August 23, 2011
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.
June 28, 2011
Niagara Falls Activities for Canada Day and Independence Day Long Weekend
The first official long weekend of the summer!
This coming weekend Canada and the United States of America, two great nations, friends and neighbors or neighbours (depending on which side of the mighty Niagara you call home!) are joining together to commemorate the formation of their great countries!
Do you Like Fireworks? This weekend Niagara Falls will detonate loads of them!
July 1st Friday Night at 10 P.M.
Fired from the base of the Niagara gorge, directly across from the American Falls, a spectacular pyrotechnic display will kick off the weekend celebrations in style! To get the best view, be sure to watch from the bottom of Clifton Hill. (Locals secret). These spectacular Canada Day fireworks are provided free for your viewing pleasure by the: local Hotel, Attraction and Restaurant owners of Niagara Falls, Canada.
July 2nd Saturday at 9:40 P.M.
The Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, New York will be Celebrating America’s Independence Day with a thunderous array of Fireworks! Best place for viewing? You guessed it, at the base of Clifton Hill.
July 3rd Sunday Night at 10P.M.
Another great fireworks show put on by the Tourism Business community of Niagara Falls, Canada. A third night of watching fireworks might call for a different perspective. Why not from the Niagara Skywheel? The Skywheel is Canada’s largest giant wheel and offers an amazing view 170 feet above the Falls. The SkyWheel is also one of 5 great attractions included on the Clifton Hill FUN PASS, all for only $24.95. It is the best value for attractions in Niagara Falls.
Niagara’s fireworks are a great way to kick off an amazing night on Clifton Hill’s World Famous Street of Fun by the Falls! After the fireworks, be sure to stop by the Great Canadian Midway on your way up ‘The Hill’ and enjoy the challenge of over 300 interactive games! Hungry? A late night snack at Boston Pizza or Kelsey’s Bar & Grill might be in order. Both have a great selection of appetizers and entrées perfect for sharing!
Looking to enjoy some Bowling, Billiards and maybe a Beer? Try Strike Rock and Bowl’s 25,000 square foot entertainment complex; the centerpiece of Niagara’s exciting Nightlife on Clifton Hill.
So, what else is there to do over the long weekend in Niagara Falls? The answer… lots!
International Dance Competition
There is the International Dance Competition on July 2 and 3 at the Scotia Bank Convention Centre. So you think you can Dance? Well these people really can!
Greg Frewin’s Magic Show
A true Las Vegas style show, just a 5-minute walk from Clifton Hill. The “Beyond Belief Magic Show“ runs at 8 p.m. every night of the weekend.
Friendship Festival
Take in a concert under the stars. The Fort Erie Friendship festival has 2 amazing shows scheduled: Big Sugar on Friday night (July 1st) and Ian Thornley & Big Wreck on Saturday (July 2nd). Gates open at 7 pm.
There’s a lot to do at night…What about during the day? Plenty.
Dinosaur Adventure Golf is a great daytime attraction, offering fun for the whole family or for that special someone in your life. Here you can enjoy a relaxing tropical setting complete with a 50 ft tall volcano and waterfall. Just watch out for the towering Dinosaurs! They provide the perfect backdrop for an incredible photo!
Dinosaur Adventure Golf is located directly behind the Niagara Skywheel and is also a part of the Clifton Hill FUN PASS. The FUN PASS offers 5 attractions for $25 including these two must do adventures!
Also, don’t forget to take some time to relax and watch all the people and activity on Clifton Hill’s World Famous Street of Fun by the Falls; It’s a Niagara Falls tradition! The best places to enjoy all the hustle and bustle is from Kelsey’s Patio, where there is great views and live entertainment, which adds to the atmosphere, or Boston Pizza with its open air patio spilling out into the Niagara SkyWheel Courtyard.
There is still so much more to see and do. You will just have to come to Clifton Hill and discover all the Fun by the Falls in person!
February 17, 2011
For Immediate Release
February 17, 2011
New Family Day Weekend Exhibit: ‘Great Reptiles of the World’ at the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory
Niagara Falls, Ontario – The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is pleased to announce a new exhibit, ‘Great Reptiles of the World’ for Ontario’s Family Day (or U.S., President’s Day) long weekend, February 19 – 21. Visitors will enjoy interactive displays and daily educational presentations featuring some of the most fascinating reptiles alive today, including a 100 pound alligator, a 200 pound python, an 80 pound tortoise, a giant monitor lizard and a giant snapping turtle.
45 minute presentations will take place four times daily at 9:30 & 11:30 a.m. and 2 & 4 p.m. followed by an opportunity to meet the keepers and reptiles from Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo from Ottawa, Ontario.
Entrance to the exhibit is included with admission to the Butterfly Conservatory: $12.25 for Adults (ages 13+), $7.95 for Children (6 – 12 years), and Children five and under are admitted FREE (prices in Cdn. plus tax). Free parking is available on-site. The Butterfly Conservatory will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the last visitors admitted at 5:30 p.m. Please call (905) 356-8119 for details.
After undertaking a brief restoration of the protective netting within the Conservatory, the Butterfly Conservatory will re- open on February 19. This fully accessible facility is located at 2405 Niagara Parkway on the grounds of the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and School of Horticulture.
