Road trip suggestions for upstate NY
 

My 9 yr. old decided she wants to see Niagara Falls. I wanted to make a road trip out of it. We are in Maryland and I thought of driving to Toronto. 7 hours straight through. Spending 2 days there. Doing the falls for 2 days. Driving to Cooperstown for the hall of fame and them driving back home. I wanted to expand this into a two week trip and need some suggestions of things to see/do on the way.

Everything is very easy to change. The only thing I HAVE to do is Niagara Falls for my daughter.

Oh there are 4 of us, two adults, a 15 yo girl and a 9 yo girl.

A couple things you might consider..

Gananoque (Canada side of the border, east of Toronto) and a St Lawrence River 1000 islands boat trip. One of the most enjoyable things I have ever done. There may also be boat trips from the US side.

The fingerlakes reqion in upstate NY is also very nice

And do visit Niagara Falls from the Canadian side. You may also need your passports for this trip.

Thanks hpeabody. We all do have passports.

You could break up your long drive and spend some time in the Finger Lake region, just west of Syracuse. Hang out on a lake beach or visit Roseland Water Park. (Or break your trip in Corning, which has a cool glass museum. )

About an hour north of Toronto there are nice lakes and cabins for rent, and lodge-style hotels. I've never been but several friends go there every year and say its wonderful. You could spend a whole week on the lake ...

Other fun things near Cooperstown include: Herkimer, where you can look for Herkimer Diamonds and Howe's Cavern (and another smaller cave nearby).

You could take an Erie Canal boat cruise for a few days.

Another possiblity would be to head west towards Pittsburgh, which has magnificant views, a great amuesement park (Kennywood park), lots of festivals in the summer, and historical sites nearby like Fort Necessity. You could take a paddleboat cruise.

The thing that immediately comes to my mind is a suggestion for a lunch stop. It's likely that you'll pass by Herkimer, NY on your way from Niagara Falls to Cooperstown (unless you turn off at Utica). If you're there around lunchtime, consider stopping at the Water Front Grille. It's just off the Thruway. In fact, we found it the first time because you can see it from the road.

We just returned from a trip out for our daughter's graduation in Amherst, MA. (We live in the Chicago suburbs.) We discovered Water Front Grille on our way out to move her into her dorm her first year. And we've made a point of stopping there on every trip since. In fact, we stopped coming and going this time!

It's a charming little place right on the Mohawk River. And the lunch specials are really good. When we stopped this past Tuesday, I had the soup and half sandwich special. That day it was butternut squash soup and a ham and cheese sandwich (for $6.95). When we stopped going out it was Manhattan clam chowder and a roast beef sandwich. They always have a wrap of the day, a sandwich special and a special burger. Our kids love their clam roll.

Of course, we always happened to be driving through that area right at lunch time. But it's one of the many things I'll miss about making the drive to Amherst! You're in for a treat as NY is such a pretty state to drive through. Enjoy the trip!

When you are in Niagara, make sure to spend an afternoon in Niagara on the Lake. It is a small town on Lake Ontario about 20 minutes outside of Niagara Falls. It is so quaint with restaurants and shops. This is also where the jet boat departs from. We did it last August with a 14 & 12 year old and it was an amazing experience! They take you up the river in white water rapids. It is very exciting but you will get completely soaked so bring a change of clothes. Enjoy

We did Niagara Falls and Toronto with our then 11 yo DD last year. Don't miss Cave of the Winds on the NY side - you will get very wet, but it was awesome, especially if it is a hot day. The restaurant inside the park on the NY side was surprisingly good! Your girls will enjoy the Basia Shoe Museum in Toronto. Since we only had one day in Toronto, we missed the CN tower because the lines were so long. You can get a multi-attraction pass if you think that you will do the attractions that are included in the pass.

Do try to get to the Finger Lakes region. Skaneateles (sp?) is probably the cutest and busiest of the local towns.

New York State is one of our most beautiful states in that almost every inch of it is gorgeous, and you can find gorges and national and state parks (Letchworth) and resorts everywhere. You almost cannot go wrong.

Thanks there are some really good ideas here. I will have to do more research and come back with more specific questions.

OK, I'm back with more precise info on our current (very tentative itinerary)and asking for more suggestions.

My kids did not want to do Toronto, so we are going to Niagara Falls for 2 nights. That will give us 2.5 days to see the attractions. We will do Maid of the mist and cave of the winds. The kids want to do Marineland and the little one wants butterflies.

We will then go to Rochester (look at the University-I have a rising Junior in HS) and do a a day at the Genesee (sp?) village. We are hoping to take in an old time baseball game.

Then on to the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown (and look at RPI-they are having an open house for prospective students)

Finally, we drive to NYC, stay with friends and see 2 Broadway shows (whatever is on sale) before heading back home.

Is there anything else I missed that is a must-see?

I wanted to do a boat trip on the Erie canal emphasizing it's historical significance. Any suggestions?

When we went to Niagara Falls/Buffalo/Toronto with my then-10 year old a few years ago, we stopped overnight at Corning and went to the Corning Glass Museum. There are hands-on workshops everyone can take part in - loved it.

