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Heading to Niagara Falls Area - Any tips? (1 Viewer)

MegaTon44

MegaTon44

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The wife and I are taking a much needed vacation this week (first in 2+ years) and have decided to drive to Niagara (Canada side). We've never been up that way and have minimal planned during the trip, so I wanted to check in with you fine folks to see if you have any tips.

A few things about us:
  • Trip is from 11/14 through 11/21
  • We'll be driving up and are down to explore Canada and surrounding NY areas
  • We are staying at the Embassy Suites by the Falls
  • We are not outdoorsy people, but are down to see some cool sights (given the cold weather, will be limited I'd assume)
  • We like to gamble. Usually I just watch her donate to the one armed bandit, but I'll get some time away to play cards
  • We like some good meals, with restriction. I'm a meat and potatoes kind of person and she is a pescatarian (vegetarian who eats seafood too). We are down for a good steakhouse, but not into super fine dining. Unless it is basic, assume I won't like it.
  • We like corny shit. Ghost tour, theme park, wine tour, etc.
  • She'll want a spa day, and I'll get poker time.
  • Most of the time will be husband and wife, but I'm down to meet up with PCF folks for lunch, poker, etc.
Anyway, thanks for reading that mess. Just wanted to provide some context around how boring I am :p. If you know of some weird shit that you think we may like, or are equally weird yourself, hit me up. Would be great to meet some chippers!

Much appreciated!
Dan

P.S. My wife is extremely fun and the opposite of me. She'd try pretty much anything. Unfortunately, we have to cater to the lowest common denominator (me). Needless to say, like many of us, I married up.
 
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My cash game is this Friday. Would love to have you down.

https://goo.gl/maps/5iUcEFsuu1E2

Anything right in the Falls Lundy Lane area is going to be stupid overpriced with 'Falls Improvement Fees' added on. But there is also a ton of tacky shit like the ferris wheel and wax museum etc.

This is a pretty good deal. It's better in the summer but many of the attractions are closed now so its cheaper.

https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit-niagara-parks/plan-your-visit/deals-packages/

There is also an international fireworks competition going on and the Festival of Lights.

https://wfol.com/

Wine tour? There are lots. I would make sure you visit Chateau Des Charmes. It is close by to Niagara Falls.

You want a decent breakfast for a reasonable price and also tacky?

http://www.flyingsaucerrestaurant.com/
 
moose said:
My cash game is this Friday. Would love to have you down.

https://goo.gl/maps/5iUcEFsuu1E2

Anything right in the Falls Lundy Lane area is going to be stupid overpriced with 'Falls Improvement Fees' added on. But there is also a ton of tacky shit like the ferris wheel and wax museum etc.

This is a pretty good deal. It's better in the summer but many of the attractions are closed now so its cheaper.

https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit-niagara-parks/plan-your-visit/deals-packages/

There is also an international fireworks competition going on and the Festival of Lights.

https://wfol.com/

Wine tour? There are lots. I would make sure you visit Chateau Des Charmes. It is close by to Niagara Falls.

You want a decent breakfast for a reasonable price and also tacky?

http://www.flyingsaucerrestaurant.com/
Click to expand...
moose said:
Oh Bird kingdom is decent too.

https://www.groupon.com/deals/bird-kingdom-1-3?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=us_dt_sea_ggl_txt_ttt_sr_cbp_ch1_nbr_k*bird kingdom_m*e_d*london-RTC-Root_g*RTC-bird-kingdom-1-3-EXACT_c*295791199397_ap*1t1_t*aud-468428055592:kwd-494115674632&loc_physical_ms=9001017&loc_interest_ms=9000768&template=ETA15&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw5_fBRCSARIsAGodhk_n5y1L-RY6n1U9itfqPi-ORFSXfhHD9Kz4lr5C1Vccd_f7HPSgxegaAnTdEALw_wcB
Click to expand...
Thanks Rob! I really appreciate that. I believe the boss has us scheduled with most of the tacky activities you noted above for Friday, but I'll definitely follow up on when I can sneak away and maybe we can meet up. Thanks!
 
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Fallsview poker room is closed so don't go there. You will have to go to Casino Niagara. You will need to get a players card and put some play on it or you will be paying for parking.

The tuesday tourney is $165 and great value. Usually gets 200+ runners.
https://casinoniagara.com/gaming/poker-room

If you want free booze bring your passport and cross back over and go to the Seneca Casino. It's 2 min from the Rainbow bridge.

There is no easy place to park to see the falls without paying the $20 parking so the WEGO (transit) pass that comes with the Wonder pass I linked above will come in handy. It also gets you on the incline railway which is a 3 min walk from your hotel.
 
Definitely use the number in the poker room link and call ahead. The wait times can be long. I would call 1 hour before you plan to leave and 30 min will be plenty to get you there and checked in at the desk.
 
