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Niagara Falls International Marathon: My Journey to take on 42.2 Kilometres

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If you had asked me 2 years ago if I would become an avid running addict, I would have told you that you were crazy! I just gave birth to my son and had zero motivation. I had post-pardum depression, I had 35 pounds to shed and a newborn baby that drained all of my time and energy. Now I’m just 15.5 weeks out of running 42.2 Kilometres (or 26 miles to my American friends) in the Niagara Falls International Marathon on October 27th, 2013.
I had my son, Kaidyn, on March 27th, 2011 and it was on August 1st, 2011 exactly that I decided enough was enough and it was time to get moving. I went out and bought a good pair of running shoes — Asics Gel Nimbus 13. To this day, I swear by those shoes. I began walking with Kaidyn in his stroller after 2 months, so by August 1st when I decided to step out the door, I felt I was ready to do the next step — run. I didn’t realize then that I would be documenting my experience leading up to the Niagara Falls International Marathon just a couple of years later, nor did I know that I would shed all the weight plus an additional 16 pounds, improve my health and fitness and find a natural remedy to overcome post-pardum depression, without any kind of medical intervention. I downloaded the Nike GPS app for iphone — it’s a completely free application in which you enter your stats (height, weight, sex) and from there is tracks calories burned, mileage, your route and your speed. You have the ability to share it on social networking, which I do on Facebook. If you are competitive by nature — like myself haha — you can also race against your friends and try to beat their mileage week by week which is a further push to try and nail the Niagara Falls International Marathon.

Here is a video of the exact shoe that works for my foot specifically that I swear by, right down to the colour — but please have a professional assess your feet and running stride for the best shoe for your specific foot type! Places like your local Running Room will do this for you.
http://youtu.be/0odUtsBcfp4
The first thing I did to avoid the temptation to give up and stop running completely, was sign up for the Road 2 Hope Half Marathon on November 6th, 2011. That gave me 3 months to prepare. I slowly increased my mileage from 5KM runs to 10KM runs. I went from running everyday to running 5-6 days a week with one day devoted to Jillian Michaels. For super cheap, I bought 2 DVD’s: Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones and Jillian Michaels: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. I bought free weights in 1 lb, 3 lbs, and 5 lbs and got to work. Each DVD is 45 minutes. I learned that strength training is vital to maintaining proper form and increasing speed, stamina and the core strength needed for running. At the time, in preperation for this race, it was more important to me to finish the race than to garner a great time. I finished in 2:08:25. I was beaming! I felt accomplished, I felt like I could conquer the world. It was at that exact moment (without sounding poetic) that I fell in love with running. So here’s my first tip to keep you motivated….sign up NOW for the Niagara Falls International Marathon! By doing this, you will keep yourself accountable to keep moving. When you constantly sign up for races, you are continously staying on top of your game. You can only get better.
Here is my photo after my first race — the Road 2 Hope Half Marathon in November, 2011:

Fast forward to now — I have done 16 5K, 15 10K races, 6 Half Marathons, 1 30K race and the Warrior Dash. I have 34 medals — 25 of which I placed in the top 3 in my age group. My most recent Half Marathon was in a time of 1:43:17 — shaving off a considerable amount of time from my very first Half Marathon due to determination and persistance. I also have it in the back of my head that I am doing this for my son as well…to be the best mom that I can be by staying healthy enough to keep up!
My goal with this series of blogs leading up to the Niagara Falls International Marathon is to not only further motivate myself, but to encourage other runners and new runners that signing up for a full marathon doesn’t have to be as daunting as it seems. I am not a professional runner, I have NOT been doing this for years, I have lack of time, I have lack of sleep and I sometimes eat things that I shouldn’t, I get injuries, I run too late at night, I suffer from embarrassing running issues that no one ever wants to admit or talk about and I have no idea why Kenyans are so fast and why barefoot running is beneficial. I am just a regular runner looking to achieve something that statistics say that only 4% of the population ever acquires — to run a marathon!
Please follow my journey with me over these next couple of months as I document my personal experience and hopefully motivate you to give running a try! I will also write about my experience at the Niagara Falls International Marathon afterwards. The good, the bad, and the ugly! I will share my mileage, my nutrition (keeps me accountable!), trails and routes that I like and anything else I choose to talk about. I will leave this blog with my favourite running quote, made into a tattoo on my wrist:

If you have enjoyed this blog or feel that it may help encourage someone to give running a go, share this blog!
Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing my experiences with you!

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: Clifton Hill – Niagara Falls Fun
Twitter: @cliftonhillfun
Google+: Clifton Hill Niagara Falls
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Deals

Merrittville Speedway: Revv up into Summer with a Night of Racing!