The Butterfly Conservatory is owned and operated by The Niagara Parks Commission, an agency of the Government of Ontario that has preserved and maintained the parklands and attractions surrounding the Falls without tax dollars since 1885. Remember that your purchases at Niagara Parks help great things happen. Every dollar you spend with us helps preserve the nature and heritage of the Falls and the Niagara Parkway.
-30-
For more event information visit www.niagaraparks.com or contact:
Tony Baldinelli, Communications Manager
tbaldinelli@niagaraparks.com
(905) 371-0837
December 2, 2010
Niagara Falls New Years Eve Bash 2010
Date: December 31st 2010
Times: 6:30 PM, Televised Live by Global at 10 PM EST.
Location: Queen Victoria Park
Hosted by: ET Canada’s Rick Campanelli and Cheryl Hickey
Featured Artists: Great Big Sea, Barenaked Ladies, Kardinal Offishall, Running Red Lights and Comedian Calwyn Shurgold
Click here for Niagara Falls New Years Eve details for 2010!
November 29, 2010
Families searching for a fun, memorable and convenient getaway package this winter holiday season can call off their search, because the Comfort Inn on Clifton Hill, located just one block away from the world famous Niagara Falls, has the perfect solution: the all-inclusive Family Fun package.
The Family Fun Package, which is available weekends and during holidays/school breaks during the winter, includes a huge selection of family and budget-friendly goodies, including: 2 nights accommodation at the Comfort Inn on Clifton Hill; deluxe continental breakfast each morning served in the hotel’s poolside café, access to the hotel’s huge tropical indoor pool and giant whirlpool; dining vouchers for Kelsey’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill on Clifton Hill; 10 game tokens for the Great Canadian Midway; and “Fun Passes” for admission to the Niagara Skywheel, Movieland Wax Museum, Galaxy Golf, Ghost Blasters Dark Ride, and FX Ride Theatre.
Plus, families who visit the Niagara Falls area this winter can enjoy the spectacular Festival of Lights (free, November 6 – January 31), fireworks displays (free, every Friday at 9pm from November 12 – December 24), the Falls’ Illumination (free, 5pm to 12am from November 7 – December 30), and a host of fabulous New Years’ events, including a free New Year’s Eve concert in Queen Victoria Park. (more…)
June 4, 2010
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
March 23, 2010
The Floral Showhouse, located in Queen Victoria Park, opens this weekend and features a seasonal favourite; The Easter Flower Display. It has been a Niagara tradition for over 60 years. As an added feature there will be real chicks and bunnies in the greenhouse, a wonderful treat for the kids.
Admission to this year-round attraction is free.
Location: The Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse is located just south of the Falls at 7145 Niagara Parkway.
Hours of Operation: Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is available on site.
January 20, 2010
Originally printed by the Review
Parks launches ‘community’ website
Posted By Review Staff
The Niagara Parks Commission has launched a new, community website to provide easy access to information about the operations of the parks and how to do business with the commission.
The move follows on recommendations contained in Ontario Ministry of Tourism governance and audit reviews of the NPC undertaken last year.
“The commission is committed to being as open and transparent as possible,” NPC acting chairman Archie Katzman said in a media release issued Wednesday. (more…)
November 20, 2009
Niagara Parks Commission launches new website
The Niagara Parks Commission in Niagara Falls, Canada has just recently launched an all new website!
This new site is a nice improvement from the previous version, with its clean professional layout, clear navigational elements, high quality video archive, social media integration, expanded screen space, along with many other advancements.
Click Here to Visit Niagara Park’s Official Site
Some of the best features include:
-Dynamic animated splash page with video and photo gallery
-Beautiful interactive Map of Niagara Parks using Google Maps API (here)
-Detailed trip planning section
-Simplified and effective tiered menu navigation with drop downs
-New Blog/News Section (here)
-Excellent video presentation section with sharing capabilities (here)
-Photo and story sharing section
-Tour and group planning section
-Good use of color
Click Here to Find out More
October 30, 2009
Source: PRWEB
Winter Festival of Lights Turns Niagara Falls into a Winter World Wonderland
From November 7 to January 10, 2010, Canada’s largest illumination festival highlights an event-filled Niagara Falls holiday season, with over 1 million visitors seeing the best of Niagara Falls Canada, just a snowball’s throw from the sensational new Rink at the Brink.
Niagara Falls, Ontario (PRWEB) October 27, 2009 — Long winter nights are welcome in Niagara Falls when over 3 million lights and hundreds of glittering displays will cast a colourful glow across the city. Matching their brilliance is a star-studded season of entertainment that includes the November 12 Niagara Falls Comedy Fest, Christmas Concerts by Loretta Lynn and the Gatlin Brothers, and for the whole family, the magical Chronicles of Narnia at the new Queen Street Theatre in a revitalized downtown Niagara Falls, all perfect for a Niagara Falls vacation.
The Winter Festival of Lights sparks to life with an Opening Ceremony on November 7. This spectacular outdoor stage show in Queen Victoria Park features performances from the Winter Festival of Lights Choir, under the direction of the Ontario Conservatory of Music – Niagara Falls and the Niagara Star Singers singing a medley of holiday classics. And in a moment sure to put everyone in the festive spirit, this year’s special guests – Mickey and Minnie Mouse – have come all the way from Disney to help with the official lighting ceremony. (more…)
