Niagara Falls!

I want to go see the Falls.� Other than the obvious stuff (the Canadian side is way cooler, it's cheaper during weekdays for hotels) what do you recommend or suggest?� How can I do this on next to no money?

Find someone who lives there and stay at their place for cheap $$$. But, seriously, Niagara Falls is a tourist trap.

You can always walk across the rainbow bridge if you want to venture across the border to the other side.

While you're there, you should really think about seeing the falls.� : )

My mom grew up nearby, so I have family there . . .you could stay with my Aunt Eleanor, but�you might want to call her first . . .�

since you're in chicago, you're going to want to go through canada anyway to get there since its much faster than taking I90 through indiana and ohio (not to mention a few bucks cheaper). i wouldn't stay in niagara falls, since really all it is a tourist hole, but there isn't anything stopping you from driving in, parking, wandering around a bit and then getting in your car and driving out. after that, just head up north to toronto or down to buffalo or whatever.. stay a good distance away and you should be able to find some place cheap. if you're really cheap, its a good oh.. 7 hours from chicago to niagara falls (going around the speed limit) so it is possible to drive there and drive back.. just make sure you've got a partner in crime or a lot of caffiene. hostels are always a good idea and depending on the weather you can check out campsites.

According to the Rand McNally, we'd save twelve minutes by going through Canada.� The mileage may be shorter, but the speed limits are lower.� Since I'm willing to speed in Indiana and Ohio, and not Ontario... I'll stick to taking the long way around the lake.� Besides, the lack of billboards drove me crazy the last time we drove north of the border. :-)

Hmm. well, I've never met anyone that has actually done the speed limit on the 401. Even with the higher speed limit though indiana and ohio, when I was going from chicago to buffalo (when I lived in chicago), I easily saved myself a good 20-30 minutes each way and thats with two border crossings and probably a good $5-10 in tolls. But your milage may vary :) there was however a lack of billboards.. but thats why i brought road tunes. :D

I did the speed limit on the 401, from Windsor to Toronto.� I swear, it was the longest drive I've ever taken.� I'd have been speeding, but it was my first time driving internationally.� Once I got into TO's traffic flow, I picked up the pace, but I was crawling through the sticks.

Speeding in the US is fun.

i am much more comfortable speeding when i drive in canada than when i drive in the us.

when i go down to seattle from vancouver, that whole strech of i5 is always crawling with coppers but once you're in canada no one bothers you.

When I went to Niagara Falls as a kid my mother did 100 MPH on one of the highways. I thought that was so cool.

My first speeding ticket was in Canada, on the autoroute between Montreal and Quebec City.

I was cited for going 138. I thought that rocked. It took the edge off getting a ticket on my birthday, at any rate. ;)

Speeding in the US is fun... except on I-5 near Seattle.� Even then it's fun, but dangerous.�

oh dear lord.
no money and ya wanna go to the falls??
as long as you drive there, get out, look at the pretty waterfall, then drive away again, its cheap.
but if you wanna hang out there, be prepared to say "HOW much??"

last week i had three hours to kill between exams so me and my friend went to clifton hill to hang out ( i live 10 minutes from the falls). we were going to go to Ripley's Believe it or Not, but it was 13 bucks a person for a one-hour walk-thru. we opted for the arcade instead, where i still spent 20 bucks in tokens.

tourist trap is right!

jen

see the butterfly conservatory.

I'd second that.� It's pretty neat.�� There's also someplace with birds (aviary?) there now too.��If you're into hiking, there's a few trails in and around the falls and the gorge.� Some of the oldest old-growth forests in the northeast are in the niagara gorge.� There's some historic forts if you're a history buff.� Old fort Niagara on the US side and Ft. George on the Canadian side.� There's some wine vineyards on the Canadian side,� closer to lake Ontario (niagara on the lake.)� There's lots to do, what are you interested in?

I'll third that.

It's amazing.

Fourth.

There are gardens there as well. I went in July and they were beautiful. Also, I think they have fireworks there on some days. My bro and i went during 4th o' July weekend, so we saw 'em every night. Just hanging out is a lot of fun. We found a pretty cheap motel, but i think you have to book really early. But the falls were so great I think I could have just chilled near them for a few days...

i think they do fireworks every night

Slowly I turned, step by step...

dude. this is teh kewl thread. *prints off*

Niagra on the Lake is cool to wander around and Window Shop.. There is a great pub/reasturant called The Angel Inn which I recommend. Other then that... compelte tourist trap :) The Skylon is cool... I guess.

Niagara on the Lake also has a really good Shaw Festival, with several GBS plays and several by other playwrights.

...getting earwormed with the Wonderfalls theme?

I should've known that a show from Tim Miner that was cool enough to have Andy Partridge do the theme wouldn't last..


I would like to get up there sometime. Hmm... ok, I haven't maped out my route from Ohio to Maine, would it be realistic, not out of the way, and worth it, to pass the falls/get out and look?

Depends on what you're driving...� I know the bridges to the island are toll (both ways, if I remember correctly).� Someone else mentioned parking at $9, but we didn't get that far.� I think they'd be cool to see, but if you're U-Hell-ing it to Maine, it may be better to make a second trip later.� They'll still be there, and it'll help preserve your sanity.

Actually, I heard they were moving them.� : ) To Tucson.

I've been to the falls about fifty times, Talcott, and to me, it's more about experiencing the horrific kitsch than the actual falls themselves (although they are pretty cool).� So going a good deal out of your way to see them for a few minutes might not be worth it.

And you can personally own the Rainbow bridge at the new Tucson location.� Just send me your credit card number. :-)

Or make checks payable to�Rose and Rimbo, incorporated.

No that's the rainbow bridge to Asgard, not Canada.