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If you are looking for something unique to do with the family this Summer, head to Merrittville Speedway! Located at 2371 Merrittville Highway in Thorold, just 12 miles from Niagara Falls, Merrittville Speedway is full of excitement and thrills for the whole family to enjoy! If you are sick of doing the same old family outings, think outside the box and head to the track! Open seasonally, Summer is the time to get out and experience the Merrittville Speedway.

For 62 consecutive seasons, the Merrittville Speedway is an action-packed Niagara Falls event drawing crowds from all around Ontario — motor sport enthusiasts jam the open seating in the grand stands for this live and unpredictable show!  This season, Saturday nights belong to “Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Events” featuring five Divisions: 358 Modified, Sportsman, Hoosier, Modified Lite and Four Cylinder with local heroes and up and coming new stars that attracts all age groups. The Merrittville Speedway mascot “Crash Cougar” is a hit among the young ones and they will be thrilled to get signed autographs from their favourite racer of the night who will stick around after the race to answer questions and pose for pictures. Every Saturday night, the speedway hosts a “Kids Club” in which there is a different fun and interactive event taking place. Click here for a schedule of “Kids Club” events. Make plans to bring your friends and family and enjoy a staycation at the speedway with plenty of free parking and camping spots!
This recent article in the St.Catharines Standard captures the Merrittville Speedway experience and features an interview with a long-time race fan: Click here.
The Merrittville Speedway offers a full concessions stand, free parking, restrooms and on-site security! This is an inexpensive alternative for a full night of family fun.
Adults: $12.00
Students (13-18): $10.00
Seniors (60+): $10.00
Kids (8-12): $5.00
*Children under 8 are FREE!*
For the entire stock car season schedule click here.

“It’s more of a family thing, than a guy thing. Our demographic is 50% women and 50% men”, says Erica Bicknell-Jones, Merrittville Speedway GM. It’s this focus that drives so many families to the Niagara Region in the first place. Besides viewing the majestic Niagara Falls in itself, Clifton Hill is the prime tourist draw for families in Niagara. With an annual estimate at approximately 12 million visitors, it’s beneficial to have a street that focuses primarily on family entertainment and attractions to keep everyone interested. These include such attractions like the Niagara Skywheel, Dinosaur Adventure Golf, multiple museums such as Movieland Wax Museum of the Stars and a massive 70,000 square foot arcade called the Great Canadian Midway. Even better is finding a Niagara Falls package for a considerable discount. The Clifton Hill Fun Pass is just the package that tourists visiting Niagara Falls will love. Five attractions: the Niagara Skywheel, Dinosaur Adventure Golf OR Galaxy Golf (indoor glow-in-the-dark miniature golf), Ghostblasters Interactive Dark Ride, the XD Theatre, plus additional game tokens to play in the Great Canadian Midway for only $25.95 for Adults and $19.95 for Children (+taxes). Family fun in Niagara Falls doesn’t stop just at attractions though — restaurants that align Clifton Hill such as Boston Pizza focus on supplying you with a full menu of family favourites like gourmet pasta and pizza, while keeping adults and children entertained with attractions within the restaurant like it’s one of a kind, Strike Rock N Bowl. This is a 10-pin, 14 lane bowling alley customized with a Rock N Roll, black-lit theme that keeps everyone engaged!

A great Summer Saturday out with the kids starts with visiting Niagara Falls, enjoying the many attractions on Clifton Hill and then taking the short drive to Merrittville Speedway to catch all the live racecar action! Stay at the Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Hotel located directly on Clifton Hill to appreciate incredible savings on packages that are discounted to up to 70% on select attractions within the Build-A-Package option. This gives you a wide variety of things to do in Niagara Falls at a slashed cost…all while staying at a hotel with competitive rates, 5 minutes from the Niagara Falls and with added bonus features like free use of its indoor swimming pool, Wi-Fi and breakfast!
A great day to visit the Merrittville Speedway is on Saturday, August 5th for the Bob St. Amand Sr. Memorial Big Block event. This is a 100 lap event that is going to be huge! It is a Hoosier Stock Duel on the Dirt Big 6 Home Track Event and  the 3rd Enduro Qualifier accelerated by Niagara College.

We want everyone to check out everything that the Niagara Region has to offer, and what better way than a contest! Just “like” our Clifton Hill – Niagara Falls Fun Page on Facebook and “like” and “share” this blog and you are automatically entered to win 2 Clifton Hill Fun Passes, 2 games of bowling at Strike Rock N Bowl and 2 tickets to the Merrittville Speedway for the Bob St. Amand Sr. event on August 5th! Draw closes Friday, July 12th at 10:00 am and the draw is shortly afterwards.
For more information on the Merrittville Speedway call 905-892-8266 and visit them on Twitter @Merrittville.
Good luck on the contest and stay connected to me for more giveaways…and everything Niagara Falls!

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: Clifton Hill – Niagara Falls Fun
Twitter: @cliftonhillfun
Google+: Clifton Hill Niagara Falls
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Deals

Safari Niagara Concerts are heating up this Summer!

