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GMichael
05-22-2012, 12:53 PM
We are planning a trip to Niagara Falls August 23rd - 25th. The Wifey has been bugging me to take her there for years. I'm finally going to give in and make this trip.
Does anyone have any suggestions, like the best hotels or sights to see? The quick search I've done suggests that the Embassy Suites has the best view. I have been there twice before, but don't remember much. I was only 10 the first time (was board as h.ll). The next time I was 22 and spent most of the time smoking mother nature at our KOA campgrounds.
Anyone else out there looking to meet a fellow AR'er?

Feanor
05-22-2012, 02:39 PM
We are planning a trip to Niagara Falls August 23rd - 25th. The Wifey has been bugging me to take her there for years. I'm finally going to give in and make this trip.
Does anyone have any suggestions, like the best hotels or sights to see? The quick search I've done suggests that the Embassy Suites has the best view. I have been there twice before, but don't remember much. I was only 10 the first time (was board as h.ll). The next time I was 22 and spent most of the time smoking mother nature at our KOA campgrounds.
Anyone else out there looking to meet a fellow AR'er?
We get over to Niagara Falls every couple of year. We're day trip distance so I can't actually recommend accommodation.

There are quite a few sights and activities -- check out the Niagara Parks website, HERE (http://www.niagaraparks.com/attractions/).

Traditional activities include the Maid of Mist boat ride, HERE (http://www.niagaraparks.com/attractions/maid-of-the-mist.html).

http://www.niagaraparks.com/images2/Maid.jpg

Less well know but quite worthwhile is a visit to the Butterfly Conservatory, HERE (http://www.niagaraparks.com/garden-trail/butterfly-conservatory.html)

And/or on the bicentennial of the War of 1812, you could visit Queenston Heights where the Canadian Militia, Mohawks, and British troops gave a well-deserved sh!tlickin' to American invaders, HERE (http://www.niagaraparks.com/images2/Queenston_Brocks.jpg).

http://www.niagaraparks.com/images2/Queenston_Brocks.jpg

Hyfi
05-22-2012, 02:49 PM
Niagra on the Lake is a cool little town just a ways down from the falls, and eat dinner at the Prince of Whales if it's still there.

Feanor
05-22-2012, 02:57 PM
Niagra on the Lake is a cool little town just a ways down from the falls, and eat dinner at the Prince of Whales if it's still there.
Good grief!! :frown2: That's Prince of Wales. Yes it's still there and very good recommendation; HERE (http://www.vintage-hotels.com/princeofwales/).

ForeverAutumn
05-22-2012, 04:03 PM
We are about 1.5 hours from there and will sometimes stay overnight just for a quick getaway. August is prime season and rooms will be expensive. We usually go off season when rates are lower and stay in nicer hotels. We tend to stay near the Fallsview Casino and really like the Hilton and the Marriott. The Hilton has a great pool if Sera likes to swim. The DoubleTree is also excellent and less expensive.

If you don't need to stay right in the prime tourist area, there are some good hotels on Lundy's Lane. You'll have to drive to the Falls, but you'll save quite a bit on your room. Although, really as long as you stay away from the sleep and squeek motels and stay with a brand name hotel, I don't think that you can go wrong.

This is a good website for information. Niagara Falls Hotels, Tourism Authority for Hotels, Attractions, and Vacation Packages (http://www.niagarafallshotels.com/index.php)

We know both the Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake areas pretty well so feel free to email me if you have any questions.

ForeverAutumn
05-22-2012, 04:05 PM
Anyone else out there looking to meet a fellow AR'er?

