A 4-day trip to Niagara Falls, things to do?

[DAWeinG]

Just got back from a 3 day trip at The Falls 3 weeks ago. Definitely check out both Canadian/US side. US side is more relaxing however not much to do IMO. Seems to be more shops/people/activities on the Canadian side. This is how our trip went:

Day 1:
Bought a full day Niagara Falls Adventure Pass for ~ $45/person (Canadian side. Don't buy the Discovery pass, that's the US side. Both have similar activities but there's more to do on the Canadian side):
http://www.niagaraparks.com/plan/buy-tickets-packages.html

You can do everything in the pass in 1 day. Includes 2 days of bus transportation up and down the main street where all the activities are which is nice. But if you have a car, don't worry about parking, there's plenty of it.

Day 2:
Whirlpool jets ~ $65/person after taxes (There's a coupon for $5 off per person in those coupon books at the visitors center at the Canadian side):
http://www.whirlpooljet.com
Don't choose the closed dome tour, that's no fun. Choose the open dome where you get drenched. It's about a 45 minute boat ride. Bring a change of clothes.

Helicopter ride ~ $120/person (Also a coupon in the book for $10 off total package price):
http://www.niagarahelicopters.com
It's about a 10-15 minute ride. IMO, a rip off because it's so expensive but it's very nice to see the view. You will feel you overpaid for it after the ride. But if you've never been in a helicopter before, this is a good place to start.

Fireworks at 10pm.

Every night at 9pm, the falls are lit up with color-changing lights behind the falls. There are fireworks every Friday and Sunday at 10pm.


The casinos are also better on the Canadian side as well if you want to check that out. There's a Brazilian buffet called Brasa that's pretty decent. It's a fancy all you can eat buffet where guachos come around with slabs of different types of beef, chicken, and lamb and slice it right off the skewer. ~ $30/person (also a coupon in the coupon book).

DO NOT go to the Riverview International Buffet. Ratings are consistently 0 to 1 star.

At night, there's a bunch of nice places to walk around. It is very lively with lots of stuff to do and see such as the Tussaud's wax museum similar to the one in New York, Ripley's believe it or not, more.

I really recommend trip advisor to see which activities appeal to you:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g154998-Activities-Niagara_Falls_Ontario.html'

Avoid the US visitor center like the plague. It's pretty much dead and the food in there is a rip off.

 

[DaWhim]

grab your passport, you can spend half a day at niagara on the lake. head for some wine tour

 

[marvdmartian]

If you make it up to Toronto, be aware that when I was there in May, the main east-west freeway was pretty much a parking lot.....seemingly all day, since even at 8PM, it was bumper to bumper traffic at a crawl. D:

But if you do hit the city, consider checking out the Ontario Science Center. I spent the day there while my niece was interviewing for a job (I helped her out with driving and expenses to get up there). It was just as cool now as it was ~35 years ago, when I went there in junior high school! :awe:

 

[Anubis]

you could come visit Anubis and hit of the Balloon festival

http://www.nysfob.com/

 

[Gothgar]

see Niagara falls?

 

[Imp]

If you make it up to Toronto, be aware that when I was there in May, the main east-west freeway was pretty much a parking lot.....seemingly all day, since even at 8PM, it was bumper to bumper traffic at a crawl. D:

But if you do hit the city, consider checking out the Ontario Science Center. I spent the day there while my niece was interviewing for a job (I helped her out with driving and expenses to get up there). It was just as cool now as it was ~35 years ago, when I went there in junior high school! :awe:

Which one? The 401 or Gardiner?

Gardiner is closed on some weekends for construction. The 401 is a parking lot from 5-9am, and 3pm to 8pm. City driving sucks. Just avoid the Gardiner and Don Valley Parkway altogether, those things have small or no shoulders on long portions, so every crashy crashy closes 2 of 3 lanes.

Take the subway, it'll get you to the main attractions. If you want to do shit, the ROM (museum) has 5 floors plus a terracotta exhibit (just went). Science centre is in the middle of nowhere. Art Gallery was just renovated 2 years ago. King St. and University St. has a bunch of stage/theatre shows running all day. If you go after August 18-ish, the "carnival" is in town: Canadian National Exhibit.

 

[DaTT]

If you like driving, take the scenic drive from The Falls (Canada side) to Fort Erie (opposite way of Niagara on the Lake. A much nicer drive, but a far shittier destination....so then you just turn around and go back.