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Summer means getting out and enjoying attractions, good food and entertainment and Safari Niagara concerts have lined up some amazing artists for the Summer of 2013! Just a 10 minute drive from Niagara Falls, Stevensville is a small community that is home to Safari Niagara, a 100-acre zoo featuring numerous exotic animals. Within the gates of this zoo, is an amazing outdoor amphitheatre perfect for Safari Niagara concerts. Concession service, a beer tent and live bands under the stars is a perfect way to spend a warm Summer evening! It’s the 10th year of live concerts at the 90,000-square-foot amphitheatre. It’s one of the largest concert venues in the region with accommodations to fit up to 4,500 people.

This year for 2013, Safari Niagara concerts have some great Canadian favourites lined up. Here is a list of their upcoming concert listings. Click the artists for ticket information and to purchase tickets online:
Saturday, July 13th at 5:00pm: The Trews & Finger 11
Friday, July 26th at 8:00pm: Colin James
Friday, August 9th at 8:00pm: The Sheepdogs and 54-40
Saturday, August 24th at 8:00pm: The Great Big Sea 20th Anniversary Tour
Take advantage of purchasing Safari Niagara concerts online…if you buy in a group bulk pass of 5 tickets as part of the Early Bird special, the 6th person (and usually the designated driver) gets in for FREE!
Here is a video featuring the first band at Safari Niagara, “the Trews” and their song “The World I Know”:

A Day of fun on US!
What a better way to reward you and your loved one before the Safari Niagara concerts than a day of fun on Clifton Hill and Safari Niagara? You can’t visit Niagara Falls without avoiding the “Street of fun by the Falls”, Clifton Hill! This street is a buzz of action that leads you right down to the majestic Niagara Falls. Similar to a miniature Las Vegas with all the lights and sounds of entertainment, there is something for everyone! Shopping, dining and attractions such as the Niagara Skywheel will make you feel like a kid again and you’ll want to spend hours on Clifton Hill taking it all in. The Clifton Hill Fun Pass is the bast value going at half the cost of individual ticket prices. At $25.95+tax for Adults and $19.95+tax for Children, this pass gets you all the hottest Niagara Falls attractions! It includes the Niagara Skywheel (or TWO admissions to the Niagara Skywheel if you purchase online by clicking here ), the Movieland Wax Museum, the XD Ride Theatre, Ghostblasters Dark Ride, game tokens for the Great Canadian Midway and your choice of either outdoor Dinosaur Adventure Golf or indoor Galaxy Golf.

All those attractions will work up an appetite, so what better way to unwind and rest your feet than a bite to eat at Boston Pizza Clifton Hill? People watch and sit out on the patio with a drink from the bar and order off the menu of over 100 delicious choices. There’s nothing better than that, right? Wrong! The only thing that beats a day of fun on Clifton Hill with 2 Clifton Hill Fun Passes, something to eat at Boston Pizza Clifton Hill ($50 value) and entry for 2 to Safari Niagara …is it on US!! Simply “like” and “share” this blog on Facebook and you are automatically entered for a mini getaway for the day for two. Find a babysitter and enjoy a day to de-stress and feel like a kid again!  The winner will be randomly selected by myself on Monday, July 8th, 2013 at 10:00 am.
Want to spend the night? The Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Hotel is still offering 15% off select dates in July, but they are filling up quick. Check out this discounted availability online by clicking here and take advantage of a hotel apart from the rest for close proximity to all the Clifton Hill attractions and a short 5 minute walk down the street to view the Falls!
With Safari Niagara concerts in full-swing and plenty of entertainment this Summer (including free concerts and fireworks every Friday, Sunday and Holidays down at Queen Victoria Park), there’s no shortage of things to do in Niagara Falls! Stay connected to me via this blog and the social media channels listed below to stay up-to-date on community events…and more contest giveaways like the one above! Good luck, and remember all you have to do is “like” and “share” this blog to be entered into the current contest.

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: Clifton Hill – Niagara Falls Fun
Twitter: @cliftonhillfun
Google+: Clifton Hill Niagara Falls
 
 

Restaurants

Smash Some Pins at one of the Top Restaurants in Niagara Falls!

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When you travel to Niagara, you are eager to try out all the top restaurants in Niagara Falls and you are faced with the agonizing decision of choosing where to eat out of all your options in a city buzzing with entertainment and intrigue. You want the best value, the best food and something that everyone in the family will enjoy. No doubt you came to Niagara Falls to see the Falls itself, so chances are you will end up on Clifton Hill, and within this dazzling street is a number of restaurants to choose between. Where has the best food, at a fair price, that offers something that you won’t find at home? Boston Pizza Clifton Hill is one of the best restaurants in Niagara Falls for this reason as it checks all of those components off its list.