Oops! I just noticed this sentence in your post. I may be able to take you up on that. Let me know when you've firmed up your plans and dates and we'll talk. :)

GMichael
05-23-2012, 05:36 AM
Thanks for all the information everyone. I'll check out your links & advice to see what fits our interests. With a 3 year old in tow, we may be looking to visit sights to interest her more. It may be tough keeping her quiet during the historic tours.
I've looked at the Maid of Mist boat ride. I'm a little afraid that it may be too loud for Sera being that close to the falls. She's a little funny about loud sounds, and once we're on the boat, we could be stuck with a screaming 3 year old in a total panic. Does anyone remember how loud it gets on the boat ride?
Yeah FA. I saw that the prices go from 125ish in May to 325 a night in Aug for the room we are interested in. This is the week that our Daycare closes to get ready for the new school year, plus it's my birthday. We already have off those days so we thought we'd make the most of it.
I was hoping to give them the whole experience of sleeping in a bed that overlooks the falls at night. Hotels off the path would save us tons, but not give us the same experience. I read a lot of reviews of the 10 top hotels on that strip overlooking the falls. Most agree that The Embassy Suites give the best view. Others are a little cheaper but we'd have to be on the higher floors to get the same view and those rooms end up costing more.
It's a tough call. Save money or go for the best experience and memories. We are going to have to keep talking before I pull the trigger on a room.
Most of the rooms sleep 5 to 7 people though. We've been thinking about getting a couple friends to come with us to split the expense. But that makes it a little harder for us to enjoy the hot tub in private.
Choices, choices....

GMichael
05-23-2012, 05:38 AM
Oops! I just noticed this sentence in your post. I may be able to take you up on that. Let me know when you've firmed up your plans and dates and we'll talk. :)

It's a deal. I will let you know what we end up deciding. I'd love to meet up with you and Hubby. (and we always enjoy showing off our little munchkin)

ForeverAutumn
05-23-2012, 07:22 AM
I think that the Maid of the Mist gets pretty loud, IIRC. And you get soaked. If your little princess doesn't like noise then it might not be the right choice at this time. At three, she's not likely to remember much of this trip and the last thing that you want to do is scare the bejeezus out of her! Definately consider Feanor's suggestion for the butterfly conservatory. It's beautiful and, as long as she's not afraid of butterfly's, she'll love it! They flutter around and land on people, it's really something.

There is also a Bird Aviary in NF. I haven't been there so I can't comment on it, but the website is Bird kingdom at the Niagara Falls Aviary (http://www.birdkingdom.ca/).

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a pretty little town about a 20 minute drive from NF and is a must-see while in the area, if you have time. There are lots of nice little boutiques and shops on the main street and a park right in the middle for Sera to play in. As you might expect from the name, the town is right on the bank of Lake Ontario. It is also Ontario's primo wine country for Mom and Dad. :) I will also third the recommendation of lunch at the Prince of Wales inn. Or, if you prefer something more casual and pub-like, The Olde Angel Inn is very good (and historic). It's just off the main street, ask someone for directions.

I haven't been to the Embassy Suites there. But I will give you one tip. When you book a falls view room, make sure that it has a full view of the falls. We once booked a room that was billed as falls view and we could only see a small part of it. We complained and were upgraded. But it was very disappointing that the hotel would do that.

The Marriott hotel only has rooms on one side of the building. So all rooms are either falls view or river view. We've also stayed in falls view rooms at the Hilton that were very nice. Both appear to be less expensive that the Embassy Suites for the dates that you're looking at. The Hilton has a great restaurant at the top called the Watermark. If you go for dinner expect to pay about $100 per person. But they do a really nice breakfast buffet and the view is outstanding! If you stay there, you can probably get a deal that includes breakfast there, if not, I think it's about $30 per person, but worth it for the experience IMO.

ForeverAutumn
05-23-2012, 07:35 AM
OMG! I almost forgot to mention Marineland!!! Marineland Canada - Home (http://www.marinelandcanada.com/)

Sera will LOVE IT!

GMichael
05-23-2012, 07:47 AM
I think that the Maid of the Mist gets pretty loud, IIRC. And you get soaked. If your little princess doesn't like noise then it might not be the right choice at this time. At three, she's not likely to remember much of this trip and the last thing that you want to do is scare the bejeezus out of her! Definately consider Feanor's suggestion for the butterfly conservatory. It's beautiful and, as long as she's not afraid of butterfly's, she'll love it! They flutter around and land on people, it's really something.

