Trip to Niagara Falls

[iloveyoga]

We enjoyed the drive to get to the falls from the Canada side.

 

[LauAnn]

Highly recommend Corning NY museum of glass. Niagara on the Lake is a nice quaint town for shopping and strolling. The botanical garden near the falls is nice.

Also, as mentioned, the Finger Lakes region -- particularly a visit to Watkins Glen. It is a lot of fun and well worth it. If you do go to Watkins Glen. Get a ride to the top and walk down.

 

[LauAnn]

Letchworth is nice too. Have lunch at the Glen Iris Inn Also, travelling on NY route 17/86 (Southern Tier Expressway) is a breeze. No traffic.

Finally, check out Chautauqua Institution, near Sherman/Jamestown NY. It's a neat place too if you like Victorian cottages. Depending on when you go, you can catch a show.

 

[GrayHare]

Is a passport required for a US citizen to pop over to the Canadian side to see the falls then soon return to the US?

 

[LauAnn]

Is a passport required for a US citizen to pop over to the Canadian side to see the falls then soon return to the US?

Either a passport or the passport card is required. it looks like an "enhanced driver's license" is also accepted to return to the US. I'm not sure what an enhanced licensed is.

 

[Gumby]

We enjoyed a weekend in Niagara-on-the Lake about 30 years ago. It is a quaint town about ten miles north of the Falls on the Canadian side. From April to October, they have a Shaw festival, featuring the works of George Bernard Shaw. There are a number of nearby historic sites as well.

 

[Meadbh]

Is a passport required for a US citizen to pop over to the Canadian side to see the falls then soon return to the US?

Identification requirements for U. S. citizens and permanent residents

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must carry proof of citizenship such as a passport, birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization, a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, or a Certificate of Indian Status along with photo identification. If you are a U.S. permanent resident, ensure you carry proof of your status such as a U.S. Permanent Resident Card.

Travellers - Visitors to Canada

 

[Sunset]

The falls themselves are pretty majestic: power of nature, etc, etc. Definitely wirth seeing IMHO, especially the tunnel behind the falls and getting drenched on the Maid of the Mist. Just ignore all that other touristy crap and go see a play at Niagara on the Lake.

+1
Because where else can you do that.. !!

 

[Sunset]

Identification requirements for U. S. citizens and permanent residents

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must carry proof of citizenship such as a passport, birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization, a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, or a Certificate of Indian Status along with photo identification. If you are a U.S. permanent resident, ensure you carry proof of your status such as a U.S. Permanent Resident Card.

Travellers - Visitors to Canada

I'm really surprised they are saying something other than a passport is acceptable. Could be a problem getting back into the USA.

Gone are the days of a drivers license and a friendly wave... as you cross the border.

 

[6miths]

Niagara Falls has enjoyed a major resurgence in the last 10 years or so with several very large new hotels and casinos. I grew up in the region and it was incredibly tacky in the 70s and 80s and fairly depressed. In the past decade it has really rebounded. It is very clean and safe and although it still has a rough underbelly this is much less rough than it was 20 years ago and much, much less rough than most US cities. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a nice 'town' but now has a population of 16,000 and is quiet affluent and relatively expensive. Some very nice restaurants and a nice main street. The entire Niagara region is full of vineyards and wineries and I am told that touring these can be fun.

At the end of the day, there can be no doubt that the Falls themselves are the main attraction and are breath-taking. One would never know that a significant portion of the water no longer goes over the falls but is instead diverted to the two hydro generating stations on both sides of the river. The Whirlpool Rapids are impressive too but not nearly as much so as the Falls.

 

[6miths]

Oh and the Maid of the Mist company is now on the US side of the river. A new company is running the boats from the Canadian side. I guess they underbid the Maid of the Mist company.

 

[PERSonalTime]

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful suggestions. I'm sure I will have a great visit at the falls...on the Canadian side that is. LOL!!!

 

[NW-Bound]

We first saw Niagara Falls some years ago, driving down from Toronto. We stayed fairly close to the water edge, and did not see the tackiness of the surrounding area much. Did all the wet boat ride and the tunnel things. Did drive down to Niagara-on-the-lake, saw that it was nice but did not have time to stay. Thought about saving it for the next occasion.

Then, we were at Niagara Falls again a couple of years ago but on the US side, on an RV trip to the Canadian Maritimes. We stayed in a nice NY state campground, on the opposite shore of Niagara River across from Niagara-on-the-lake. Drove back to Niagara Falls, but did not go for the fall viewing, which would not be good due to the falls facing Canada. We went for a bit of walking around Goat Island, which we enjoyed.

Along the Niagara Scenic Parkway were also several nice parks, and we walked through them all.

We did not have time to visit the Finger Lake area, so saved that for future trips as well. I drove down to Buffalo for a look of the town, and was glad I stumbled across Anchor Bar, which I had forgotten all about.

 

[iloveyoga]

We had our passports.

