need info on niagara falls

this is my first time on this site. has any one out there been to niagara falls? we are doing there over the 4th of july and would like to know where to stay,what do we need to see and what is a waste of time. we will be there for two days.please let me in on your good info

1) You have to see the falls on the Canandian side.
1b Fill up in the USA or be prepared to pay a small fortune to fill up
2) You will be stuck in lots of traffic
3) It will be very hot while you are stuck in traffic, behind a lot of buses.
4) Once you park 3 miles down the street, and hop on a transport bus, you will be dropped off with throngs of other sweaty tourists.
5) You'll look at the falls, think it's nice and wonder when the return shuttle bus is coming.
6) Make an attempt to stay there longer than it took you to park.

Oh yeah, have fun.

I visited Niagara last summer. stayed at a super 8 i believe that charged about $130 Canadian dollars. The hotels at the falls are in the 200 to 300 range. look for a hotel several miles from the falls, the farther away the cheaper. you are going at the most expensive time of the year. the casinos are okay if you like to gamble. I do and play texas hold em for hours. you can park for free at the casinos if you get a players card, it is free otherwise parking is expensive as hell. you don't have to gamble to get a players card. the maid of the mist is fun, you wear a cheapo rain suit and go under the falls. i didn't do much else touristy but it is a very friendly touristy town. The cops on the canadian side don't even carry guns. Do not take a gun across, mucho jail time. You could still go across the peace bridge with just a drivers license last summer. might be a good idea to have a birth certificate or passport. The U.S. side is much worse coming back. The "homeland security" makes us all into potential terrorists. I haven't done any camping but camp grounds abound. look them up on the web site. I live in rural valley pa. about 5 hours south of the falls. send me a private message if you have any more questions.

Parking near the falls,YES!

KLT and I went there about three years back and found parking along the streets near the falls a No No! BUT, parking lot very near the falls was open for business and bikes get NO break. 10$ to park a bike, same as cars,arggg! Worth the visit, for sure. Canadian side is far best...

Don't miss boat ride

The Maid of the Mist is a fun ride. The boat navigates the river right up to the Falls. Here is a good starting point for the boat ride.

Maid of the Mist

How about camping around the falls (Canada side)???

Anyone recently tent camp around the falls on Canada side? There are many on both sides from what I can tell...I am not looking for scenery of the falls, I am looking for just a clean and nice area, otherwise I am going to have to start throwing darts when I stop there in August. $41US bucks for a basic camping site is a little, umm, pricey in my book. I am sure Nova Scotia and PEI will be even more fun

Majestic View

The trip on the Maid of the Mist is a must. That is where you will experience the full majesty of the Falls.

The tunnels under the falls have never really thrilled our family, but maybe they became dull after multiple visits. You might want to try them.

I've always wanted to climb the stairs beside the American Falls. That looks like fun.

The kids have always enjoyed climbing Brock's Monument at Queenston Heights. The spiral staircase has always left me hestitant on the way down (especially without a handrail for most of the descent).

I haven't done the cable car ride for years over the Whirlpool Rapids, but as I recall we used to really enjoy it. As a kid, I was dumb enough to play on the boulders in the river, only a few meters from the whirlpool. Now I just do safe things like ride my bike in traffic.

I think that there is street parking, but you just have to be lucky getting a spot otherwise you pay highway robbery in parking lots. Niagara is always a very busy place with lots of slow moving vehicles.

I'd avoid the tour of Fort George (not enough re-enactor guides these days to make the tour worthwhile) unless you arrive on major re-enactment weekend. The Americans landed by ship at Niagara-on-the-Lake and then repelled the British forces who retreated to Fort George for the final battle. The different battles took two days last year. That was worthwhile! I forget which weekend that was. I assume that they do it every year. Check the net.

I have yet to take a tour of Fort Niagara on the American side. That is on my do list.

Since I have enjoyed the Maid of the Mist so much, I am now inclined to try a helicopter ride over the falls within the next few years.

It is worth a visit even in the winter. The trees near the falls are quite awesome in the winter with the ice on their branches.

A pretty town but totally souvenir oriented, is Niagara-on-the-Lake, across from Fort Niagara, just north of the falls on the Canadian side. I think that it would be worth a ride through the town to view the architecture.

In mid-June, there is a tall ship tour out of Port Dalhousie Harbour. It travels down the Niagara River, with canon fire exchange between the ship and Fort Niagara. It is a relaxing day with lots of food being served as well as history being given of the War of 1812. We've done it a couple of times. The trip has to be booked in advance (and take stools or deck chairs and hats).

I have neglected to mention the carnival, touristy side attractions of the city. They certainly are worth skipping IMO.

I have never done the area by bike, but that is on my agenda for a weekend biking/camping trip sometime this season. Have a good time!

my preference was always to go there in the dead of winter, it's really neat. in any event, i always did the same thing: parked on the american side and walked over to the canadian side. it makes the border crossing a lot simpler.

Have to agree with most of what Gail said in her post. I spent what seemed like a week there one day on my return from the Maratine Privinces in '04. Left Rochester NY at sunrise to get to the falls early. CROWDS everywhere. Parking is a problem even for bikes.

Yes the falls are spectacular and I am glad to have seen them and add them to the list of falls I have seen. Spend some time, if you have it, exploring north of the falls as I did. There are some lovely towns and interesting sites.

Enjoy, take a deep breath and relax, it takes longer than you plan.

canadian side is the place to be.

just go early in the day to avoid the crowds through customs or parking.
park near the falls, go grab breakfast at a nearby restaurant while the place opens up, and then enjoy the festivities

Be sure to stock up on adult toys and provocative "lingerie" at the myriad of shops there.