Eat and bowl!
What makes this restaurant stand out from the other restaurants in Niagara Falls, and even all the other Boston Pizza chains, is that not only is this famous sports bar situated inside the Great Canadian Midway; a massive 2-floored entertainment complex featuring well over 300 games, but inside the restaurant is a bowling alley! Strike Rock N Bowl is a state-of-the-art attraction in itself — murals of famous musicians decorate the walls and the music that made them famous, as well as all the top music of today in a high-def audio/visual system energizes your game! Here you will find 14 full size 10 pin bowling lanes, combined with LED lane lighting for visual appeal. Easy, touch screen monitors for flawless, automated scoring and special bumper rails that can be raised or lowered based on the player’s specifications and bowling level — set this place apart from other restaurants in Niagara Falls!

Open from 11:00 am to 2:00 am every day of the week, Strike Rock N Bowl is set in an atmosphere that forces you to have a good time! Boston Pizza Clifton Hill has two bars — with one situated next to the bowling lanes so it’s easy to order some food and a pitcher of beer and continue playing your game with no disruptions. If bowling isn’t your game, there are eight pool tables within the 25,000 square foot entertainment section of Boston Pizza…not to mention the hundreds of arcade games to play. Strike offers two convenient choices when choosing to bowl: play by the game or play by the hour. You choose the length and variation of your visit. Pager systems are handed out if you choose to bowl during busier hours. Have a drink or an appetizer while you wait!
 Reserve lanes for your party!
Strike Rock N Bowl and Boston Pizza Clifton Hill combine forces to create the best party experience. From kid’s birthday party packages to customizing your own adult “Ultimate Party Package”, this is one of the best restaurants in Niagara Falls for entertainment and value for the experience offered…and all on one of the most famous streets in the world, Clifton Hill! You can check rates online or speak to a representative and book your event by calling 905-358-2750.


Just steps outside Strike Rock N Bowl and Boston Pizza Clifton Hill is the Niagara Skywheel and Dinosaur Adventure Golf course. The giant 175 foot ferris wheel and dinosaur-themed 36 hole miniature golf course are both world reknowned in popularity. The Dinosaur Adventure Golf really sends you back millions of years to the ancient time of the dinosaurs, with the course most recently catapulting to the #1 spot for a themed miniature golf course in the world from enRoute magazine! Read the article by clicking here. Combine these 2 attractions and 3 more listed in our Clifton Hill Fun Pass (plus game tokens at the Great Canadian Midway!) for a package at half the savings of $25.95 for adults and $19.95 for children. By online and receive a bonus Niagara Skwheel admission ($10.99 value!) for FREE!

Win FREE BOWLING at Strike Rock N Bowl!
We are confident that you will love Strike Rock N Bowl and want to give you a chance to win a game of bowling for you and a friend and see why Boston Pizza Clifton Hill is labeled one of Niagara’s top restaurants in Niagara Falls! Just tweet @cliftonhillfun with the hashtag #freebowling and tell me why deserve to win! It’s that simple. Deadline for entry is 10:00 am on Friday, June 14, 2013. I will randomly select a winner shortly afterwards. Good luck!

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: Clifton Hill – Niagara Falls Fun
Twitter: @cliftonhillfun
Google+: Clifton Hill Niagara Falls

Deals

Niagara Falls Deals: Cheap s*#t on Clifton Hill!

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First off, I would like to say how pleased I am on the feedback I received from my first cheap s*#t post on Niagara Falls Deals. Keep them coming! I had a ton of suggestions, and a few of them pertained to right here on Clifton Hill, so this follow-up blog is using a few of your findings (as well as my own) of cheap findings right under our noses. Tourists can benefit from this post, as there is no way you can travel to Niagara Falls without funneling through this massive entertainment district.
Scenario: you have decided to come to Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls for a vacation, or even just a night out as a local to take in the scene. You are willing to spend money, but without the stigma of paying tourist prices! Not to worry, Clifton Hill does offer legitimate great Niagara Falls deals. With a little digging, it’s easy to find some fantastic Niagara Falls deals within a city known for its majestic beauty and within a street known world-wide as the “Street of Fun by the Falls”!
Drink a lot, save a lot more!
When you go out for drinks you are probably used to spending anywhere between $5-7 for a bottle of domestic beer. It’s pretty commonplace now to expect that $20 will get you maybe 2 drinks and enough for a pop…3 beers if you don’t tip heavy. Right now, Kelsey’s Clifton Hill during the busy, Summer months is offering a bucket of 5 Coor’s Light beers for $16.99!! That works out to be $3.40 per beer! Compare that with the money you spend outside the tourism district at your local pub and I’m willing to bet…actually, guarantee, that you are saving a huge amount of money. Only now you can throw in that instead of sitting beside Brian the neighbourhood drunk, you have free LIVE entertainment that Kelsey’s offers every night during the Summer. Sit out on the patio, enjoy the beautiful weather, drink some good cheap s*#t, people watch, make some new friends and enjoy live bands…all for $16.99…and that can be for 2 people unless you want to drink the 5 beers on your own, in which case go for it!

