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Old 06-21-2018, 12:01 AM   #1
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Niagra Falls

Niagra Falls has always been on my bucket list of places to go, finally going!!!

Would appreciate advice on where to stay and sites to see in the area, staying 3-4 days. Will I need to rent a car or are there local shuttles?

Thanks in advance for any advice!!!

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Old 06-21-2018, 12:47 AM   #2
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Niagra Falls

Branches of Niagra Campground is great. 15 minutes to the falls. Shuttle available at CG. Tour included in price. You will likely need a car. Suggest taking a trip along the lake. CG a little pricey, but worth it.
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Old 06-21-2018, 12:48 AM   #3
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We stayed at Niagara Hartland RV Resort which was nice and quiet and about 40 minutes from Niagara Falls. It is near Lockport, NY. Depending on your interests, there are a lot of things to do and see nearby. We rented from Enterprise in Lockport which was about 10 minutes away.
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Old 06-21-2018, 01:18 AM   #4
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We've been to Niagara Falls a few times: Stayed at KOAs each time.

Its been our experience that staying on the Canadian side (if you have a passport or a state "enhanced" driver's license) is much nicer than staying on the US side.

The Grand Island,NY KOA is very crowded and cramped--your awning will hit your neighbor's.

The Canadian KOA is a bit nicer with the sites about 2x as wide as Grand Island's.

On the US side if you stick to the park "Niagara Falls State Park" and "Goat Island" its nice (like a state park would be) go outside of that, and on the Canadian side and you'll find all manner of tourist traps (a Casino, wax museum, etc.).

Of course you don't have to stay at a KOA (both KOA's on either side are about 10 minutes from the falls or less).
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Old 06-21-2018, 01:28 AM   #5
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I, too, vote for the Canadian side. Well worth the trip across the bridge.
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Old 06-21-2018, 02:05 AM   #6
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Branches of Niagra Campground is great. 15 minutes to the falls. Shuttle available at CG. Tour included in price. You will likely need a car. Suggest taking a trip along the lake. CG a little pricey, but worth it.
Yeah, got to buy the shirts, hats, magnets, stickeys ...etc. Oh yeah, the maple cookies there are good, the Canadian food is good, lots of pics of everything too. Me, I flew into Missasauga which is the airport for Toronto and enjoyed the tours (including the castle they have there). You can spend a lot of money enjoying yourself. Oh yeah, the aquirium they got and the tiny train ride is fun too. Canadians is nice people.
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Old 06-21-2018, 03:27 AM   #7
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We were there for first time together a couple of years ago (I had been there with family when young), and decided to stay in hotel on Canadian side looking directly over falls. We had a great view from room, and could walk down to falls in a few minutes. There was a significant change in elevation, so required uphill hike on walk back to room.

We sometimes mix hotels into longer camping/touring trips, and this location made a lot of sense for us. The room was actually much less expensive than I expected given the location and view.
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Old 06-22-2018, 11:22 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by SuperD View Post
Niagra Falls has always been on my bucket list of places to go, finally going!!!

Would appreciate advice on where to stay and sites to see in the area, staying 3-4 days. Will I need to rent a car or are there local shuttles?

Thanks in advance for any advice!!!
We just returned from the falls but we stayed on the Canadian side which I highly recommend if you really want the best view of the falls. We stayed at the Jellystone Park just across the border in Buffalo, NY. It's a nice park, easy in and out with plenty of room. I'd suggest a rental car because, although this RV park isn't far from the falls (maybe 10 mins.), they didn't have a shuttle and there's plenty of places you'd prob want to go to on your own. You won't nee a car if just going to the attractions around the falls, prob even on the American side, because you'll have to park and walk to most of it anyways. I just wrote a post regarding our trip titled "First Crossing into Canada..." which details more of the park.

I'm sure the falls are spectacular from the American side as well but from Canada, you get to look at the face of BOTH falls, you can even get right up to the edge at the Table Rock visitors center.

Have fun and hope you guys have a safe trip! It's one I think you'll be glad you made!
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Old 06-25-2018, 02:14 PM   #9
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Was it easy to rent a car?
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Old 06-25-2018, 02:29 PM   #10
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Was it easy to rent a car?
Oh yeah, No problem there. Suggestions: Get one with full insurance, a GPS, pay attention to all the road signs, don't go faster than everybody else cause you can't understand KPH, and amazingly enough when I drove there and paid attention I didn't have problems with other drivers. Oh yeah, get familiar with as many different road signs as you can. Loved it there.
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Old 06-25-2018, 02:36 PM   #11
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Thank you!
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Old 06-25-2018, 02:43 PM   #12
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Is that a tour boat in the first picture??
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Old 06-25-2018, 02:48 PM   #13
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Looks like "Maid of the Mist" tour boat. There is also a tunnel behind the falls this awesome.
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Old 06-25-2018, 02:48 PM   #14
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Thank you!
Oh yeah the food is great there too. Lots of different nationalities getting along with each other, so the food can fit whatever fancy you have. Don't try to figure out the exchange rate and if it's about equal. It will give you a headache. Lastly, look for the places that can exchange your money. Not all that many really. The electricity is the same as here so less worries.
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Old 07-08-2018, 12:04 PM   #15
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Thank you to everyone for your great advice and suggestions, VERY much appreciated!!!
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Old 08-03-2018, 04:03 PM   #16
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Made it to Niagra Falls and back in one piece! Canadian customs wasn’t a great experience! I handed the border agent our passports and then she asked “what is your country of citizenship”? I wanted to ask if she had learned to read yet since it clearly says United States of America on the cover, I’ve had run ins with border agents before so I knew not to do that, sure wanted to though!!!

Had a Great time with our grandson, rode the Hornblower boat twice, once during the day, and again at night with the Falls lit up, Amazing!!!
Got to go to the light control both and play with the lights, that was super cool!

Canada is Expensive!!!!!! Dinner for three at a buffet that wasn’t that great was $125!!! Three burgers, one medium fry, and three root beers was $41! Had a Great time, glad we went, probably won’t go again unless I hit the lottery.

A HUGE Thank You to everyone for their great advice!!! What a Great bunch of people on this forum!!!


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Old 08-03-2018, 05:34 PM   #17
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When I was young they damned up the Niagara River above the falls to study the erosion. They built cat walks at the bottom of the dry falls. They allowed people to walk that area. I still remember being down there.
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Old 08-03-2018, 06:06 PM   #18
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Glad to see that you survived "The Barrel Ride"!
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Old 08-04-2018, 01:45 AM   #19
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Niagara Falls

Having grown up in Rochester NY I crossed into Canada frequently. Recommend not exchanging more than $20.00 American $$, unless need to replenish for small purchases like parking, as it is best to use a credit card for purchases including hotels, car, meals, etc. You will get the best exchange rate for the day. It is great to see the monthly bill come in significantly less than what was spent. Great restaurant above the falls on the Canadian side is, My Cousin Vinnie's. The Skylon has a great restaurant --what a view!!!!
There is a small outlet mall not far from the Canadian Falls. A huge outlet mall on the USA side. The horticulture college, has a nice tour via horse and buggy.
Enjoy!
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Old 08-04-2018, 03:02 PM   #20
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Niagra Falls

We are also looking at going to NF. Need advice as to what the best route will be. We will be leaving from Atlanta and don't know if I-77 or I-79 is best. Want to avoid heavy traffic areas so lots of steep mountain roads as much as possible. Read that I-90 from Erie to NF can be rough. We had rough roads in places out west last year, but managed to keep our MH together. Also, when crossing into Canada by foot how far of a walk is it to the falls or a shuttle to the falls?
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