NWR: Niagara Falls?

I am driving up to Niagara Falls this weekend.. I've never been there and was wondering if there is anything special we should make sure we do there?

And we are going to take our time on the drive home... any cool places we should stop at? I don't mind detours when they are worth it Chat Icon

Thanks for any suggestions you may have!

FH and I did the drive to Niagara a few years ago. It's a long drive, but it's amazing. Must sees:

Maid of the Mist - awesome boat ride under the falls. Get a waterproof case for your camera or a waterproof disposable....well worth it.

Journey Behind the Falls - awesome walk through the mountains of the falls.

Skylon Tower - if you can get dinner reservations there, do it. It's kind of expensive, but well worth it. And get a window seat. The restaurant revolves, and at night they light up the falls. It's an amazing experience.

The Butterfly Conservatory is pretty cool, so is the Bird Kingdom.

FH and I just drove there last summer it was soo much fun defanitly do the Maid of the Mist, Butterfly Conservatory, Journey behind the falls and on weekends there's fireworks....We also went out at night to alot of restaurants and it was soo much fun its a lot of night life there and I think the long car rides are the best to have long talks.

Have fun!

Sorry I am no help with this.

I'm moving up there in January and would love to know any places you find to visit though!!

FH and I went up there 2½ weeks after we started dating, I had been there before, but he hadn't... we had a blast!
we left west babylon at 9:00p and got up there at 4:30a and you couldn't see the falls so he's like 'this is what we drove here for?'... we went to the hotel and slept in the car (check in wasn't until 3:00pm) when we woke up and he saw it he was AMAZED!
we had a lot of time to kill so we went to the aquarium... LOVED it!!! they have killer whales and beluga whales and dolphins (we couldn't find them) and bears, seals, etc. and a few rides.

Our view from the hotel was right on the horse shoe and was AMAZING!!! we couldn't go on maid of the mist (I had been on it twice when I was younger) or the helicopter because he had just had ear surgery and couldn't get any water in his ear and couldn't fly.

The butterfly exhibit was closed when we went as well as the bird, but when I was younger I went and loved them.

the mini golf in the 'town' was fun... don't go through the haunted houses.. I twisted my ankle BAD and they were total @$$holes about it... I almost sued.

Rain forrest cafe s u cks! I got sick
the WWE store was cool... and you have to hit up the duty free shop when you leave.

oh are you staying on the american or canadian side? because everything I'm mentioning is on the canadian side. (so much better!)

be careful when you drive- because if you take rainbow road (or w/e its called- that's what we called it) and don't make the turn where you're supposed to, you'll end up in the country- which is pretty cool too.. but you'll need GPS. they have a drive in movie.

Oh and if you're a drinker... get alcohol EARLY if you want to drink in your room... because they stop selling alcohol at like 2:00pm and they don't sell it at 7-11, they sell beer in the liquor stores.
but they don't water anything down at the restaurants... we each got a drink and shared a mudslide at TGIFridays and got smashed! then went to the bar at our hotel and had martinis. that was great!

we keep trying to go back, but don't have the money.

honestly, on the way there is nothing to see so just stay on the road. Only thing is to stop on the US side of niagara falls and see that part, the view of the falls are amazing from that side too. I dont remember the name of the restaurant but its only one RIGHT there on the US falls side, you have a great view from restaurant.

Maiden mist, behind the falls, butterfly conservatory, ripleys believe it or not museum, they have a bunch of museums like this, one i think was most notorious killers or something like that, also the 3D short movie, they have a bunch of these too. WWE store

Thanks for all the recommendations ladies! I will try to check them all out! We are staying on the Canadian side, but we are planning to do things on both sides

Anyone that has done the drive have any place cool they stumbled upon on the way back? We're spending 2½ days in Niagara but want to stop somewhere else for 1 day on the way back...

If you have time, I would check out the whirpool jetboat ride; if you google it, you can find the info. It's a boat ride (covered or uncovered) that takes you into a whirpool (it is away from Niagara Falls, not too far though) and it is just amazing. You get soaking wet but it's tons of fun!

If you're looking to stop at a place on the way back, you may want to check out Cooperstown where the MLB Hall of Fame is. I did that with an ex of mine when we went to Niagara and it was pretty cool especially if your or FH (or both!) like baseball.

You will have a great time! The ladies have a lot of great suggestions too....and of course, there is a casino on the Canadian side as well.

As for behind the falls, definitely try to do it during the day. I did it at night and it wasn't that great.

Have fun!

you have to do the Maid of the Mist - boat ride under the falls - it was so beautiful, I went this past october!

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Posted by Jenn04

We were going to drive to Toronto one night too but never did. I think its an hour and a half away?

Maybe on the way back you can stop to eat at the first place they ever made Buffalo Wings...cant remember the name of it right now.

Also while at Niagara you should eat at the Keg, its in the Embassy Suites and delic and has a view of the falls. I agree with others Maid of the Mist, Journey Behind the Falls, etc. Clifton Hill is where the 'boardwalk' type of stuff is...its ok there, very young, for kids type place.

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the name of the bar that 1st made buffalo wings is called the Anchor Bar.

what road do you plan on taking up there? are you taking 80, 380, 81, 17 (future 86 or at points already 86) or are you taking the NYS thruway?

I've made the drive up going 80, 380, etc. several times. just wanted to know so i could make suggestions.

That is where I got engaged last summer!!!! yay!

Def go to the Canadian side.

The main ones are great....journey behind the falls, maid of the mist..they actually sell a packet of activities that includes those as well as coupons for other things in the surrounding area. Also..as weird as this sounds, the haunted houses are fun and scary.

And def go to the whirpool jets. It was so much fun. they take you through the whirpools in this jet boat and you get beyond soaked.

Have fun!

Most of you recommended journey behind the falls.. can you get to that from both sides? We are staying on the canadian side, but have passes for some things on the NY side...

So is Maid of the Mist the same tour on both sides or is 1 side better than the other... I think we have NY side passes

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Posted by 08JulyBride

Most of you recommended journey behind the falls.. can you get to that from both sides? We are staying on the canadian side, but have passes for some things on the NY side...

So is Maid of the Mist the same tour on both sides or is 1 side better than the other... I think we have NY side passes

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I'm pretty sure you can do all of the 'falls' activities on both sides.. and if you can't... go to the other side... its seriously a 5 minute drive over the bridge or you can walk it'll take 10 minutes.

OH BRING A PASSPORT- I wanted to mention that the other day...

as for the drive back- NOTHING.... honestly, just open road... OH WATCH YOUR SPEED LIMITS in NY... they will catch you and ticket you.. no excuses.