Looking for another good hot spot on Clifton Hill for cheap drinks and great Niagara Falls deals? Check out Boston Pizza! Not only is this bar Niagara’s premiere sports bar in the tourism district and has been since it opened, but it’s also the place to go for nightly entertainment! It’s unique from all the other Boston Pizza’s as it’s located within a 70,000 square foot entertainment complex called the Great Canadian Midway. The arcade features over 300 arcade games, and Boston Pizza Clifton Hill is in the centre of it all surrounded by games, billiards and connected to Strike Rock N Bowl , the restaurant’s only 14 lane, 10-pin bowling alley!
On Saturday, June 15th, 2013, Boston Pizza Clifton Hill will be holding its Boston Pizza Beach Party event! This event is set to kick-off Summer with prizes for best beachwear, a limbo contest, Corona girls and Corona specials all night long beginning at 9:00 p.m. Get a bucket of 5 Corona’s for $25!! Now THAT is a great Niagara Falls deal!

Let’s not forget everyone’s Canadian favourite…Tim Hortons!! Just because you are on Clifton Hill doesn’t mean the same rules don’t apply. All Summer long, Tim’s is offering $1.00 small drinks. Iced coffee, iced lattes, iced mocha lattes, flavoured ice lattes and original or raspberry lemonade are all featured and all for only $1.00! Not that you needed another incentive to go to Tim Hortons, but drinking that cheap in a place located a 3 minute walk to the Falls? Priceless.

Treats for cheap, cheap, CHEAP!
The Fantasy Fudge Factory has something for the person with a sweet-tooth and I compared their prices online with leading competitors and they really do offer the best value…great quality, made fresh right on site and more for your buck. Take their candy apples for instance. ANY flavour, not just a plain ol’ candy apple for $3.49! Dipped in chocolate, chocolate with nuts, caramel, you name it…all for $3.49! Some leading competitors are charging $6-7.

No way can you walk into the Fantasy Fudge Factory without your kids squaking for something to eat. I’ve tried it with my 2 year old and it has yet to happen where we have left empty-handed. They have a brand new Niagara Falls deal where you can purchase 3 of the items shown below for $6! You’re not breaking the bank and you can get 3 kids smiling, or 2 kids and yourself content for super cheap!

Entertainment for LESS!!
I swear to you, the Clifton Hill Fun Pass truly is the cheapest entertainment value for what you get! Just check out travel sites such as Trip Advisor and you will see for yourself the popularity and word-of-mouth positive feedback that attractions such as the Niagara Skywheel, the Great Canadian Midway and Dinosaur Adventure Golf receive. All of which have received Trip Advisor’s Award of Excellence, and all of which are featured in the Clifton Hill Fun Pass. And there’s more. You also get the Movieland Wax Museum, Ghostbalsters Dark Ride and the XD 6-Dimensional Ride Theatre ! If you don’t want to play outdoor miniature golf, there is also Galaxy Golf that is an indoor glow-in-the-dark course that you can choose to do instead of the outdoor course. That’s 5 attractions, plus tokens to play in the Great Canadian Midway for only $25.95 for Adults and $19.95 for Children. That’s a 50% off retail cost and as an additional bonus, if you purchase the Clifton Hill Fun Pass via clicking here you get an added Niagara Skywheel admission! Venture on the ride for a bird’s eye view of the majestic Falls during the day and night for different perspectives.
So there you have it. There really is some cheap s*#t on Clifton Hill! If you know of any great Niagara Falls deals please stay connected to me and under this blog there is a comment section. I will choose some of the best deals and blog about them OR tweet your suggestions to me @cliftonhill with the hashtag #s*#t. Saving money is important to you and finding the best Niagara Falls deals are equally as important to me!

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: Clifton Hill – Niagara Falls Fun
Twitter: @cliftonhillfun
Google+: Clifton Hill Niagara Falls

Restaurants

Cheap s*#t in Niagara Falls to eat!

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Cheap Breakfast in Niagara Falls!

Welcome to my new blog series featuring cheap places to go for entertainment in Niagara Falls, cheap places to eat featuring Niagara Falls Restaurants and well…anything that features cheap s*#t in Niagara Falls! This is for the tourist that is sick of feeling gauged and for the locals that maybe have yet to discover what their own town has to offer them. Everyone is always asking me “where is all the cheap s*#t at?” so this has inspired me to take it into the next level! This will be a regular series, and I will base my blogs around what avenues that you people would like focused on. Comment on my blog where or what you want talked about that’s cheap in Niagara Falls, and I’ll pick the most popular suggestions and find the businesses or locations that feature cheap s*#t, or even free s*#t if it pertains! Send me your suggestions on our Twitter account @cliftonhillfun with the hashtag #s*#t with suggestions! So here goes my first blog and this one focuses on some local Niagara Falls Restaurants to eat. Welcome to cheap s*#t in Niagara Falls to eat!

