Anyone have must see/stay advice for Niagara Falls?

[thebeckery]

We are planning to camp there sometime in July, and obviously, we will see the falls. Anything else that we should not miss there?

[Saralynn]

OH! OH! OH! You shouldn't miss driving several hours North to come see me! :D That's not what you meant?

Well, okay.

There's a ton of cool historical stuff in the Niagra area I'm told. (We have yet to explore with the family, I was there 9 years ago. :P ) Laura Secord is a big historical name here because of her efforts and how she helped in the War of 1812. Not to mention there's a chocolate store holding her name with amazingly yummy chocolates.

I'm not big into wine, but there are tons of wine tours. My grandparents enjoyed that aspect of the Niagra region. They also said walking under the falls was cool. I remember the botanical gardens as pretty neat.

If you can do it Toronto is an amazing city. The CN Tower, Eaton Centre, The ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), and my favorite but expensive place to eat Marche on Yonge St. downtown.

Thinking of Niagra again, Great Wolf Lodge is an amazing indoor waterpark/hotel. You said camping so I'm envisioning you not wanting to spend lots of money. From what I've seen and heard it looks really amazing but it is expensive.

If you do come up further into Ontario I know lots lots more about Central Ontario. Like Wasaga Beach is the largest fresh water beach in North America. St. Marie Among The Hurons is a reproduction of the original village from the 1400's (could be 1600, but I'm pretty sure 1400) The Martrys Shrine was visited by the Pope and stands as a reminder of the Jesuit priests who were massacered there. I could go on. . .but I"ll stop now. OH wait, and just a half hour drive further than St. Marie you can see the Canadian Sheild.

Come to Canada! :)

[roscoepc1]

And she can't drive north, she'll be too busy driving west! lol!

Niagara is very tourist friendly....Ripley's, haunted houses, etc etc....the Casino, of course, but that's not terribly family friendly, lol.

Great Wolf prices are insane...just not worth it, imo...

I have heard lately that Marineland is not worth the $$, but that's opinion, kwim?

There's a tram over the falls....the Maid of the Mist....walking under the falls (fun)....

There's an historic fort, plus all the 1812 stuff (remember? The time we kicked your butts?;) :D)

Niagara-on-the-Lake is lovely...worth the drive....neat stores, olde-worlde....

Drive 3 hours west...and you have my lovely home...open to visitors and campers for free...... {whistles innocently}

[Saralynn]

Come North and I'll get ya a sailboat complete with man who knows how to sail it for free. :) Um, the man is attached to a family of 5 who love going to the beach. (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

If you're a homeschooling or just into learning kind of family Donna Ward has amazing Candian History done in an interesting way. I love the physical map of Canada on her site (and am kicking myself for not buying it while at conference!).

I heard GWL was cool, but pricey and come to think of it, why on earth would you want to play in the water Inside in the summer?

[thebeckery]

I wish that we had time for a trip to Canada. This time, we only have 2 days, and we live about 4-5 hours from Niagara.....so no detours into Canada this time!:)

[roscoepc1]

*I'M* coming north! roflmbo

[Saralynn]

Next time though, plan to come to Canada. :) Hope you get some more tips!

Laura-well come up on a Sunday and we'll go out. But there has to be wind adn dh needs advance notice so he brings a boat home. But working with sailaboats has it's advantages. We had so much fun last summer with a Hobie wave.

[thebeckery]

wahhh....I want to come up and go out on a sailboat, and I want to go meet Laura and her girls....

more time is needed.....KWIM?

[mdebbie]

Walk under the falls- very cool
There is a neat imax movie about the history of the falls, it is fun to watch and also attached to a museum about the falls and the people who have gone overthem.

Maid of the mist is good too. GO into Canada at the falls at least. That is where most of the stuff to see and do is.