I'm trying to plan a trip to the Canadian side of the falls for early June. I have not been there in more than 50 years and my wife has never been there. When I was there as a kid we were on the American side, so I have not seen it from the Canadian side either. So from southern Pa. (York) I'm figuring a day to get there. Then are two full days at the falls enough? Is there more to do in that area? Should we go to Toronto while we're in that part of Canada? If so, what would be best to see and how much time should we spend in Toronto?

If we pay for most bills with credit cards, will that take care of the exchange rate? Dealing with exchange rates is something new to me. For the last thirty years whenever we were out of the U.S. we were in the Dominican or Mexico or Bahamas where everything was included and we just paid for small items and tips with American dollars.

Your advice will be appreciated.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: wbw,

Two days is plenty to see the falls area. It has built up a lot! There is a fairly new area right by the falls called Cliffton Hill with all kinds of touristy crap (arcades, wax museums, ripleys, a giant Farris wheel,etc).

The short drive out to Niagara on the Lake is nice. A small town shopping area with lots of little restaurants and such...don't forget the ice wine! There is the jet boat from there that goes up the Niagara River to the whirlpool that is pretty fun.

As far as credit cards, they will likely take care of the exchange rate, but the card company may charge you a fee for doing so. Check with your different card companies to see what the fees are. We have on card that does not charge fees for exchange purchases, so we use it when we travel abroad.

When we come over to North America we buy into a US or Canadian dollar cash card. You go into the travel agent, put a thousand dollars Canadian on it, and then go to Canada and spend it.

Any that you have left you can get back when you return to the lower 48.

tac

Well manicured gardens on the Canadian side in the falls area.

Clifton Hill is fairly new? We used to go drinking there at the clubs like 20 years ago.. Although I suppose if OP hasn't been there in 50 years it could be new?

There's at least one casino on the Canadian side (and one on the US side too). Last I knew, the Canadian one had every game but craps.

As mentioned, if you have a card that will do foreign exchanges without a fee, that will be your best bet. If you don't, exchange cash at the border.

Also, save all your receipts - for everything. Stop at duty free on your way back through, you get some of the taxes back (PST or GST, I forget which). There's a minimum per receipt, but I forget what it is.

Niagara-on-the-lake is definitely beautiful. The ice wine is at Cave Spring winery, also wonderful.

TO is nice, but very busy. It's a major metro, like 2.5M people IIRC. Expect to be tangled up on the QEW and the Gardiner for some time trying to get in there.

As for what to see? If you like shopping, TO has a sprawling underground mall. It can be accessed through the Eaton Center (name may have changed), or via most of the subway stations, or the shopping center on the south end of the city, down on Queen's Quay right on the waterfront. Again - save your receipts!!

Yonge Street is always good for people watching. Lots of touristy shit there. Also be sure to check out the World's Largest Bookstore while you're in TO (assuming it's still there).

Not sure what kind of food you like, or if the place is even still around, but Scaramouche was pretty awesome years ago. So was Centro. Far Niente and Soul of the Vine were also great. (All in TO). Lick's is a nice burger joint, great for lunch (I think it's a chain IIRC). There are also Tim Horton's everywhere, as one might expect.

FWIW. I like crossing at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. The Canadian side for border entry and now Duty Free heading into Canada are more modern than the Peace Bridge in Buffalo. As a result, the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge doesn't seem to back up as much or as often.

You can change dollars for loonies at Duty Free. Doesn't look like they post the exchange rate, but you could always call. The exchange rate will always have a few cents tacked on in their favor.

I use a Capital One credit card in Canada with no foreign exchange fees. One of the Venture One-branded cards.

If you carry cell phones, remember to get an international plan for that month. If you carry smartphones, be sure to get your data plan covered too. Data charges are stupid expensive without a plan.

Toronto is a big sprawling mess of a metro area. You'd have to chime in with some interests. There's always the CN Tower and the most unique of Canadian experiences (sarcasm): American baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Center next to CN Tower.

I tanker up my vehicle before going into Canada. I started using the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge because there's a Sams Club in a couple exits before the bridge.

I never knew about getting Ontario HST back at duty free. Thanks to exx1976 for the tip.

Good luck coming back into FUAC's New York. As long as you don't have fireworks, guns, felonies, or DUIs, Canada will let you in and their border agents are super-professional. Look up the United Airlines passenger re-accommodation video for how our boarder people act. Our folks were prickly in the 70s and 80s. They are downright mean after 9-11.

Check on documents required to cross into Canada & back - I believe passports are now required.

Be sure not to have a firearm in the car.

Cannot speak to the area today, but maybe 30 years ago we were up there with friends from Germany.

The Canadian side was great. Clean, friendly people, etc etc.

The US side was seedy, filthy dirty, unfriendly people and the whole town looked kind of like some of the Detroit suburbs.

Everyone who asked us about the area, we told them to stay on the Canadian side.

A nice experience for us when we were there was the boat ride up the river to the falls.

