go over the falls in a barrel - a 68 year old woman schoolteacher with her kitten) and the rescue of a little boy who went over the falls in the 60's. Beautiful pictures - great recap of the falls.

r0xyyyy

Grew up in Rochester my entire life... so as far as visiting it goes:

Not really worth it. Strong Museum (toy museum) is alright, but if you've got that much planned in your trip already (especially around the Falls area), I'm not sure if I'd waste my time. I'd say the George Eastman House is much more interesting and worth your while. Maybe even just driving through downtown and seeing the High Falls or Kodak building would be better? And definitely skip the beaches - they barely exist, and those that do are dirty. You'd be wasting your time, without a doubt. As suggested above, skipping Rochester all together isn't a bad idea. I'd just pull a few drive-by's and be on my way out, if I were you.

djkbooks

There is some really good food (at reasonable prices) on Queen Street. The Shaw Cafe has wonderful sandwiches and fantastic desserts and a lovely patio (great for people watching). The Epicurean has amazing selections and a shaded patio out back.

If it's a really hot day, the bar at Queens Landing Inn has a nice menu with really comfortable chairs. The patio also offers a nice lunch menu. Nearby, there's a nice, casual, seafood place right on the water (can't think of name).

Be sure to drive around to see the amazing Welland Murals. You can download a map with a web search.

Port Dalhousie is a nice place to stop on the way from Toronto to NOTL.

A magnificent place to dine in Rochester is 2 Vine.

LynThereDoneThat

TexasLeach, my husband, 4-1/2 yr old, and I plan on doing the Niagara Falls, Niagara on the Lake and Rochester (Strong Museum) next week. How was your trip and what would you recommend as "Must Sees/Skip Its?" Thanks!