 

[MRG]

Highly recommend Corning NY museum of glass. Niagara on the Lake is a nice quaint town for shopping and strolling. The botanical garden near the falls is nice.

Also, as mentioned, the Finger Lakes region -- particularly a visit to Watkins Glen. It is a lot of fun and well worth it. If you do go to Watkins Glen. Get a ride to the top and walk down.

I have not walked The Glen(Watkins) in almost 50 years but it is well worth a visit. I have family in the area and my cousin frequently posts pictures of the Glen. I am always amazed.

If you are into car races it's a must visit too. There's a building in Watkins my cousins used to own. Many photos, before my time, of the cars racing downtown from the stores widows.

 

[Red Badger]

Agree with the CN side being very nice. We did the revolving restaurant. Rather spendy (we had a Groupon, or some equivalent), crowded and food that rated a couple levels below the price point. We made our reservation to be there about 30 minutes before sunset. The views (both day and night) were impressive. For us, it was a nice - one time event while staying on the CN side.

If staying over, the tower hotel (falls view) is quirky but awesome. The Embassy Suites is pandemonium and chaos outside of the rooms (elevator madness, breakfast akin to The Walking Dead).

 

[Danmar]

One thing you might consider is a visit to the Niagara wine region. Tends to be north west of Niagara Falls and includes some very high quality wineries. Nice day trip.

 

[Danmar]

Sorry but that is far to sweeping a generalization and does them a disservice. My sister lives in Niagara Falls, ON and there are some great neighbourhoods in that city, some great amenities and lots to do.

The tackiness you are referring to is generally restricted to the tourist area on Clifton Hill and Lundys Lane. There is a lot more to Niagara and area than just that.

Sweeping generalization for sure. I thought that was what we did here?

 

[mystang52]

Is a passport required for a US citizen to pop over to the Canadian side to see the falls then soon return to the US?

We stayed at hotel in Canada. One morning I went for a run, and took my driver's license with me. I wanted to run over the bridge into the US, and asked the guard if I could get back with just my license. He said No. Based on that I'd bring the passport. We had our passports when we first crossed over to Canada.

 

[NW-Bound]

I recall now driving a rental car from Canada side into the US on Thousand Island Bridge at the other end of Lake Ontario. This must be around the late 90s, because we had our children with us on that trip and I could picture them and their age then.

The female border guard was about to wave us through, and when she saw us having our passports ready said "OK, as you have them out, I might as well look at them". As casual as that! Maybe she was joking.

Things have changed significantly since 9/11.

PS. I also recall looking down from the Thousand Island bridge and telling myself that this was a nice area and I should pay a visit later. I did not do that until the recent RV trip to the region, as described in an earlier post. I was happy to spend some time there. Something for the OP to consider if he has time. If so, taking a boat ride and touring the Boldt Castle is a must.

 

[kcowan]

Another vote to explore the Canadian side and drive the Niagara gorge up to NOTL. Very toni. Don't miss the worlds largest Chestnut trees at the falls. Constant mist has nurtured these slow-growers, comparable to the Oak trees in Louisiana.

I agree with Danmar that the town itself is clearly tacky by Canadian standards. The wine region is second only to the Okanagan Valley of BC. A runner up is Prince Edward County south of Belleville.

So it would be possible to return via Canada and return to upstate New York via one of the St Lawrence bridges. Toronto is an option but don't be intimidated by the traffic. We have many friends and family who live in the city we affectionately call "The Big Smoke".

 

[jollystomper]

We enjoyed staying on the Canadian side. Perhaps because we went in the off season - Late October, when the weather was still comfortable but the crowds were non-existent. We did not see anything we considered "tacky" - we enjoy the "amusement park" atmosphere on Clifton Hill, and visiting the hotels and the entertainment provided in the evenings after exploring the falls and associated attractions during the day.

We did like the park on the US side, but not much else to see there. We would walk over from our hotel over the bridge, which has great views. A passport is definitely required to go back and forth.

 

[sheehs1]

Agree with all the comments. Needed a passport, stayed on the Canadian side (Falls View Hotel with a direct view of the Falls), visited wineries and Niagra on the Lake, took the Maid of the Mist ride, walked in the tunnels under the falls, etc. Something everyone should see at least once. The falls are truly amazing. This was several but within 5 years ago. Venturing out a bit from our hotel, I still thought parts of it were tacky.

 

[Koogie]

Sweeping generalization for sure. I thought that was what we did here?

I thought we were here to help each other but we can all take our own approaches.

I agree with Danmar that the town itself is clearly tacky by Canadian standards.

Again, the TOWN is fine outside of the Clifton Hill/Lundys Lane area. In fact, it is probably better off than most Canadian cities of comparable size because all that touristic money in the local economy has helped secure amenities and growth (as per 6miths posts). Maybe you haven't been there in a while but change has been rapid. Now, if you want decay, drive south for 20 minutes and have a look at Fort Erie. None of the tourists make it there except to look down on it from the Peace Bridge and the difference shows.

 

[MRG]

Fifty posts and no one can say anything about Scranton?