Visiting Niagara Falls from New York City by train
Feb 21st, 2013, 03:47 PM
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Visiting Niagara Falls from New York City by train
I'm trying to gather information for a friend whose mother would like to celebrate her 80th birthday with a visit to New York City and Niagara Falls in August. The mother is a very physically active 80 year old and she will be traveling with her husband, same age and just as active.
I've been to both places but not on the same trip. To me it seems too much traveling for an 80 year old couple--or even couples of a lesser age
Could you see visiting these two locations within a week long trip? If arriving by train from NYC how would they get to the actual falls? Thanks for any comments. Deborah
I've been to both places but not on the same trip. To me it seems too much traveling for an 80 year old couple--or even couples of a lesser age
Could you see visiting these two locations within a week long trip? If arriving by train from NYC how would they get to the actual falls? Thanks for any comments. Deborah
Feb 21st, 2013, 05:30 PM
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Pretty much all long-distance train travel is on Amtrak. If you go to its URL, you can ask for schedules between any two cities Amtrak serves. I picked a random day for a train trip between New York City and Niagara Falls, and found it takes nine hours one-way and costs $62 per person. One route is called the "Maple Leaf" and the other is called "Empire Service."
One could, in theory, use one day of this week to travel from NYC to Niagara, use the next day to visit the town, and then the third day to travel Niagara to NYC. Thus, three of the seven days would be used up to see the falls. Whether that is worth the effort is a matter of opinion.
One could, in theory, use one day of this week to travel from NYC to Niagara, use the next day to visit the town, and then the third day to travel Niagara to NYC. Thus, three of the seven days would be used up to see the falls. Whether that is worth the effort is a matter of opinion.
Feb 21st, 2013, 05:40 PM
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Thanks Paulrabe, I saw that schedule also. The couple is flying from Midland Texas so I might suggest to my friend that her mother consider a return to Midland not from NYC but maybe Rochester NY, less than a 2 hour train from Niagara Falls. It's hard for me to imagine doing this all by train and not a car. Thanks for the help, Deborah
Feb 21st, 2013, 06:06 PM
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Buffalo Niagara International Airport is 30 minutes from the Falls... a better choice would be to fly into Buffalo ... train to NYC and then return NYC to Texas... much cheaper and several more flight choices...
Feb 21st, 2013, 06:16 PM
#5
Agree with Gary: Fly to Buffalo or Toronto. Make sure to see the falls from the Canadian side not just the American side.
They could take the Maple Leaf to New York from Toronto or Niagara Falls NY if they wanted a train trip.
The Maple Leaf leaves Toronto at 8:20AM and crosses the border about 2 hours later.
Make sure everyone's passport is up to date.
They could take the Maple Leaf to New York from Toronto or Niagara Falls NY if they wanted a train trip.
The Maple Leaf leaves Toronto at 8:20AM and crosses the border about 2 hours later.
Make sure everyone's passport is up to date.
Feb 22nd, 2013, 06:09 AM
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Buffalo is not the most pleasant of places. If it were me I would fly into Toronto, spend a day there - head to the falls (not much more than an hour and the best stuff is on the Canadian side), next day train to NYC and fly home from there.
Oh - and if they don't have passports and don't want to get them I would bag Niagara Falls - just the US side is not worth it (you're on top - not facing the front).
Oh - and if they don't have passports and don't want to get them I would bag Niagara Falls - just the US side is not worth it (you're on top - not facing the front).
Feb 22nd, 2013, 08:45 AM
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nytraveler, they would be using Buffalo as an airport, not a destination and it is only 30 minutes from the Falls. Besides Buffalo can be a very pleasant place to visit if you know anything about the city. What did you find unpleasant about Buffalo?
