Niagara Falls Fun - Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls Canada

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.

Source: animenewsnetwork.com

Comics and Cartoons to Invade Niagara Falls
Nov 4th 2009

The Can-Am Comics and Anime Expo will be held in Niagara Falls Canada at the famous Skylon Tower, March 12-14, 2010.

The show will feature displays from exhibitors covering both of these popular and interesting genres. While comic books and their collectors have been almost timeless, the Japanese cartoon animation forms (Anime) are relatively new.

Anime has become a popular world wide phenomena due to their challenging plots, creative costumes and on going stories of intrigue.

At shows such as The Can-Am Comics and Anime Expo, it will be common to see show attendees dressed in the costumes of their favorite Anime Character.

There will be a continuous run, Anime Video theatre and Open Stage where various contests such as Best Costume, Name That Tune and other games will be featured, throughout the three day event. (more…)

Niagara Falls Videos: Dean Sullivan “point of view” Skylon stunt jump video

With a camera mounted on Dean Sullivan during his July 7th (2008) Skylon jump, you can watch from his point of view, as he repels off the Skylon tower and successfully lands on the lower roof structure.

Printed by the Review

DAREDEVIL DEAN
520-foot drop ends in happy landing
Posted By BY TONY RICCIUTO REVIEW STAFF WRITER

Dean Sullivan, a 42-year-old daredevil from St. Catharines, rappelled from the Skylon Tower observation deck Monday. Wearing a harness, he hooked himself to a rope hanging from the top of the 158-metre tower and slid down face-first using his hands as a brake. It was a publicity stunt to promote the downtown Daredevil Days festival, Aug. 15 to 17.

With only his hands to brake his fall, daredevil Dean Sullivan jumped face-first off the Skylon Tower Monday – attached to only a rope – and landed safely 520 feet on the ground below as hundreds of spectators cheered his success.

The jump, which took place with no safety devices outside of the rope and the waist harness attached to it, occurred around noon.

“You have to be pretty courageous to do something like that. I would never be able to do it,” said Morgan Potts, who watched the jump with her friend, Erika Helder.

“He must be pretty proud of himself, I know I would be,” added Helder.

“We thought it would be pretty cool to come and see it, and it was.” (more…)

Printed by the Review

Stunter takes the plunge off Skylon – and lives
Posted By TONY RICCIUTO / Review Staff Writer

With just his hands to slow him down, daredevil Dean Sullivan

jumped face-first off the Skylon Tower – attached to only a rope – and landed safely 520 feet to the ground below as hundreds of spectators cheered his success.

The jump, which took place with no mechanical safety devices, occurred around noon.

“You have to be pretty courageous to do something like that. I would never be able to do it,” said Morgan Potts, who watched the jump with her friend Erika Helder.

“He must be pretty proud of himself, I know I would be,” added Helder. “We thought it would be pretty cool to come and see it, and it was.”

Sullivan, 42, who was born in St. Catharines, uses a technique called rappelling which is often used by soldiers, police and firefighters to descend steep drops quickly, but he goes down face first. (more…)

Printed by the Review

520 feet straight down
ON MONDAY, HE’LL JUMP OFF THE SKYLON TOWER. HE’LL BE HOLDING A ROPE.
Posted By COREY LAROCQUE REVIEW STAFF WRITER

When a hardcore thrill-seeker tries to play by the rules, the paperwork and red tape start to pile up, but don’t get him down.

“You can’t even believe how much work -to do it legally. There’s all kinds of paperwork,” said Dean Sullivan, the 42-year-old daredevil who plans to jump from the observation deck of the Skylon Tower Monday. He’ll be attached to a rope, using his hands as a brake to stop before he hits the ground.

Sullivan now has the approvals he needs to rappel from the observation deck of the 520-foot tower.

His stunt is called rappelling, a technique soldiers, police and firefighters have used for years to descend steep drops quickly.

They tie a long rope from a solid object at the top of the cliff. Wearing a waist harness, they connect themselves to that line through a metal ring. (more…)

Printed from the Review

It’s lights out for Skylon Tower; Upgrade planned for next year, old bulbs taken down

There are an estimated three million individual lights in this year’s Winter Festival of Lights. But 5,000 of them are conspicuous by their absence.

For years, the festival was symbolized by the long, brightly lit strands of bulbs cascading down the Skylon Tower. Indeed, for most visitors it was the first attraction they saw. (more…)

Printed from the Review

After weather delays wirewalk, Cochrane ready to go

TONY RICCIUTO

Thursday, July 05, 2007 – 07:00

Local News – Wirewalker Jay Cochrane is ready to go – and if the weather co-operates today as expected – he will perform the first of his 20-storey walks this summer in the Fallsview district near the Skylon Tower.

Wednesday’s rain prevented the 63-year-old world famous wirewalker from performing on America’s Fourth of July holiday, but it didn’t dampen his spirits.

“I thought I might be able to do a little Mary Poppins with my umbrella,” he told The Review in a telephone interview Wednesday. (more…)

Printed from the Review

Cochrane plans first walk today

Wednesday, July 04, 2007 – 07:00

Local News – Jay Cochrane’s first attempted wirewalk of the summer was cancelled again Tuesday.

There are still problems with the set-up of the wires, but Cochrane expects to make his first walk of the summer today at 4 p.m., weather permitting, at the Skylon Tower, said his media representative Mark Phillips. (more…)

Printed from the Review

Wirewalker slated for ‘brief walk’ Thursday

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 – 07:00

Local News – Famed wirewalker Jay Cochrane may make a “brief walk” during a press conference scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Time and weather permitting, Cochrane will step out onto a 1,000-foot-long wire stretched between two 20-storey high towers near the Skylon Tower sometime during the press conference, which is scheduled for 1 p.m., according to Skylon Tower spokesman Lee Carr. The first of 132 full performances by Cochrane, one of the world’s most celebrated high-wire performers, is scheduled to take place Saturday at 4 p.m. (more…)