For breakfast, one of the cheapest and yet most filling and delicious meals is actually close to the main tourism strip of Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls. It is on Lundy’s Lane, not even a 5 minute drive from that spot. Falls Manor is located at 7104 Lundy’s Lane and features meals like mama used to make, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but it’s the breakfast that really drives the locals in! You would be hard-pressed to find this restaurant empty.

Falls Manor has been a fixture in Niagara Falls for over 40 years and really maintains that quality service and affordable prices need to stay top in mind when competing with all the other Niagara Falls restaurants. A real bonus to Falls Manor is that their breakfast is available all day for any of you vacationers that like to sleep in on your holiday! For their breakfast menu, click here and see for yourself the quantity and quality for your dollar!

After breakfast, head back to Clifton Hill to engage in some touristy attractions such as the Niagara Skywheel or the Maid of the Mist. Be sure to look into the best attractions value with the Clifton Hill Fun Pass that saves you a huge chunk of change with 5 attractions plus Great Canadian Midway tokens to play in their massive arcade! Purchase it online and you get a BONUS Niagara Skywheel admission for FREE!

 Cheap Lunch in Niagara Falls!

So now you’ve worked up an appetite after all those attractions, and with the money you saved you are ready for some more cheap s*#t to eat for lunch! Every local has heard of the Flying Saucer Restaurant! Much like the Falls Manor, the Flying Saucer has been a staple in Niagara Falls for over 40 years. This is unique among Niagara Falls restaurants in that it is literally shaped as a UFO and is located at 6768 Lundy’s Lane, so again very close to Clifton Hill and the Falls itself. Lunch is cheap, the food is good and it’s a great place to take the family and for the child with a fascination of sci-fi. Light lunches such as affordable salads, wraps and paninis to subs, burgers, hot dogs and chicken wings are featured and the prices are cheap, cheap, CHEAP!!! Out of this world you might say…. . Check out their lunch menu for yourself and click here!

Now that you are full from lunch, you are ready for some more Niagara Falls family fun! If you stay at the Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Hotel (just a 5 minute walk to the Niagara Falls), they exclusively offer you savings on the Build-A-Package offer which contains a series of packages that offer you a savings of up to 70% on some attractions such as the Greg Frewin Magic show and great savings on the Niagara Falls Adventure Pass which features the most popular Niagara Parks attractions such as Maid of the Mist and Journey Behind the Falls. In the month of June, further discounts are offered on the Sunday’s of the 9th, 16th and 23rd especially for $19.95 off their rooms, click here to see for yourself!

Cheap Dinner in Niagara Falls!

This one may even be new to a lot of locals as its relatively new in itself. Strada West is located at 7805 Lundy’s Lane inside the Mulberry Centre Plaza, and is owned by Tom and Anthony Roberto, whose father and uncle owned the fine dining Niagara Falls restaurant Casa D’oro for 48 years until its closure in October. The brothers have switched gears and have opened a casual-style restaurant that features Italian-style food such as specialty pasta dishes to burgers and sandwiches at a reasonable cost in a modern, chic atmosphere. Prices range from $8.00 appetizers to $18 linguine pescatore. This restaurant features a lounge bar, a 40-seat patio and a dining area that seats 75 people in a 3,600 square foot building.

I spoke to a lot of locals and this Niagara Falls restaurant is taking off in popularity. For their menu listing, click here.

Great s*#t to do after Dinner!

Be sure to head on over to Boston Pizza Clifton Hill after dinner for a wide variety of drinks in a relaxing, sports bar atmosphere. Tons of TVs to watch all the playoff action on, surrounded by arcade games, bowling and billiards to keep everyone entertained. This Niagara Falls restaurant is always jammed, especially in the Summer, with not only tourists, but locals as well! It’s the ideal spot to go to watch your favorite team with the patio full of beautiful people catching some rays and then taking in the nightlife on Clifton Hill!

So there you have it…some cheap s*#t in Niagara Falls to eat! Don’t forget, if you know of a great place that offers fantastic savings, let me know and I will pick some of the best to talk about. Add your comment below or tweet it @cliftonhillfun with the hashtag #s*#t . This doesn’t just have to be cheap places to eat, it can be anything cheap in Niagara Falls! Who knows what may be next on the list to talk about!

I look forward to hearing your suggestions!

Attractions

New white lion exhibit now open at Safari Niagara!

