We are planning to come to Niagara Falls from Central NY for 2 nights in August. Our kids who are 6 and 4 have never seen the Falls. We are coming with friends (also letterboxers) who have 3 kids--9,6,4. Does anybody who lives out there have any thoughts on the myriad of hotel choices and locations available--are there places to park if you choose a hotel that is not within walking distance of the falls or is the best idea really to get a hotel within walking distance? Of course we want to do some traditional "tourist" things like the Maid of the Mist, but would love any suggestions for 1 or 2 "off the beaten path" kind of activities, especially if there might be a letterbox or 2 involved!!

Any help or suggestions from anyone who knows the area would be greatly appreciated.

:)

The New Your Side has AT LEAST 3 letterboxes around Goat Island. I have found two of them. The THIRD I attempted but I missed. The PLANTER said it's really small and hard to find, so I may have missed it.

On the Canadian side, there were none when I was up there, but I know recently a few people decided to seed the Canadian side so there may be some more there now.

There is one in St. Catherines, about a twenty minute ride from the falls, in Ontario, it's a nice little box.

Check letterboxing.org. Not all of the above boxes are listed on AQ.

Mr. Yuk

Hey, if you are going to be in the Falls around Aug 24-25, why not come to the WNY event listed on the events page? It's guaranteed to be a great time!

Hi there!

We hope you enjoy your visit to the Falls! Here are some neat things to check out on the Canadian side...

the Falls (natch!)

Clifton Hill - lots of touristy things and shops...Ripley's is always good.

take the parkway to the Whirlpool - really neat to see you can continue on to Niagara on the Lake and St Catherines/Welland and loop back on the QEW.

Marineland park is a theme park/zoo with petting zoos/rides etc..

the Butterfly Conservatory is also close by.

As far as LBs.. the are 2 listed in NF ON, and 5 in St Catherines, in addition to NF NY and Lewiston.

Depending on when you plan to visit (weekdays are almost always lighter in traffic/people etc)

The first monday in August is a civic holiday in ON, so keep that in mind if you plan to visit around then.

Try to obtain a hotel coupon book (all the I90 rest stops have them) they have all sorts of hotel discounts at name hotels. Avoid Clifton Hill hotels, as youre really only paying extra for the Falls view.

Maid of the Mist from the Canadian side is a better value IMHO.

Here's alink to the NF ON attractions..

http://www.infoniagara.com/attractions/indexf.html

Finally, if you're a AAA member, there are discounts offered, including, I believe, the Maid of the Mist.

Hope this helps you!

Jiggs

I have 2 boxes there! one on one of the sister islands and one near the whirlpool!

You must have read my mind...I was going to post the same question. We are going to make the WNY Gathering our family vacation and figured it would be wise to include the falls since I'm the only one in our family to ever see them (That was 16 years ago). I'm sure a lot has changed since then. I do know that parking is non-existent so that a hotel in walking distance is nice. Is the LaFountaine Blue restaurant still in business? That was a neat little restaurant. that I can remember. I think the hotel I stayed in way back then was called the fiddlers green? well something like that.

Lodgings? Two words=Michael's Inn (NF, Ont.): http://www.michaelsinn.com/

My wife, out-laws ;) and I have stayed there several times, and have NEVER been disappointed. FWIW, forget a room "with a view" and stay in a jacuzzi room! :D (Out-laws require SEPERATE accomodations for this clan; your milage may vary...)

Now, for entertainment beyond the "Falls", Clifton Hill is very touristy. Can you say "trap(s)"? :p

Love the "Falls", eh? (Opps, wrong province--sorry, Ont. But perhaps Le Hab's will learn "B" next week. Eh? :p)
Connfederate

Thanks to all who have shared ideas!! We really appreciate it!

:)

SO anyone coming to the falls for a little vacation action who might want to find out about some more away from the tour book kinda places let me know and I would be glad to share some hidden local gems with you!
chadams

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SO anyone coming to the falls for a little vacation action who might want to find out about some more away from the tour book kinda places let me know and I would be glad to share some hidden local gems with you!

Hey Chadams - you are such an incredibly nice & helpful guy. You don't have any older brothers just like you, do you??

dee123

Hey Chadams - you are such an incredibly nice & helpful guy. You don't have any older brothers just like you, do you??

