Niagara Falls - Splish Splash...The Boat Was Taking A Bath!
Written: Dec 18 '02 (Updated Jan 21 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The Falls, attractions for everyone
Cons: Denny's, crowded
The Bottom Line: A wonderful city with one of the seven wonders in the center!
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| jetbluefan1's Full Review: Niagara Falls |
Some of you may have realized that I am on a review-spree on reviews based on my recent Orlando vacation. Well, I felt like writing about Niagara Falls as I sit here anxiously awaiting an attraction to Universal Studios to be added to the database so I can write about it. So, sit up, listen, and enjoy!
I have been to Niagara Falls over 20 times over the last seven years since it is only a short one hour and a half drive from my home in Rochester. Therefore, I have had the luck to stay in the city of Niagara, on the Canadian side. Many people do not know that Niagara Falls is not only The Falls. It is also the name of the city that the falls are located in. Therefore, I will write this review about the whole city, and not just the falls. Okey dokey?
Getting To Niagara Falls
When going to Niagara Falls, one of the seven wonders, we always go through the outer boundaries of Buffalo then continue north to the Rainbow Bridge. Then there are customs. U.S citizens do not need a passport to go to the Canadian side. However, all citizens of different countries from Canada or the U.S must have a valid passport to go to the Canadian side. This usually is not a problem unless relatives from Cyprus come. Then, we have to drive up to a small customs station and they have to do this big search and then we are on our way.
American Side - The Falls
I have never explored the American side of Niagara Falls, the city. I have only been to the actual falls when on the American side, and only two or three times. Therefore, I don’t have a very clear memory and am more comfortable writing about the Canadian side.
Canadian Side
The Horseshoe Falls are visible and are right next to the gate that holds you back from falling in and over the falls. The Horseshoe Falls are thought of as the second tallest waterfalls in the world and is the main waterfall that people view. I just learned that it is one of the tallest but not quite the highest since many are a lot taller. It is also in the shape of a horseshoe, and runs from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario.
The American Falls are also located on the American side of the city. They are not as tall as the Horseshoe Falls, or wide, but are still a spectacular view. They are best viewed away from the Horseshoe Falls since there is a lot of water vapor rising.
The area around the rails are very crowded and you are lucky if you find a good spot. There, you can use the binoculars for 50 cents but it is useless because there is so much water vapor that you can’t really see anything being magnified. In that area, there is a building that sells tour tickets that take you into a glass elevator below the falls, a boat that almost goes into the falls, and helicopter rides. In that plaza, you can also eat pizza, hamburgers, fries, and go to souvenir shops with more than just souvenirs. It is more of a small Target. You will recognize what I am talking about when you see it.
We went on the Maid of the Mist for about $15 a person. This is a boat ride that takes you very near the falls. So, grab a rain jacket and climb aboard! After going down a long elevator ride, enter the line and finally, get on the boat. There, you will be brought so near the Horseshoe Falls that you almost think you can touch it. There are a lot of water drops getting people lightly wet, but these water drops have came down from the falls. The boat won’t tip due to the fact that it has a rounded bottom. You would think that it would tip since there is so much water coming down from so high up.
If you are looking to do something more relaxing, take a walk through The Gardens. There has a cobblestone path that takes you through a garden full of beautiful flowers and trees. Don’t miss out the impressive patch of lilies and daisies. There are just about all the types of flowers in these gardens, and it is a beautifully decorated with grape vines hanging on white, wooden arbors.
Accommodations
We ended up staying at the Howard Johnson, Victoria Ave, twice. It is located down a busy street with just a short five minute walk to The Falls. The rooms are spacious and some have balconies overlooking Victoria Ave.
You can find my complete review on this Howard Johnson by going to http://www.epinions.com/content_80006844036
There are also Falls View hotels at the Marriott and Sheraton. Rooms range to around $300 a night at these hotels which is quite a rip-off when you can get it for around $100 a night at Howard Johnson.
Food
We didn’t eat anywhere really special. We actually usually rush our meals because there is so much we want to do.