I actually prefer viewing the falls from the American side from Goat Island. You can park on the island, then it's a short walk from there to Horshoe Falls, but you can also walk to Bridal Falls and the American Falls, and also cross over the river a bit upstream and see the American Falls from the other side. I think it gives you alot more perspective. From the Canadian side, there's just one place to view... You can get close to Horseshoe from both sides, but from the Canadian side, you can only look across to see Bridal Falls and the American Falls.

You can get behind Horseshoe from the Canadian side, but you can go down near the bottom of Bridal Falls from the American side. Both sides are impressive, neither side will disappoint, but I'd recommend Goat Island.

Also, from the falls, it's about a 30 minute drive to Anchor Bar, the birth place of the Buffalo Wings....
 
Went in 2000, so been awhile. Maid of the Mist, unbelievable to be surrounded by that much water falling around you. Behind the falls - meh. Spanish Aero Car - meh. Falls from top and lower deck is good. USA side was nothing much there, Canada side was a carnival. We had to stay in a heart shaped tub room, so I could check it off the life accomplishments. All I remember for sure was don't eat at any US chain restaurants, think I spent US$60 at Denny's on breakfast for the 2 of us, like US$90 at Applebee's. Found some place called Dad's for like C$10 total for breakfast 2nd day.

Get ya some loonies and toonies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loonie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toonie

T
 
If you're looking for what might be an interesting side trip, Niagara on the Lake is about ten miles north of the Falls, and a really nice drive. Lots of interesting shops and small places to eat, a couple of historic sites -- pretty cool. We'd recommend Shaw Cafe and Wine Bar.

And if you're into wine at all, Inniskillin Wines, Canada's best-known wine maker, is right on the way, about two miles before you get to NotL. Their dessert wines are spectacular.

Have fun!
 
Thanks so much to everyone for the recommendations. We truly appreciate it and have already bought tickets and/or added many of the spots you mentioned to the itinerary.
 
pltrgyst said:
If you're looking for what might be an interesting side trip, Niagara on the Lake is about ten miles north of the Falls, and a really nice drive. Lots of interesting shops and small places to eat, a couple of historic sites -- pretty cool. We'd recommend Shaw Cafe and Wine Bar.

And if you're into wine at all, Inniskillin Wines, Canada's best-known wine maker, is right on the way, about two miles before you get to NotL. Their dessert wines are spectacular.

Have fun!
Click to expand...

+1. Spent our anniversary in August there. Nice spot...bit of a tourist trap, but there's enough wineries in the area to make up for that.
 
Few pics from the room

20181114_174739.jpg
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20181114_174838.jpg
 
I stayed at the Marriott the last time I was there, was gonna recommend a room with a view but you killed it obv. I got flagged at a casino one time there, I was really pissed because I only had two drinks at the time. I ordered the drinks consecutively at the poker table, after working all day and then driving several hours in time to relax and sit down to play some cards, but I was wearing my contact lenses and my eyes were probably very red. In typical Canadian fashion, they flag you by subtly but politely ignoring requests for another drink. Regardless, it's a cool place and the casinos are decent. Have a great time!
 
Thank you again to everyone for the recommendations. They absolutely helped greatly during the trip.

A few thoughts/highlights:
  • The Falls were amazing. We fell into the tourist trap nicely for the first few days.
  • We loved Ontario. The people were much friendlier than in Philly.
  • I met Steve (@Quicksilver-75 ) at Fallsview Casino and mushed the shit out of him at the craps table. He's a legit dude and it was a pleasure meeting him.
  • Charging session time + rake sucks. Fortunately, my table was garbage - in for $200 and out for $900 in 2 hours (paid for my wife's $700 spa day)
  • Niagara on the Lake was awesome. Eventual relocation there may be on the table in about 25 years
  • Fireworks outside our hotel window were amazing
  • Peller Estates winery was very cool. Tried a sample of a $500 bottle of Icewine, which was incredible. Had to convince my wife to go with 2 x $100 bottles instead of the $500
  • Doing the Hornblower boat ride in heavy snow on a 20 degree day with a spring jacket and golf shirt on was ridiculous. I love the cold and even I needed to go inside when we got to the falls. Canada is cold.
  • Inniskillin wines were also incredible (thanks Larry)
  • WEGO was the shit, especially to escape the cold.
  • Bird Kingdom was fun, especially being greeted by Sheldon the tortoise when we went in.
  • We found a bingo hall and mixed it up with the locals for the last few days. Yes, we are only 36 and 33, but hanging out with some very friendly and hospitable Canadians made us feel less like stupid tourists and more a part of the community.
In terms of downside, being from Philadelphia, a city that prides itself on producing some good (and ridiculously unhealthy) food, we were let down with the eateries. Breakfast at the Flying Saucer Restaurant (thanks @moose) was probably the best meal we had. I'm sure if we ventured further into Ontario, we would have found better, but everything else was generally not tasty and/or overpriced. It didn't dilute the experience at all, just something to note.

Anyway, I wanted to be sure to wrap this up as you all were kind enough to make recommendations. Here are a few pics. Thank you!

20181121_100310.jpg

20181115_182541.jpg

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20181120_145341.jpg
20181117_195655.jpg
 

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