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we're heading to niagara falls.........any info on places to stay would be helpful..tours to take and places to eat...we're thinking of taking the amtrak........how about the canadian side? any info on that would be helpful...thanks!
The Canadian side is hundreds of times better than the American side. I'd stay over there if possible. Sorry I don't have any specifics...it has been years since I've spent the night there. The only thing I recommend on the American side is the Cave of the Winds. On the Canadian side, there is a big casino (Fallsview), a lot of tourist trap stuff (Clifton Hill), and it is much more cleaner and friendlier. It used to be a great deal as well because of the exchange rate, but I assume that is no longer the case.
The Sundowner is a strip club on the Canadian side. Unless you're into a little lap dancing on your vacation, I wouldn't recommend it
Aside from that, and gambling at the casinos, the Canadian side has lots of good (clean) fun.
For animal lovers there's Marineland; Bird Kingdom (the world's largest indoor aviary); and the Butterfly Conservatory along the Niagara Parkway.
For water lovers, there's two huge indoor waterparks - one above the Casino Niagara parking garage (you'll see it as you cross the Rainbow Bridge), and the other at the Great Wolf Lodge (I think you have to stay there to use it). For a great, screaming white water ride, from Niagara-on-the-Lake you can catch a ride on the Jet Boat that runs up the river into the Niagara Gorge. For a quiet picnic and a swim there's Dufferin Islands, just south of the border along the Parkway.
Clifton Hill is tacky touristy, but kids love the wax museums and Ripley's Believe It or Not.
For some culture there's the Shaw Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Oh Canada Eh! Dinner show in Niagara Falls. The U.S. side has Artpark (definitely worth a visit), and Gateway Park in North Tonawanda often has free concerts featuring some great artists - Buffalo downtown too every Thursday evening for Blues.
For wine lovers, there's world class wineries throughout the Canadian Niagara lower escarpment area - from NOTL to Grimsby. Definitely worth exploring. Many have great restaurants too.
Just a sampling of things to do - but there's so much more - for history buffs, hikers & bikers, gardeners - on & on. Enjoy.
I don't care for the Canadian side - too kitschy to me. The view of the American side from Canada is lovely though.
Take the Maid of the Mist (can be done from either side). The Cave of Winds is very good too. Take a walk out to Goat Island to the Bridal Veil for a close up.
I lived in Buffalo for 4 years, and visited the Falls often. My advice is to park in the lot that abuts the US customs (to the left of the Rainbow Bridge). The lot is $5.00, and you can walk to all the good stuff on Clifton Hill (Don't even go to the American side, it stinks). Also bring quarters so that you can let yourself back into the US, they charge you $0.50 per person.
Clifton Hill has Hershey's, Hard Rock, The Rainforest Cafe, and lots of mom and pop places to eat. There is the Ripley's museum which is fun. It also has the duty free shop with lots of perfume, makeup, and cigars.
If you are staying for a few days I would stop at Niagara on the Lake and the Butterfly conservatory. Both are day trips but are really nice.
Also if you are going to do things in Buffalo and are into art the Albright-Knox is a world class museum. If you have kids don't bother going to the Science Museum though, it is in a nasty neighborhood and has nothing to offer.
The last thing I would check out is the outlet malls, if you like to shop. There is one on the way to the Falls.
Have fun!
Contrary to popular opinion, it is not yet mandatory to have a passport to cross the border if you are a Canadian or US citizen. Picture ID, like a Driver's License will do. If you've got kids, their birth certificates will suffice.
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