We went to Cooperstown last year on a school trip. Besides the Baseball Hall of Fame, there's a Farmers' Museum in town too.

do youself a favor and stay on the Canadian sife of the falls

I live in Rochester. If you're going to look at colleges for your junior, I would check out the University of Buffalo while you're visiting Niagara Falls. It's a large campus and a good school. While in Rochester you should look at the University of Rochester and also Rochester Institute of Technology - both excellent schools.

We drove up to Fort Niagra after the falls and your kids would probably enjoy that. We then detoured down to Lockport (not far) to take the Erie Canal ride (there is a website) but it started really raining and we decided not to wait for the next boat. Do remember the ride is two hours duration.

Another thing at Niagra/Buffalo if your kids like hot dogs, you have to find a Ted's Hot Dogs. They've been featured on PBS and Travel Channel shows and are really good.

We drove along the Seaway Trail finding lighthouses. There are several along that route including one at Rochester.

Western New York was beautiful last fall driving from Erie PA to Niagra Falls and then across and down to Syracus. We thoroughly enjoyed this road trip and Niagra Falls takes your breath away--just awesome! Have a great trip.

For erie Canal history you might want to consider the Erie Canal Village in Rome New York which is NW of Cooperstown. It's a small and not at all glitzy/polished living history museum but we thought it was interesting when we visited several years ago. They offer a packet boat tour (we did not take this)

Thank you all for your ideas. I will check them out. I am also giving this thread a self serving bump.

Do you have a specific interest in a school in Rochester? In the Buffalo area you could see Univ. at Buffalo, Canisus College and Niagara University, all good schools. You mentioned baseball, there is a minor league team in Buffalo, the Bisons. You don't say when your trip is, but Wicked is playing at Shea's Buffalo theatre for about 4 weeks at the end of June and beginning of July.

We are going the second week in July, and my girls would LOVE to see Wicked. I do not have any specific college interest (well, I do, but my daughter doesn't) and we are just going to take a look around the campuses to see if anything appeals. She has a full year before she has to start applying.
As far as the Bisons game, my husband is interested in going as is my younger daughter, but my older daughter and I are very lukewarm on the idea.

Wicked runs through July 13. They are still advertising it so there must still be seats left. You'll find better seats on craigslist or similiar sites. The website is www.sheas.org. Post again if you decide to go and need restaurant or other Buffalo suggestions.

Does anyone have any Niagara Falls restaurant recommendations? I am not interested in anything particularly touristy and I dislike most chain places. Something local and inexpensive (comparatively) would be nice.

Consider leaving your car at the Amtrak station in "Albany" (it is actually across the river in Troy, not too far from RPI).

The train trip from Albany to NYC down the Hudson River is absolutely beautiful, like the trip down the Rhine that a lot of people go to Europe for.

Parking is not expensive and is safe.

Are you looking for US or Canadian restaurants in Niagara Falls?

Canadian mostly since we will be staying in Canada, but we will also spend a day on the American side so we will have to eat there too.

I don't know much about the restaurants on the Canadian side. On the American side Fortuna's on 19th street is good. Not a great neighborhood (that can be said of most of Niagara Falls USA) but good Italian food. Also there is a restaurant with a nice view of the Falls called Top of the Falls. I've never eaten there so I can't recommend the food but the view is supposed to be nice. Did you decide to go to Wicked? I checked the ticketmaster website and there are some pretty good tickets available.

I still haven't gotten tickets, but will probably order them tonight. There are fairly decent seats available on Thursday the 10th.

On the Canadian side there are Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafes as well as every other chain... one secret gem is along the Niagara Parkway near the Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Attraction... for lunch stop at the Niagara Parks golf course clubhouse... good sandwiches and cold drinks overlooking the 18th green... my kids loved watching the golfers hit up and the course is beautiful.... also in Niagara,a Wolfgang Puck casual restaurant with wood oven pizzas and such...

for better food, head up to Niagara on the Lake... also search the NOTL posts for best food choices

Consider adding Letchworth State Park to your Itinerary... known as the "Grand Canyon of the East" it offers breathtaking views and great hiking.... nearby lodging is very reasonable... Have Fun!

Almost forgot... July 12 and 13 is the Taste of Buffalo, the nations second largest food festival... If you're here, you can sample some of our best foods in downtown Buffalo... a real fun family event... and do not miss the Whirlpool Jet Boats... as hazelnut says... it will be the kids' trip highlight!

If you get tickets for Wicked and plan to have dinner in Buffalo let me know what type of restaurant you're looking for. We have some really great restaurants here.

I am bumping this up because I have more concrete plans now. Can someone critique and give me some restaurant suggestions?

Thursday, 7/10 we will do Niagara falls, maid of the mist and cave of the winds. I think that's a full day. Friday, 7/11, we can either do Marineland or take a look at Niagara on the lake. Have not decided yet.

KathyK, I did get Wicked tickets for Friday night and will need somewhere to eat in the vicinity.

Saturday we were planning to see the Taste of Buffalo during the day and go to a Bison's game that night.

