Niagara Falls Fun - Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls Canada

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?

Niagara Falls – A Place in The Balance film Trailer- A year in the making.

One of the best film of Niagara Falls ever made… See Niagara as you never seen it before..

Produced by The Niagara Parks Commission
Executive Producer: ………..Joel Noden
Director of Photography :.. John petrella
Directed & Edited by:……… john Petrella

Source: Posted by Mathew Wartman on Vimeo

Niagara Falls in Motion
http://www.vimeo.com/5370705

“Luckily for me, I live near one of the most photogenic places in the world – Niagara Falls. This video is a compilation of some timelapse shots I took over three separate nights in the city” -Mathew Wartman

Music by Mychael Danna & DeVotchKa – The Winner Is

Shot with a Nikon D90

Originally printed by Examiner.com on August 19th, 2009

CBS News producer Jack Halsbond was behind the wheel of The Early Show’s Winnebago Destination, traveling the country in July and August as part of the “Great American Vacation” giveaway road trip. Read his Web-exclusive road diary.

Niagara Falls was a spectacular backdrop to a magnificent morning highlighted by a full rainbow that appeared from out of the mist, crowning our vacation giveaway with beauty and wonder.

On hand at Niagara Falls are Park Ambassadors, there to help with any questions about the Falls that visitors may have, with their assistance you’ll have the best experience when visiting this magnificent natural wonder. (more…)

Source: chicoer.com

Niagara Falls: Still a worthwhile travel destination
By PATRICIA FELDHAUS – Special to the E-R
Article Launched: 09/14/2008 12:00:00 AM PDT

Niagara Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders of the world and legendary spot for honeymooners, was my latest travel destination with a Seattle theater critic friend.

As a guest of Ontario Tourism, I not only had the opportunity to enjoy nine plays at the Shaw Festival, the only theater in the world specializing exclusively in plays by Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries, but I also savored ice wine from the most celebrated grape and wine producing region in Canada, took a step back in history at Niagara-on-the-Lake and got up close and personal with the “thundering water.” (more…)

Printed from the toledoblade.com

Article published Sunday, July 20, 2008
Falling for Niagara
By MARY ALICE POWELL
SPECIAL TO THE BLADE

It’s a wow! It’s a wonder.

Niagara Falls is a magnificent example of Mother Nature at her best, surrounded by hundreds of manmade attractions.

After a ride on the Maid of the Mist boat through the falls, which is a must on almost everyone’s plans, the city of Niagara in Ontario and the surrounding region beckon with many entertainment choices for families.

The Maid of the Mist ride through the thundering waterfalls was the highlight of our three-day visit to Niagara. Each passenger was issued a plastic raincoat with a hood. Even then, those of us who chose to grip the railing for the best view, hold tight to our raincoats, secure the hoods, and protect cameras in plastic bags got drenched. The pounding, rushing falls were closer to the railing than we expected and the mist was heavier than pictures portray. It was a great half-hour adventure, well worth the $12.50 ticket, and even the six-hour drive to cross over the Canadian border into Ontario. (more…)

Printed by the Review

Niagara Falls: World class city or carnie town?
Posted By COREY LAROCQUE

Once a carnie town, always a carnie town? That’s the logic both downtown businesses and the tourism industry are using to get you to buy into events like Monday’s plunge from the Skylon Tower by daredevil Dean Sullivan and next month’s Daredevil Days festival.

Niagara Falls has a nearly 200-year-old history of stuntmen and stunt-women. As long as people with more courage than common sense have been coming to Niagara Falls, they have been defying death by going over, jumping from, walking across or riding through the incredible geographic features that define Niagara Falls.

When Sullivan rappelled from the Skylon Tower, it revived the dormant Niagara Falls tradition of cheating death to amuse the masses.

“You have to go back to our roots. They came here to see the daredevils,” said Wayne Thomson, a city councillor and chairman of the Daredevil Days festival coming up in August. (more…)

Printed by Mlive

Niagara Falls’ Dual Nature
by Mary Quinley | Booth News Service
Sunday June 29, 2008, 2:55 AM

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y — Nearly three decades had passed when my husband yearned to return to Niagara Falls. At first, I resisted: I’m not fond of wax figurines and bizarre collections.

However, I admit the falls themselves never fail to impress.

So, I reconsidered. My partner and I would go back to the falls. This time, our mission was to scour both sides of the U.S.-Canada border in search of elegant and atypical gems.

The New York side

We decided on historic Lewiston as our home base on the American side. Near the fringes of the Niagara River, Lewiston is minutes north of the Falls.

On a sun-drenched morning, after a restful snooze at the Barton Hill Hotel and Spa, we lounged in the lobby of the newly opened inn. Munching scones bursting with blueberries, we chatted with locals who shared tales of rum-running tunnels, the region’s long heritage with France and Britain and the town’s claim as the birthplace of the cocktail.  (more…)

Printed by the Review

We’re number 11 – and hanging in
Posted By JOHN LAW (Saturday, April 12, 2008)
Niagara Falls is making headway in its quest to join the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

The Swiss-based group New7Wonders, which last year held a worldwide poll to name the new seven man-made wonders of the world, is accepting votes for the greatest natural wonders.

From its list of 77 candidates, Niagara Falls is currently the 11th top vote-getter. The entire ranking can be seen at www.new7wonders.com.

Niagara Falls placed as high as second in January, then slipped to 16th in late February. The rankings are updated twice daily. (more…)

Printed by the Review

Niagara Falls in running for Natural Wonders poll
Posted By JOHN LAW

Niagara Falls is making headway in its quest to become one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

The Swiss-based group New7Wonders, which last year held a worldwide poll to name the new seven man-made wonders of the world, is now accepting votes for the greatest natural wonders.

From its list of 77 candidates, Niagara Falls is currently the 11th top vote-getter. The entire ranking can be seen at www.new7wonders.com.

Niagara Falls placed as high as second in January, then slipped to 16th in late February.

The rankings are updated twice a day.

A panel of experts will select the top 21 finalists next January before letting the public choose the eventual top seven. The list will be revealed in the summer of 2010.

As of Thursday, Ha Long Bay in Vietnam was the top vote getter. however, the number of votes won’t affect which 21 sites the New7Wonders panel chooses.

But there’s still work to be done if Niagara Falls wants to be among the finalists, said New7Wonders spokeswoman Tia Viering. (more…)