There is also a Bird Aviary in NF. I haven't been there so I can't comment on it, but the website is Bird kingdom at the Niagara Falls Aviary (http://www.birdkingdom.ca/).

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a pretty little town about a 20 minute drive from NF and is a must-see while in the area, if you have time. There are lots of nice little boutiques and shops on the main street and a park right in the middle for Sera to play in. As you might expect from the name, the town is right on the bank of Lake Ontario. It is also Ontario's primo wine country for Mom and Dad. :) I will also third the recommendation of lunch at the Prince of Wales inn. Or, if you prefer something more casual and pub-like, The Olde Angel Inn is very good (and historic). It's just off the main street, ask someone for directions.

I haven't been to the Embassy Suites there. But I will give you one tip. When you book a falls view room, make sure that it has a full view of the falls. We once booked a room that was billed as falls view and we could only see a small part of it. We complained and were upgraded. But it was very disappointing that the hotel would do that.

The Marriott hotel only has rooms on one side of the building. So all rooms are either falls view or river view. We've also stayed in falls view rooms at the Hilton that were very nice. Both appear to be less expensive that the Embassy Suites for the dates that you're looking at. The Hilton has a great restaurant at the top called the Watermark. If you go for dinner expect to pay about $100 per person. But they do a really nice breakfast buffet and the view is outstanding! If you stay there, you can probably get a deal that includes breakfast there, if not, I think it's about $30 per person, but worth it for the experience IMO.



Thanks FA,



She gets very upset around loud noises. She has even told me to stop the big trucks from going by our house. No fear of most anything else. She loves butterflies & birds. The butterfly show sound awesome.

Most of the other hotels seem to have something in the way of your view unless you are very high up. The Embassy Suites have 3 types of rooms. City view, Canadian falls view and both falls view. I've been looking at just the Canadian falls view. Rooms from floor 10 to 15 look very nice. The upper floors cost $600 a night & up.

RGA
05-23-2012, 10:27 PM
I thought they were getting rid of the maid of the mist - I remember reading some Yahoo article on it. Has it been saved from getting the axe?

ForeverAutumn
05-24-2012, 06:12 AM
It will run through the 2012 season. Maid of the Mist will run this year | Ontario | News | Toronto Sun (http://www.torontosun.com/2012/03/06/maid-of-the-mist-will-run-this-year)

NIAGARA FALLS, ONT. - After threatening to keep its boats out of the water, the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Co. says it will operate this year.

The company issued a press release Tuesday saying it had completed discussions with the Niagara Parks Commission and will continue offering boat tours in the Niagara River at the base of the falls.

Maid of the Mist lost the bid to operate the tours in the future when the NPC signed a 30-year lease agreement with Hornblower Canada Company two weeks ago. The deal, which starts in 2014, is worth around $500 million, which the parks commission said is $300 million more than what Maid of the Mist would have paid them based on their current month-to-month contract.

A few hours after the NPC announced the boat tour lease had been awarded to Hornblower on Feb. 22, Maid of the Mist president Chris Glynn issued a statement saying the decision created "uncertainties, including whether or not a boat tour service would be offered in Ontario in 2012."

However, the company changed it's tune Tuesday, announcing it would open the 2012 season on April 12 -- three weeks earlier than last year. Unseasonably warm temperatures and ice-free conditions on Lake Erie have allowed the early start to the company's 166th season.

Janice Thomson, chairwoman of the NPC, said she's glad the issue is resolved. She met with Maids representatives Monday afternoon to finalize plans for the season.

"We're thrilled there will be a Maid of the Mist operating this year," she said. "We had a very brief operational meeting with them to talk about the various things that come up and that's an annual meeting. It was nothing unusual."