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Take the whole family to Safari Niagara!
If you are looking for a great Niagara Falls attraction to take the whole family, Safari Niagara has something for the whole family to enjoy! Located just a 10 minute drive from Niagara Falls itself, Stevensville is a town rich in rural beauty. Black Creek runs through the area which is often used by kayaks and canoes with a perfect spot to launch a boat…and within this stretch of countryside sits Safari Niagara at 2821 Stevensville Rd. Safari Niagara, formerly known as Zooz, is a 150-acre nature park with over 750 animal, bird and reptile species. It’s the ultimate Summer fun destination open from June 1 – Labour Day. The park is completely interactive with educational animal presentations, guided tours, animal feedings and a petting farm.

New this year is that admission is all inclusive, which means you gain access not only to the entrance fee, but also unlimited use of the rope course, bungee, safari rides, splash pad, fishing, kite flying, paddle boats and more! There’s also playgrounds for the little ones to enjoy, a restaurant on site and a gift shop. Season memberships are available for purchase at the park admissions booth or by calling 905-382-9669.

New to 2013 is the White Rhinoceros Exhibit, an Interactive Reptile Exhibit and a Free Flight Budgie Experience…and one of the most beautiful exotic animals has just arrived — the White Lions!
There are four white lions, two males and two females. The white lions range from 5 to 7 months old and were captive born from a facility in South Africa, which they will now be a permanent fixture at Safari Niagara.
White lions are extremely rare and have not been seen in the wild in more than 15 years. These are Niagara Falls’ first and ONLY lions. They reign from the Timbavati region of South Africa. Their white disposition is the result of a recessive gene known as a color inhibitor specific to their native region.
“We are committed to the conservation of endangered lions. We strive to educate our guests on the importance of conservation, as it is key to the survival of many species” said General Manager Tim Tykolis.
In addition to the lions, there are many more wide variety of animals from Elks and Flamingos to Tigers and Giraffes! Click here to see an alphabetical list of animals featured.

Safari Niagara is currently holding a naming contest for the four lions on their Facebook page @ www.facebook.com/SafariNiagara and directly at Safari Niagara until June 9th, 2013. The winners will be presented with 2-day passes to the park! Season memberships are available for purchase at the park admissions booth or by calling 905-382-9669.
The Fun Continues!
When the park closes, no doubt you are getting hungry and there’s no other spot in Niagara Falls that draws the crowds in like Clifton Hill! Keep your family entertained and their stomachs full of delicious, affordable food at Boston Pizza Clifton Hill. This Boston Pizza is unique among the others as it’s located within a massive arcade called the Great Canadian Midway, full of over 300 arcade games, Midway rides such as the Ghostblasters Dark Ride and the XD 6-Dimensional Ride Theatre and a full-size bowling alley, Strike Rock N’ Bowl!

No doubt Safari Niagara will leave your feet tired, and the Clifton Hill Fun Pass attractions are all located within steps of each other, so you don’t need to wander to far to experience some of the best Niagara Falls attractions. This pass includes not only the Midway rides described above and tokens to play in the Great Canadian Midway, but also Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence winners, the Niagara Skywheel and Dinosaur Adventure Golf for some outdoor Jurassic-Park themed fun! If you prefer to stay indoors, the pass has you covered in that area as well with the option of choosing Galaxy Golf indoor glow-in-the-dark miniature golf instead! At 50% off you can’t lose with a pass containing 5 great attractions at $25.95 for Adults and $19.95 for Children! AND by purchasing it online ONLY, you will receive a bonus Niagara Skywheel admission by clicking here!
With the weather heating up and the days getting longer,  it’s great to know that Niagara Falls attractions are plentiful to keep you occupied and the kids entertained!
For upcoming contests stay connected to me on Social Media and Blog posts. Be on the lookout for some exciting upcoming giveaways year-round!

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: Clifton Hill – Niagara Falls Fun
Twitter: @cliftonhillfun
Google+: Clifton Hill Niagara Falls
 

News

Shhh…Can You Keep a Secret??

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Hidden parking lot!
As we all know, tomorrow is the “Snowbirds over the Falls” event and everyone will be fighting their way for a parking spot. Not many people know about our “hidden” parking lot that has plenty of parking throughout the field…until now. This will also help you to avoid traffic backups on the Niagara Parkway which there will definitely be and high parking costs. Hahaha!
From Toronto:
-QEW toward East Hamilton/Niagara/Fort Erie.
-Keep left to take Hwy 420 E via exit 30A toward The Falls/Niagara Falls U.S.A.
-Take Stanley Ave/RR-102 towards “Alternate To Falls”.
-Turn left onto Robinson St.
-At the end of Robinson Street is a dead end. There is a huge parking lot on the left-hand side with plenty of parking.
*Attached below this post is also a picture that is a shortcut right down to Queen Victoria Park to save you time. You will find this staircase at the dead end.*
From Buffalo:
-I-190 N/New York State Thruway toward Peace Bridge/Ft. Erie, Canada.
-Take exit 9 towards the Peace Bridge.
-left onto Peace Bridge Plz/Peace Bridge.
-Peace Bridge becomes QEW.
-Marge onto Hwy 420 E via exit 30 towards Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls U.S.A.
-Take Stanley Av./RR-102 towards “Alternate to the Falls”.
-Turn left onto Robinson Street.
-At the end of Robinson Street is a dead end. There is a huge parking lot on the left-hand side with plenty of parking.
*Attached below this post is also a picture that is a shortcut right down to Queen Victoria Park to save you time. You will find this staircase at the dead end.*

*This is the end of Robinson Street. Parking lot is to the left where the arrow is pointing. You can see at the end of this dead end is a shortcut stairway that leads you down to Queen Victoria Park.*

*Leads you right down to Queen Victoria Park. Not wheelchair accessible.