Sunday we will go to Genesee Country Village and try to take in the old fashioned baseball game there, as well as see the exhibits.

Monday we will go to Cooperstown for the hall of fame.

Tuesday we will head south toward the city.

Any ideas and suggestions welcome.

Don't forget the Jet Boats... add that to your wet and wild thursday... on friday consider the Butterfly Conservatory on the way to Niagara on the lake...

For dining on the Canadian side, try Table Rock restaurant, right at the tablerock point of the falls. Ask for a table by the window and it will seem like you're about to go over the falls as you can't get any closer.
While its a little more than moderately priced, we really enjoyed both breakfast and lunch there - different years. We all enjoyed the Hard Rock Cafe, also. There's a Hard Rock on the american side but its quite small.
Hope you have a great trip.

Darien Lake is along the way. It is a theme park with thrill rides etc. It is off I-90 between Rochester and Buffalo.

In Rochester, you might enjoy the Eastman House museum of photography -- more interesting than it sounds, and the house is interesting.

Our 12 hr. honeymoon was at Letchworth State Park -- "Grand Canyon" is a considerable overstatement, but it's pretty.

Believe it or not, the big power plant on Grand Island is kind of amazing -- esp. if you realize that its failure was responsible for the huge blackout a few years ago. It's not far from the Falls.

Sorry no one's interested in Toronto -- it's one of the greatest cities in our hemisphere, and it's also fun.

themishmans: Just a few quick thoughts.......

I personally don't think Niagara on the Lake has much to offer teenagers and younger kids, unless you want to take them on the jet boat ride. It's a lovely, historic little town and all, but for kids? Nah.

Are you going to spend Fri. and Sat. nights in Niagara Falls or stay in a hotel in Buffalo? It would make more sense to stay downtown for those two nights. Check out the Adams Mark. My boss was just there to check it out for a conference, and they've updated it, there's a pool, located downtown, very close to what you'll be doing.

Friday.....there are several other tourist things you can do to fill your day in Niagara Falls. Or, you can check out Old Fort Niagara on the American side:

https://oldfortniagara.org/

Fabulous, historic, fort that sits on the mouth of the lower Niagara River where it empties into Lake Ontario. It has wonderful picnic grounds and swimming pools. And a beautiful sloping grass beach (no swimming). On a clear day you can see Toronto (beyond the sail boats). The "castle" is the oldest building on the great lakes.

However, I'm not sure it's something that a 15 and 9 year old girl would enjoy. But if your looking for some history and a relaxing afternoon of picnicing and swimming, it's the place to go. IMHO it's a better way to spend the day than Niagara on the Lake. Again, IMHO.

Another thing you can do (instead of the fort), is take the girls to Fantasy Island. It's a small, but very enjoyable theme park with several decent rides. It's on Grand Island, midway between the falls and Buffalo.

It's been a long time since I've been to Marineland. I'm not sure I'd go back. I'm not an animal rights activist, but I didn't like how they kept the animals there.

I dislike baseball, but.....the Bisons games are a lot of fun. The stadium was built with the hopes of attracting a national league team. Obviously, that didn't happen. But it's an awesome stadium and you will have a great time! They go out of their way to make sure people enjoy themselves. Lots of entertainment and freebies!

KathyK will give you excellent restaurant reco's. But I'll just throw this out there......Frank and Theresa's Anchor Bar. Personally, I don't like their food. Other people love it. BUT......and it's a BIG BUT.....they invented what we know as chicken wings. Known and referred to everywhere else as Buffalo wings.

In Buffalo they are referred to as just "wings."

It's in a very old, historic building and it's one of those touristy places that has the autographed pictures of famous people all over the walls.

I don't care what anyone else on this board says............they serve the original and BEST chicken wings in Buffalo. It's a bit kitchy (every city has a place like that), but I think the girls would get a kick out of it.

Just my thoughts............have a wonderful vacation!!!

Buffalo Girl, We are spending Wednesday and Thursday night in Canada and Friday and Saturday night in Buffalo (at the Hyatt Regency).

Do they still rent those godawful rubber rain slickers to go behind the falls (or on the Maid of the Mist?)? If so, I'd advise avoiding them and making do with your own foul-weather gear -- those coats stank of mold, fungus, sweat, and who knows what-all else.

The raincoats are gone... several years ago they switched to light plastic logoed rainwear that you keep... when it rains, there are hundreds of tourists in their light blue "cleaner Bags"...

Oh, and about wings...it is definitely on my 15 yo's list of things to try. Last time I was in Buffalo was the first time I tried the "beef on weck" and based on my description, my husband is just dying for some.

Suggestions for Friday night dining-there is a TGIFridays near the Hyatt. Not a big fan of chains, but with kids, it might be a good choice, and a known commodity. Also, a great local favorite, Chef's, is only a couple of miles away. Good Italian food. You would need to drive there and back for the show. Chippewa Street is very near the Hyatt and Shea's and has some good restauraunts, but probably not as kid friendly. Its a big nightspot hangout. The Hyatt has good food, but pricey.

My children are very adventurous foodies (like their parents). Anything local/different/interesting will be just fine for us.