Last time I was there with my family, we stayed at the Marriott Fallsview on the Canadian side. Incredible 2-story views of the falls from your room.

The restaurant at the Hilton (Watermark, I think it was) was exceptional, also with a view of the falls.

There is a river walk on the Canadian side, the power of the water through that part of the river is impressive to say the least.

"Niagara Falls! Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch..."

Come on , I know I'm not the only guy to have this pop into my head when I read the thread title

I was there just a few weeks ago. Went up for a hockey tournament. Stayed on/near Clifton Hill. Could walk to food, casino and other attractions.

There are two casino's. I'm not a big gambler but the Fallsview Casino is better then the other one.

Credit cards will work fine and is how I paid everything last time I was there. Your credit card company will do the conversion with whatever that days rate it.

Many places in Niagara will also take US money but will likely not give you the best conversion.

From what I could see from the Canadian side, there was not a lot going for the American side of Niagra falls.

The area immediately around the Canadian side of the falls is very well kept, but go 250-500 yards in and it starts looking like a carnival. Giant plaster dinosaurs, kitchy gift shops etc. I spent a couple hours at the falls and that was enough.

If you are looking for a nice little town for a stroll and bite, check out Niagra on the Lake. It's a cute little town that's a lot less commercialized. I wish I spent more time there than at the falls themselves.

Toronto is a great place for a foodie, but there's a lot of square footage to cover so do your research before you show up.

I guess some things never change, the Canadian side is nice and the American side is, as Elk said, seedy. I live here but haven't been up there in 5 or 6 years. The Canadian side is the absolute best view. Two days is enough at the Falls, ride the Maid of the Mist, it's pretty cool.

quote:

Originally posted by mbinky:
"Niagara Falls! Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch..."

Come on , I know I'm not the only guy to have this pop into my head when I read the thread title

You're not the only one who thought that. Big Fan of Moe, Larry, & Curly here as well!

quote:

Originally posted by RaiseHal:
Be sure not to have a firearm in the car.

I'll second that warning. When we visited the Canadian side of the falls years ago we were forced to pull over to allow the border guards to search our vehicle because I truthfully answered their questions. The questions were... "Do you own any Firearms?" "Yes" I answered. "How many do you own?" "25-30 or so" I answered. "Do you ever travel with firearms?" "Yes". "Do you have any firearms in your possession now?" "No" I truthfully answered. They didn't believe me. We were detained for more than 2 hours while they went through every piece of our luggage and my truck with a fine tooth comb. They finally allowed us to cross the border, but not before they smugly announced that they confiscated "contraband" they found in my truck, two loose 9mm rounds and a small canister of pepper spray that were buried at the bottom of my driver's side door map pocket. We went on to enjoy our few days on the Canadian side but we're very glad to cross back into the good ole USA! That was way back in 1998! What would they do to me now when I would answer "150 or so" when asked how many guns I own?!

The view of Niagara Falls is definitely best from the Canadian Side. The little town of Niagara on the Lake (north of the Falls) is a lovely little place to spend a few hours. There is a sky ride across the Niagara River in between those 2 locations--it makes the trip across and immediately comes back with no getting off on the US side.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by sig239dlehr:

quote:

Originally posted by RaiseHal:
Be sure not to have a firearm in the car.

I'll second that warning. When we visited the Canadian side of the falls years ago we were forced to pull over to allow the border guards to search our vehicle because I truthfully answered their questions. The questions were... "Do you own any Firearms?" "Yes" I answered. "How many do you own?" "25-30 or so" I answered. "Do you ever travel with firearms?" "Yes". "Do you have any firearms in your possession now?" "No" I truthfully answered. They didn't believe me. We were detained for more than 2 hours while they went through every piece of our luggage and my truck with a fine tooth comb. They finally allowed us to cross the border, but not before they smugly announced that they confiscated "contraband" they found in my truck, two loose 9mm rounds and a small canister of pepper spray that were buried at the bottom of my driver's side door map pocket. We went on to enjoy our few days on the Canadian side but we're very glad to cross back into the good ole USA! That was way back in 1998! What would they do to me now when I would answer "150 or so" when asked how many guns I own?!

I was asked the same questions last year but let through without any issue. This year it was just do you have any guns with you. Alone with the standard what are you here for.

We spent 5 days on the Canada side of Niagara Falls last summer. Stayed at KOA campground in Ontario. We took the red bus going to Niagara Falls area. They sell a package deal (3 day bus pass, 2 attractions). Make sure you do the blow horn ferry ride. The experience is breath taking. Made a mistake in watching the fireworks during Canada day. The 20 min. bus ride back to the campground became 3hrs because of traffic.

I was also asked if I own any firearms. I said YES. Do you have any inside your RV right now? I said NO. They went inside the RV for about 5 mins. and allowed us to proceed.

Thanks everyone for your input.

We will now most likely spend 1.5 days at the falls and a half day at Niagara-on-the-lake. Then we'll move on to the Corning glass museum in N.Y. and then home.