*Stairway leading you down into Queen Victoria Park.

*Bottom of staircase…ta da! You are in Queen Victoria Park.

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
Facebook: Clifton Hill – Niagara Falls Fun
Twitter: @cliftonhillfun
Google+: Clifton Hill Niagara Falls

Attractions

Katy Perry wax figure has arrived in Niagara Falls!

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One of the hottest female celebrities of 2012 has made her debut on the Street of Fun by the Falls…more specifically the Movieland Wax Museum of the Stars! Katy Perry, who just last year caused a media frenzy by setting sail on the “Maid of the Mist” in June has now reinvented herself as a wax icon. The “Firework” singer, songwriter, actress and fashion icon stands tall and bright upon a lit up lollipop encrusted stage facing Clifton Hill, catching the attention of all the tourists. The newest addition to the museum will be sure to draw crowds as the audio and visual element really adds to experience. The set will dazzle you, intrigue you and entice you and will definitely leave you…”Wide Awake”!

At Movieland Wax Museum you see not only movie stars, but top television and music celebrities as well. Take your picture with old Hollywood favorites like Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, Marilyn Monroe and Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones to newer additions like Justin Bieber, Hannah Montana, Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow and even Bollywood super-sensation  Shah Rukh Khan! There are over 100 figures to interact with and the museum caters to all age groups…Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Star Wars and the Twilight Mega Stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart and even Laurel and Hardy for Grandma and Grandpa!

For those brave enough, the “House of Horrors” at the end of your visit will satisfy the adrenaline junkies looking for a good scare! You will need to feel your way through a dark mirror maze of terror in order to get to the exit, but to those of you that don’t think you can handle Freddy Krueger and Frankenstein, you can take the alternate route and skip it altogether!
Movieland Wax Museum can be found at the bottom of Clifton Hill, next to the Great Canadian Midway and Wendy’s Restaurant. We are open 365 days a year, including all Holidays. Call 905-358-3601 for hours of operation, ticket prices and other helpful information.

https://www.cliftonhill.com/attractions/movieland-wax-museum-stars
Christine


 
Things To Do

“A Mothers Day in Niagara Falls”

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Mothers Day in Niagara Falls
72% Of Moms Want More …
 
Sure we have birthdays and holidays, but there is one special day each year, when all the hard work moms put into raising children is remembered, and it is Mother’s Day!  The day you get to say thank you, and give back to her.  Flowers are a good start, but a Forbes poll says mom wants a little bit more this year.
A Perfect Reason for a Getaway with Mom
You can really show mom you care with a trip to Niagara Falls this year.  Spoil her with a ride on the world famous Niagara Skywheel and all of it’s gorgeous views of the falls, when she gets off she will feel like she took a mini trip to the spa.  We all know moms deserve a break from the kitchen, and with the great options on Clifton Hill pizza loving moms can try a slice from one of Boston Pizza’s famous meat pies.  Your mom will also find a lot to choose from on Kelsey’s new menu, while up the street Mama Mia’s boasts amazing Italian cuisine.  If you would like to see more restaurants click here.
Chocolate, and Candy and Fudge OH MY!
Now mom is full, happy, and even held off for dessert! Of course there are scrumptious offerings on the restaurant’s menu, or you could wander a few steps down Clifton Hill, and beside the Great Canadian Midway is The Fudge Factory.  Remember the survey from earlier? Well 37% moms also mentioned they would love candied gifts for their special day! You will find treats, and other irresistibly delectable items, and maybe buy a little extra snack for later! Mom won’t have to feel bad about a little extra sugar in her diet, because Clifton Hill leads right to the Niagara Parkway where you can take a long walk through flower lined paths by the falls.
Good News Moms
The National Retailer Federation says the average person will be spending more on their mother this year! Total spending could reach 18.6 billion.  If you are going to spend the money why not get something you know mom will want, time with family, a get away from everyday life and to be treated to a little something special.  In Niagara Falls you get bang for your buck…Relaxing attractions with breath taking views, a meal she doesn’t have to cook, chocolates all back dropped in the beautiful scene of one of the greatest wonders of the world, Niagara Falls.
For information on “Fun by the Falls.” follow our blog and you will be up to date on new attractions, and affordable packages.