Labour Day Weekend Activities Niagara Falls 2011
Well here we are, at what most people under the age of 18 would call the end of summer. (We really do still have a month of awesome summer weather ahead of us)
Getting the kids ready for school and preparing for a busy fall? Why not have one last getaway before its time to hit the books and pack lunches? For parents planning to do some back-to-school shopping in the USA, why not plan on a day of rest and relaxation right here in Niagara Falls?
There is a lot happening here this coming Labour Day Weekend. Starting Friday night take your pick on what to do: Take in the Falls Fireworks with the Family, watch Soul Asylum perform at the Seneca Niagara Casino, USA, or see Dennis Quaid & the Sharks performing at the Fallsview Casino in Canada…There is plenty of great options to get your weekend off to a rocking start!
This weekend will see a lot of people heading over the border on a “Back to school shopping spree”. Before picking up school clothes and supplies for the family why not pick up a little something for yourself! After all you are taking care of everyone else why not pamper yourself this weekend? You can start by testing your luck at Casino Niagara on Ladies Night, Every Friday, where all the ladies have a chance to WIN great prizes like diamond jewelry, spa packages, designer fragrances, and more. Why not take a moment to relax for a night before shopping in the US? The women in your party could win some great prizes, including a weekly Grand Prize worth up to $500. They will also receive 50 slot points and receive the Gift of the Night for just showing up! Visit the PAC Booth for more details. Click here for Ladies Night Rules. By having a fun Friday night, you will miss the border line ups and can be fresh for an early Saturday Morning start before the congestion.
Niagara Falls New York is not the only place for back to school deals this weekend. The Canada One Factory Outlet Mall on Lundy’s lane has loads of back to school specials. Why cross the border if you don’t have to? Why not stay at a centrally located hotel like the Comfort Inn Clifton Hill, and drive just 10 minutes to the outlet mall and other good stores.
Shopped, dropped and ready for a break? Relax on the patio at Kelsey’s Bar & Grill as you plan out a fun evening…
A few blocks away Greg Frewin has his award winning ”Beyond Belief” magic show at 8pm Friday through Sunday. You’ll have plenty of time beforehand for dinner at Kelsey’s or Boston Pizza. (Book the show now or watch for Comfort Inn’s special weekend offer coming this Fall)
After the show take in all the EXCITEMENT on Clifton Hill’s world famous street of fun by the Falls…which comes alive at night! Be sure to pick up a Fun Pass, it really is the best value in town for attraction entertainment! You can use it all in one night, or come back later in the weekend, or even later in the year for the attractions you missed.
Are you looking for a way to cap the weekend?
Below are a few great events to consider:
Niagara Falls Fireworks
Enjoy spectacular fireworks displays over Niagara Falls
September 2nd & 4th @ 10PM
http://www.cliftonhill.com/events/niagara-falls-fireworks
Rumours Back to School Bash
September 4, 2011
Rumours will definitely be the party to be at!
Website: http://www.cliftonhill.com/events/rumours-back-school-bash
Summers End Labour Day Weekend at Dragonfly Nightclub
September 4, 2011
http://www.cliftonhill.com/events/summers-end-labour-day-weekend-party
Click here for the full Niagara Falls event calander
As you can see Niagara Falls is the place to be this Labour Day Long Weekend! Lots to do and lots of fun for every one and every age! Why not end the summer vacation with an action packed weekend in Niagara Falls on Clifton Hill’s World Famous Street of Fun by the Falls!
Niagara Falls Border
For helpful information regarding Niagara’s border crossings click the following:
http://www.cliftonhill.com/explore/plan-trip/niagara-falls-border
Psychedelic Golden Elvis on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls!
Amazing night photo of the Niagara SkyWheel Courtyard on Clifton Hill with Golden Elvis!
Niagara Falls on a Budget
With all the recent talk of fiscal restraint and budgets, I thought it would be timely to talk about families wanting to get away for a day or so, in a cost effective manner. You may want to print this post and bring it with you on your day of adventure in Niagara Falls.
