Niagara Falls Fun - Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls Canada

American Spring Break in Niagara Falls Ontario

A Canadian Adventure 
Easter is around the corner and in America students will soon be enjoying their Spring Break recess.  Both great reasons for family travel, plus its nice to reward the kids for their hard work and to enjoy some bonding time in Niagara Falls!

 Niagara Falls is full of great attractions for the family and if you haven’t been to the Canadian side in awhile, you will discover some fresh and interesting changes there!

Boston Pizza Clifton Hill offers a great choice for family fun and features Midway games, the Strike bowling centre, and signature dishes like the Pepper pizza or the Slow Roasted Pork Ribs. Parents can also check the score of their favourite teams on the many high definition televisions, while children are entertained by all the interactive games and amusements.  At the top of the hill, the completely renovated Kelsey’s Restaurant features an all new island bar, high definition televisions, plus scrumptious menu items like the 7 layer dip, Smokey Portobello Chicken, or the heart smart 8 vegetable Pesto Fettuccine. 

 Fun by the Falls
After a nice meal, head to Clifton Hill too see all the dazzling attractions light up the night.  Your kids will be amazed, and never get bored along Clifton Hill’s promenade.   An evening ride on the SkyWheel lets you soar 175 feet above the Falls to see the city lit up and the Falls illuminated with bright colours.  Dinosaur Adventure Golf is a family favourite, and offers waterfalls, billowing steam and the call of the dinosaurs, making it feel like you have traveled back to prehistoric times.  Opening soon is the state of the art XD Theater, which will offer an exhilarating 6D adventure.  For details on this and other attractions click here

 Great Deals
The choices in Niagara Falls are endless, but if you want to save your money, check out the exclusive offers on the CliftonHill.com website.  For example, when you buy the Clifton Hill FUN PASS online, you will get an exclusive bonus admission to the Niagara SkyWheel. It’s only available when you order the FUN PASS online click here for details. 

 Staying the Night
For those spending a night or two on the Canadian Side, be sure to check the Comfort Inn Clifton Hill hotel and their great specials, like the Family Fun Package. You can even build your own “a la carte” package on the CliftonHill.com site to suit your needs. Details can be found by clicking here

 Crossing the Border
For U.S/Canadian citizens’ children 15 and under are required to have parental consent.  If you are travelling with someone else’s children or you are separated and your children have a different last name you must have written consent from the parent to be taking their child across the border.  As well you must have a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate, and everyone over the age of 15 must carry a passport to cross the border.

With all the pressures of work, extra-curricular activities, homework and friends, it’s important to maintain a sense of togetherness with the ones you love… bring the family closer together with a Niagara Falls adventure, and create memories that will last a lifetime!

Google Maps Street View hits Niagara Falls and Clifton Hill

Google Maps has recently included Niagara Falls, in their street view virtual interface.

The photo quality is good and shows an interesting view from all sides in most parts of Niagara Falls including Clifton Hill. The full screen mode is very helpful, allowing visitors to see a lot at once, while able to move the image around 360 degrees.

If Street View doesn’t appear, be sure to click the Street View symbol on the left side, which looks like this:

Clifton Hill – The Street of Fun by the Falls

View Exploring Niagara in a larger map

Originally printed by the Review
No-train idea’s a no-GO: Thomson
Posted By RAY SPITERI , REVIEW STAFF WRITER

It would be a “lousy idea” and a “disaster” for GO Transit if St. Catharines was made the commuter rail hub for all of Niagara, says Niagara Falls Tourism chairman Wayne Thomson.

GO Transit announced last fall it was studying the potential for long-coveted commuter rail service into Niagara.

GO hasn’t yet committed to expanding its service into the peninsula, but St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan is already causing a stir by suggesting it has big plans for his city.

GO Transit started its environmental assessment shortly after the conclusion of a summer tourism experiment that saw its trains run between Toronto, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls on weekends. (more…)

Source: CNW
Originally printed Dec. 21, 2009

Niagara Falls GO Bus service changes and improvements starting January 2

TORONTO, Dec. 21, 2009 /CNW/ – Starting Saturday, January 2, GO customers will have new weekend and holiday bus trips between Burlington and Niagara Falls. Highlights of service improvements and changes include:

– Two new westbound weekend bus trips will depart Burlington GO Station
at 11:48 a.m. and 9:48 p.m., making all stops to Niagara Falls.

– Two new eastbound weekend bus trips will depart from Niagara Falls
VIA Station at 9:45 a.m. and 7:45 p.m., making all stops to
Burlington GO Station.

– Starting on Monday, January 4, 2010, two weekday eastbound bus trips
departing from Niagara Falls VIA Station will leave five minutes
earlier at 3:15 p.m. and 4:40 p.m.