We ate at T.G.I.Friday’s one of the days and it was very nice. The service was fast and the food was luscious. There were grilled sandwiches, salads, and other nice dishes. It was actually mediocre priced which is very surprising since it is one of the most major touring areas in the world.
Denny’s was the most expensive. We paid $15 a person for two eggs and bacon. This is a total rip off because you can get that from any other Denny’s for less that $3. The service was slow, and it was very crowded. Staff was friendly but very forgetful. We ate there only once because the service and prices were outrageous.
Ponderosa had a dinner buffet that we enjoyed. There was chicken, steak strips, spaghetti, hot bread buns, and salad. It was very crowded but the food was delicious and not too expensive. Since it was an all-you-can-eat buffet, it was a great value for the money and refills were free.
Another place we ate at was Mr. Greek. There was about a 45 minute wait when we got there and it said buffet, but there wasn’t a buffet! However, the food was delicious but there were no Greek dishes for breakfast. There were only eggs, bacon, French toast, and other breakfast dishes like those. Prices were very cheap for the service and food we received.
Attractions
Skylon was a tower similar to the CN Tower. You can go to the top and view The
Falls. It is kind of a waste because there is a lot of water vapor rising which makes it very hard to see the actual falls. There is also a revolving diner near the top. On the bottom, there is a mall and a mega-arcade.
Niagara Prime Outlets was my wife’s favorite attraction. There were many low prices at stores that you may see in the mall. There was Gap, Nike, Reebok, Burger King, and other stores. I can’t really put my finger on more names. Transportation was offered to us for free by the hotel shuttle.
Casino Niagara is one of the best attractions. It is an everyday casino with slot machines, craps, and poker. There is valet parking, and we love to spend hours there. Casino Niagara is that tall, sky scraper type of looking building that can be seen from anywhere in Niagara.
Claude Hagerty Magic is a magic show at the auditorium in the Sheraton, Fallsview. it is a 45 minute show and it features magic tricks like cutting someone in half. He also shows us how he does some of the tricks, and at the end, feel free to get in the cage with a live lion and take a picture! Yes, you get in the same cage as a real lion. Pretty scary, eh?
The Wax Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Niagara. There are wax statues that are the most realistic with precise detail. I, on the other hand decided to have some fun. I stayed totally and completely still next to other wax statues and a lady came up to me and asked her friend if I was real. She started examining me, and I turned my friend and said, Boo! She jumped back and screamed and there was a lot of laughter everywhere. The person that I scared was laughing the most.
The Museum of Stars is very similar to the Wax Museum. The only difference is that all statues are of people from Hollywood, and that they are in glass boxes. There is also a display of Madonna and Cher who are singing a song together. Feel free to look at the detail of Austin Powers in his 1970’s world while wearing a tye-dye shirt with a tye-dye background. At the end, there is a haunted house with wax statues of Frankenstein and Dracula.
Marineland is probably the worst amusement park in the world. Sure, there are shows with whales and dolphins, but it is more walking and running than you think. More than half of your time will be spent walking from one attraction to another since it is so spread out. There is only one roller coaster and very few rides. It is by far the biggest waste of money.
The Moving Theater is a theater that features virtual reality rides inside an auditorium. The seats move to the theater screen’s show. One of the shows is a one with roller coasters. Since the seats move, they make you feel as if you are on the roller coaster.
Niagara on the Lake is a relaxing town about 15 minutes off Niagara Falls. There are delis, bakeries, and fancy restaurants. Small shops are connected to each other like very small towns in the south. There are also bed and breakfasts and the Name Book. This book stores all the names of people in the world. There is one name that they are missing though: Lilena. That is the name of my sister and it is not in that 700 page book.
Overall Recommendations
Niagara Falls is a beautiful city with the most breathtaking of nature. The Falls themselves are absolutely spectacular, especially at night on Canada Day when there are fireworks. I like it how everything is so close to each other, attraction wise. The attractions are endless, and there is always something for everyone. People who are looking to relax could visit the wax museums, The Falls, The Gardens, and Niagara on the Lake. For people looking for more intense things to do, try Maid of the Mist or Casino Niagara. Niagara Falls is truly a beautiful city.
Niagara Falls - Splish Splash...The Boat Was Taking A Bath!
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug
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