I have been given the opportunity to take a quick trip with my 10 year old to Buffalo for a weekend.

I love to take him to see the falls and take a jet boat on the rapids.

Our plane gets into Buffalo at 9pm Friday night and we would fly home early Monday am.

My thoughts are to stay close to the airport on Friday night and Sunday night but find somewhere to stay on Saturday night near the Falls and boat trip area.

Could someone please get me started in the right direction:

How long will it take us to get to Niagra on the Lake from the Buffalo Airport? Should we drive there on Friday evening instead?

What area should I look to stay? Any suggestion on B&B or Hotel - something unique?

Do we need our passports to cross over to see the falls from the Canadian side?

Any activity we should include other than the boat trip. We like to be adventurous and be outside.

Thanks!!

A few comments/answers to your questions -

The Buffalo airport is around 25-30 minutes from Niagara Falls and about 40-45 minutes from Niagara on the Lake (NOTL). You will need a driver's license and your child's birth certficate to cross the border. I would cross into Canada at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, NY.

As for what to do in Niagara Falls, I would definitely do the jet boat and the Cave of the Winds. As you probably know, the jet boat leaves from NOTL. You could do this on Sat and have lunch there as well. The Cave of the Winds is on the US side and you can walk across the Rainbow Bridge for this. It takes you down to the base of the bridal falls and is truly amazing. The Canadian version (Journey Behind the Falls) doesn't get you nearly as close. perhaps you could do the COTW tour on Sun and also tour the US side for a close up of the rapids etc. There is also the Maid of the Mist, which I have never done in all my years of living near NF. It's only about a 20 min boat ride.

Are you planning on staying in NOTL or Niagara Falls? I have stayed at the Sheraton Fallsview and thought it was quite nice. The Sheraton on the Falls is near Clifton Hill (which has tons of games, rides etc) and closer to the Rainbow Bridge. There is more to entertain a 10 year old in NF than in NOTL (although NOTL is a charming town).

Hope this helps!

I agree with kcapuani - stay in Niagara Falls. It will be way more cool and fun for your son. NOTL, in my opinion, would be absolutely boring for a child. The drive to NOTL is lovely, as you pass beautiful homes, wineries, vineyards, and the lower gorge.

The falls is so close to the Buffalo airport - only a 20 minute ride - you might want to just drive straight there instead of getting a room near the airport. On a Fri. night around 10:00 p.m., the only traffic you should encounter on the Rainbow Bridge is that of people going to the casinos. It should be a fairly quick crossing. Driving on the Canadian side is confusing with lots of one way streets and people on the streets, so get good directions to your hotel from the bridge (your hotel can supply good directions).

I just want to add one thing, you will need ORIGINAL birth certificates for both you and your son. Even though they usually ask for your license, it is NOT proof of citizenship. You will need your birth certificate unless ou have passports.

I hope this helps. Have fun!

(P.S. I've heard the jet boat tours are a blast, but you'll get soaked)!

I just want to add that it is a good idea to stay in a hotel near the airport on Sunday night. If you have an early flight out of Buffalo, and the bridge is backed up Monday morning or if you are randomly pulled over, you could be really pushing it!

All of these suggestions sound great. Just the info I was looking for.

We do have passport so that would be the best thing to do is take them.

On your suggestion we will find a place to stay at Niagra Falls and drive over to to the Jet Boat on Saturday morning.

Suggestions on Hotels? I prefer NOT to be around rides and games. I'm know my son would love it, but would distract from the more natural adventure I am hoping to accomplish.

How is the weather in mid-Sept? And I believe the water is pretty cold. My husband and I did the rapids Jet boat will vacationing in Montreal and we did get soaked. It was a blast!!

I will look into this Cave of the Winds - sounds great. And I think we would also like the Maid of the Mist too.

Now I have to figure out in what order to do things, and how to fit it nicely in to 2 days.

I think we will get a room at the airport on Sunday evening, just to be safe.

Here in Tampa, we have a hotel right at the airport and could turn in the rental the evening before - is there something like that at the Buffalo airport?

There is a Holiday Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton and a Clarion Hotel all within a mile of the BUF airport. I'm not sure which have free airport shuttles though. There is also a Days Inn directly across the street but I have heard that it isn't very nice.

As for hotels in NF, the Sheraton Fallsview is the last hotel on the "strip" and is therefore the furthest from Clifton Hill. There is also a Doubletree Hotel that is set back about three blocks from the falls. I have not been inside the Doubletree but it looks wonderful from the outside - I believe it is meant to look like an Adirondack lodge.

We have had an incredibly warm summer in Buffalo (right now its about 88 degrees) so hopefully the weather will continue into Sept. I'd say it will be in the mid-70's during the day. But, yes, the water will be cold, probably around 70 degrees...

you really should go on the Maid of the Mist it is really great. Also you should really go to Niagara on the Lake it is beautiful and there are many B&Bs there. I think you now need your passports to get into Canada. In NOTL there is the Shaw Festival with some really great theatre. Have a great time.