Meal Planning
A little pre-planning saves you money. Plan for a day of multiple snacks rather than sitting down for one big meal. Pack a few bags of goodies, such as trail mix, nuts and dried fruit before you head out. Once on the road, take a slight detour to pick up some fresh Niagara tender fruits (eg. Peaches are currently in season), at one of many roadside stands. A small cooler bag or lunch bag in the car is all you will need (you will learn why soon).
Getting here
Before heading out, I highly recommended that you read this section on out how to get here and where to park. This will save you valuable time and money. Be sure to leave early, and plan to arrive at arround 10 AM.
If you’re traveling by car on the QEW towards Niagara Falls from either direction, do not take Hwy 420. Instead continue to McLeod Rd taking the McLeod Rd east exit (towards Marineland) and continue to Stanley Avenue. Turn left on Stanley and continue to Robinson St. (you will see a large Skywheel billboard) Turn right on Robinson and continue to the end of the road. Park in the lot on your left.
Once you are in the lot continue until you get as close to the Niagara Skywheel as possible and park. This route just saved you traveling through the heart of the city and heavy traffic. Parking in this lot can save you as much as $10 and puts you in the center of the Niagara Falls entertainment district, with easy access to the Parks, Falls and Clifton Hill.
Here is where the fun begins:
Pick up some Fun Passes at the Niagara Skywheel information booth. You get 5 attractions at $5 each plus Midway tokens. $24.95 for Adults and $19.95 for Kids. For a family of four, you can save over $95 (after tax) on your entertainment for the day!
Following this, take a stroll to the Rainbow Bridge just a short jaunt down Clifton Hill. Once you get on the bridge you will discover some of the best views of both the Canadian Horseshoe and American Falls. For just 50 cents each, you can walk out to the center of the Rainbow Bridge and get some amazing pictures. One foot in Canada and one in the USA. The Canadian and American Falls provide an amazing backdrop, along with the Canadian parklands and Niagara Skywheel nearby. Take your time and get some great pictures then simply walk back to Canada! Just make sure you have proper ID for everyone in your group. Your friends and family back home will wonder how you managed to get such interesting photos. You could also share these photos on Clifton Hill’s Facebook or Twitter pages!
On the way back to Clifton Hill, be sure to stop by Movieland Wax Museum, which is this first attraction you’ll see walking up the hill. This one of a kind attraction showcases the world’s most famous stars in wax! After mingling with the stars, recharge your batteries and grab some fresh cut fries or a soft ice cream at the nearby concessions.
There is still a lot left on your FUN PASS and you can start up again by testing your skills at the nearby Dinosaur Adventure Golf attraction. From here you can move onto the Niagara Skywheel, for breath taking views of the Falls and a chance to sit down and relax in the air conditioned gondolas. Next head off to the Midway for Ghost Blasters and the FX Ride Theatre for some thrills and action. Remember, you also have some Great Canadian Midway tokens to use throughout the 70,000 sq ft arcade. If your taste buds are itching for another quick snack head into Boston Pizza where you can play interactive games and split a small pizza. Cash in your winnings and get ready for the next part of your budget day in Niagara Falls.
Off to the Park
Head back to your car and drive back towards the Robinson street entrance where you started the day.
Park as close to the entrance as you can, but don’t exit the lot. At the foot of Robinson (in the turn around) there is a staircase and path that leads you down into the Niagara Parks called the Jolley Cut. Locals have used this for years and it is a well-kept secret. Grab your snacks and head on down to the Park (remember the cooler bag I told you to keep in the car?). You just saved up to $20 in parking! Enjoy your time in the park and when it is time to go, simply walk up Murray Street, cut through the Skylon Tower parking lot and you are right back at your car.
Heading Home
Retrace your route and you are on your way home after a unique and affordable day in Niagara Falls.
