A Niagara Falls Weekend

For a timeless weekend trip, nothing beats a visit to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.  Just about a half hour from Buffalo, New York, the falls are as breathtaking as they were when your parents visited on their honeymoon sixty years ago .Make sure you bring your passport.  You'll need it for the border crossing. You'll also need to pay a small toll when you enter Canada. Generally be prepared to take a small haircut when you convert your US dollars to Canadian dollars. The exchange rate changes daily and usually in favor of the Canadian dollar. The best place to make the exchange is probably at a casino. They will usually give you the best rate.

 If you cross the Peace Bridge from Buffalo, you will be on the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) highway. You follow that for about 20 miles or 32 kilometers (at 1.6 kilometers to the mile). If you continue on the QEW, you will end up in Toronto .Instead take the Mcleod exit and follow the signs to the falls.  You will find yourself in the Fallsview sectiion of Niagara Falls, our favorite part of the falls area.. More about Fallsview later.

 The area at the other end of the falls has changed considerably from your parents' trip there. (Although of course, Clifton Hill is still there with all its well-known attractions, such as Ripley's Museum, which, by the way, is well worth a visit). In those days, the main hotel on the Canadian side of the falls was the Brock, named for the Canadian hero of the War of 1812, whose monument can be seen on Queenston Heights on the road to Niagara on the Lake . (More about Niagara on the Lake soon). The hotel is still there as a Crowne Plaza, 5685 Falls Avenue. Architechually it is as impressive as ever but now inside is a casino, the newly renovated Casino Niagara, connections to  a waterpark and a food court. There is even a Hard Rock Cafe nearby as well as the famous Rainbow restaurant overlooking the falls. Be sure to book a window table. Across the street  from the hotel is a beautiful garden and the famous carillon tower that you can see in the movie, "Niagara" with Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotton.

The hotel is very near the Rainbow Bridge which is another border crossing from the US. Our favorite spot for lunch on the US side is just across the Rainbow Bridge. The Red Coach Inn is a historic bed and breakfast located at 2 Buffalo Avenue, very near the American Falls and Goat Island.. From the enclosed porch dining room you can see the Upper Rapids. If you have the time, the Seneca Niagara Casino is close by and worth a visit.

Next post will be about the Fallsview area.  You won't want to miss it.