Some arrival and departures times have been adjusted to reflect typical travel times on weekday westbound trips between Stoney Creek and Niagara Falls. Times have also been adjusted on weekend westbound trips between Grimsby Park & Ride and Niagara Falls. A few weekday bus trips from Grimsby and Burlington have been cancelled. Customers should check the schedule for both of these changes. (more…)

Source: National Post

GO Transit considers expansion to Niagara Falls
Posted: November 17, 2009, 7:40 PM by Carmen Chai
By Carmen Chai, National Post

GO Transit officials launched an environmental assessment this week to look at the possibly of expanding rail service to the Niagara Peninsula after a successful summer of weekend train service linking Niagara Falls to Toronto.

Officials say the EA will examine infrastructure upgrades, prospective building sites for new rail stations and potential improvements to the existing rail line. The assessment should wrap up in summer 2010, and a public review period should help to determine the value of the expanded railway. (more…)

From the City of Niagara Falls Mayor’s Office

People Mover Stimulus Funding

Mayor Ted Salci, City of Niagara Falls and the Members of City Council were pleased to welcome the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Canada, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for Ontario, the Honourable George Smitherman, and Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor to the Niagara Falls VIA Rail Station Monday, September 25 to receive the announcement of infrastructure stimulus funding in the amount of $25 million from the provincial government and reaffirmation from the federal government of their commitment of $25 million for their much anticipated People Mover System.

The Niagara Falls People Mover Project will allow for integration with local transit, addressing the transportation needs of its residents and visitors alike while meeting the federal and provincial government objectives of developing employment and new growth.

The People Mover System will have a significant impact on the environment by effectively challenging the congestion in the tourist core by removing cars from the roads, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transporting our visitors and residents in an efficient and effective manner. (more…)

Originally printed by MarketWire

Infrastructure Canada Government of Ontario

Sep 25, 2009 13:45 ET

Canada-Ontario Partnership to Revitalize Downtown Niagara Falls Streetscape

Investment will create jobs and stimulate the economy

NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Sept. 25, 2009) – Residents, businesses, and tourists of Niagara Falls will benefit from nearly $2.7 million in upgrades to the Queen Street streetscape, thanks to a contribution announced today by the Honourable Rob Nicholson P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Mr. Kim Craitor, Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara Falls, and His Worship Ted Salci, Mayor of Niagara Falls. The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $889,033 for the revitalization project through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The City of Niagara Falls will fund the remaining project costs.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government is investing in projects that get shovels in the ground to stimulate the economy and create jobs locally,” said Minister Nicholson. “Thanks to the strong relationship between the federal, provincial and municipal governments, we are working together to help Niagara Falls revitalize the Queen Street streetscape, which will greatly enhance the area and improve the economic viability of the downtown core.”

“I have been amazed at the determination and energy of the Queen Street community’s efforts to bring life, vitality and people back to this important historic neighbourhood,” said Kim Craitor MPP for Niagara Falls. “The provincial government has been proud to support the community’s innovative programming over the last two years through Trillium and Celebrate Ontario. This past summer we invested in bringing the Go Train to town. Now I am delighted that the McGuinty Government is able to help build on this success and further invest in rebuilding and revitalizing the streetscape to continue the dream of building a vibrant and economically successful and sustainable tourist attraction.” (more…)

Printed originally in the Review

GO buses rolling into town
TRANSIT
Posted By TONY RICCIUTO , REVIEW STAFF WRITER

The GO Bus commuter service, which starts this Saturday in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, will get good use from city resident John Buckner.

He’s been waiting a long time for it to finally begin.

Buckner couldn’t be happier because not only will it be more convenient for him going to Toronto, it will bring many visitors to our city.

“It’s late in coming,” said Buckner. “We are one of the last municipalities in the province to be afforded this service, but it’s a good service and I just hope that it continues.” (more…)

Printed originally in the Review August 26, 2009

GO Train passengers average 1,500 a day
Ridership passed 30,000 mark last weekend, figures show
Posted By Corey Larocque

Nearly 2,700 passengers rode GO Transit’s Niagara-Toronto train last weekend, slightly below the 1,500-a-day average for the new summer service.

There were 1,433 passengers on Saturday and 1,264 on Sunday, according to figures released this week by the provincial transit agency. (more…)

Originally printed by the Review

GO Niagara-Toronto ridership exceeds expectations
Mayor hoping response will be noted when GO evaluates pilot project
Posted By Corey Larocque

GO Transit’s excursion train between Niagara Falls and Toronto continues to exceed the provincial transit agency’s expectations for the summer service, though it appears to be losing more money than the rest of GO’s system.

More than 23,000 passengers have used the train to travel between Canada’s biggest city and the Honeymoon Capital, Mayor Ted Salci reported during Monday’s council meeting.

“This is more than triple what the expectations were,” Salci said, adding he hopes the response will bode well when GO officials consider whether or not to make the service permanent.

(more…)