Let’s add up the cost of a full day of fun on a budget. 2 adult Fun Passes $49.90, 2 kids Fun Passes $39.90, snacks(ice cream or Fries and a drink) $15, Bridge toll for 4 people $2 ,an individual pizza shared with drinks for 4 people $25, parking $10-15. Your entire day cost under $150 for a family of 4.
Kismat Konnection segment filmed on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls
In the recent past, a memorable segment of the famous Bollywood film Kismat Konnection was filmed on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls Canada, featuring the song “Is This Love” (Kahin Na Laage).
The creativity and production quality is very impressive and shows off Clifton Hill really well!
Song: Kahin Naa Laage Man AKA Is This Love?
Movie: Kismat Konnection (2008)
Singers: Mohit Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal
Music Director: Pritam
Lyricists: Sayeed Quadri and Shabbir Ahmed
Actors: Vidhya Balan and Shahid Kapoor
Watch the video to see Clifton Hill and enjoy the song Is this Love from the movie Kismat Konnection
Very nice drive by video of Clifton Hill Niagara Falls at night by arlvm!
It gives a great sense of what its like on Clifton Hill at night, with all its spectacular lights and activity! In this video, the Niagara SkyWheel, Great Canadian Midway and other attractions stand out really well.
Can you believe in less than 4 weeks it’s Labour Day? Where did the summer go?
If you haven’t had a chance to get away for a few days this summer it’s time to start planning. Quite often I’m asked, “As someone who lives in Niagara, how would you spend two days here?”
Assuming I was coming from Toronto for a 2 day getaway, as a couple or with family, my itinerary would look something like this:
Not being an early riser, I would arrive in Niagara Falls around noon and would stay at the Comfort Inn on Clifton Hill of course. While check in isn’t until 2PM, the bell desk will store my bags and we would grab a quick bite to eat at Tim Hortons or Wendy’s.
Then it would be off to the Whirlpool Jet Boats in Queenston or simply stroll to the bottom of Clifton Hill for a ride on the Maid of the Mist. The refreshing coolness of being on the water, accompanied by splashing waves on the Jet Boat or the Falls bellowing mist while sailing on the Maid, is sure to wake you up after the drive to Niagara and lunch. Either way, its way more fun than a shower!
Next it’s off to the Niagara Glen across from the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. Taking the staircase down into the Glen, you will feel like you are entering a different world. It feels like the temperature drops 10 degrees as you hike the trails of the Glen at your own speed. You can get right up to the river at this point sitting on the rocks you can wave at the Jet Boat as it comes and goes out of the whirlpool.
The next part of my day would be either exploring the fruit belt, between Queenston and Niagara-on-the–Lake, stocking up on fresh fruit for later, or stopping at a winery or two for gourmet wine samples.
Then it’s back to the Comfort Inn Clifton Hill for check–in and to relax for an hour to recharge and get ready for a fun filled night on Clifton Hill! Before dinner we’d pick up our Fun Passes at the SkyWheel, then enjoy a delicious meal at Kelsey’s, with its prime view of either Clifton Hill or Victoria Ave from its open air patios and great food at reasonable prices!
Then with Fun Pass in hand, it’s off to let loose on The Hill! The Clifton Hill Fun Pass is the best deal in town, 5 of the top attractions in the city plus Great Canadian Midway tokens for $24.95 is less than $5 for each attraction. The Skywheel is spectacular at night as is Dinosaur Adventure Golf; They set the stage for a fun-filled evening the whole family can enjoy.
Clifton Hill is still hopping right into the wee hours of the morning, and is a great place to end the evening with a night cap at Boston Pizza / Strike Rock and Bowl.
The next morning would start with a satisfying breakfast provided free with your hotel room at the Comfort Inn. Then we would either take a stroll down to the Falls or if we had purchased the Marineland package as part of our hotel stay it would be off to Marineland for the day.
Then it’s homeward bound after enjoying a great mix of excitement and relaxation for 2 days. The combination of great deals and free activities makes this trip affordable as well as fun for couples or families.
That’s how I would spend a two day getaway in Niagara Falls.
How would you spend your two day getaway to Niagara?