Thanks! I try! Sorry! No older brothers! I am the oldest!

chadams

SO anyone coming to the falls for a little vacation action who might want to find out about some more away from the tour book kinda places let me know and I would be glad to share some hidden local gems with you!
chadams

the hubby and I will be there for our 20th this july (on the week end of the 20th by the way) Besides the falls, the whirlpool jetboat(which i gotta do!) the casino (which the hubbys gotta do!) and letterboxing what else can I squeeze in thats new and different! Goat Island and whirlpool park are on my list! Ng OO

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the hubby and I will be there for our 20th this july (on the week end of the 20th by the way) Besides the falls, the whirlpool jetboat(which i gotta do!) the casino (which the hubbys gotta do!) and letterboxing what else can I squeeze in thats new and different! Goat Island and whirlpool park are on my list! Ng OO

Hmmm...sounds like time for another mini-meet? ;-)

Well I will give you four places that would be worth a little extra drive if you are interested!

The first would be Chestnut Ridge Park where we are holding our gathering in August. There are fifty boxes there! Most spesifically I would send you to see the Eternal Flame Falls. It is a neat little place where there is a shale waterfall where there is a little pocket of gas that leaks out. The flame is most often lit and it makes for a beautiful scene! you may have had your fill of Waterfalls after niagara Though!

My personal favorite place to send you would be Griffis Sculpture Park. It is probably an hour from Niagara Falls. It is the Largest Outdoor Sculture park in the US. There are giant sculptures all over this beautiful land. People are encouraged to play on the sculptures as well.
http://www.griffispark.org/ahf/?page_id=16

to see more pics http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Griffis+Sculpture+park&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

It is an absolutly amazing place!

In the same area as Griffis is Little Rock City. It is outside of Ellicottville a ski resort town. It is a place on top of a hill in the middle of a forest where glaciers deposited gigantic boulders the size of houses! http://www.wnyhikes.com/photos/main.php?g2_page=2

Another sweet place would be Letchworth. It is called the Grand Canyon of the East! Many sweet trails and sights to be seen! There are also three waterfalls here! http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=Letchworth

Tell me what you think! If you would like more info on any of them please ask!

chadams

We're heading up there in about two weeks. Doing the normal tourist stuff and planning on boxing, too.

There's an unusual box on the American side...I think it's on LBNA site...Love Canal. You have to do some research about the area and the "situation" that occured there in order to know where to find the box.
http://letterboxing.org/BoxView.asp?boxnum=10732&boxname=Love_Canal_-_Toxin_#4

I'm trying to talk my mom into going to get that one with me (she's leery). Hubby thinks I'm nuts...but I really want to try to get it. I'm not taking my girls there -- although I'm sure it's safe enough to nab the box and get out. Even if no one goes with, I think I'm going to attempt it. My curiosity has gotten the better of me, I'm afraid.

Mercs

thanks for all the info! gonna have to see how much I can squeeze in and still have time for romance!!
; )

Ha -- we'll be heading up that weekend, too (the 20th). Mini-family vacation for us.
Happy pre-Anniversary.

Mercs

Ha -- we'll be heading up that weekend, too (the 20th). Mini-family vacation for us.
Happy pre-Anniversary.

Mercs

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I'm trying to talk my mom into going to get that one with me (she's leery). Hubby thinks I'm nuts...but I really want to try to get it. I'm not taking my girls there -- although I'm sure it's safe enough to nab the box and get out. Even if no one goes with, I think I'm going to attempt it. My curiosity has gotten the better of me, I'm afraid.

We've done it and it's perfectly safe. I mean, don't start drinking the creek water and eating the dirt or anything, but other than that, you're good! :-)

It really DOES make you think, though...how awful human beings can be to one another when they don't care! :-(

Thanks for the tips....I'll add that to my list before I set out boxing:
1) don't drink the creek water;
2) don't eat the dirt

Good advice, really! :)

Mercs

Love canal letterbox is safe...Don't be freeked out by where it is. It is the most tested area in all of the united states...I just would wash your hands afterward, just in case..

The Phoenix