Up Close and Personal at the Falls Up Close and Personal at the Falls Up Close and Personal at the Falls
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ITINERARY (Full Day)

Niagara Falls

The Hornblower Niagara Falls

Boston PizzaBathroomKid’s menuToys/kid’s activities (e.g.  crayons, books, etc.)

nugget’s Advice

Prepare in advance
Prepare in advance

First, choose which side of Niagara Falls you want to stay, USA or Canada? We chose Canada because its more entertaining. Are you traveling by plane or car? Bring enough entertainment if you are driving with kids. Also, be aware that kids need to have passports as well.

Good to know
Good to know

Aside from walking along the Niagara River, there is so much more you can do here. There are plenty of places to spend the day: museums, restaurants, stores, sport adventures and many tourist traps as well.

Recommended day/time
Recommended day/time

Any time is a good time, but I highly encourage seeing the falls during the day and at night as well. The light show displayed on the falls makes it look surreal. They also have fireworks at night.

Recommended time of the year
Recommended time of the year

Canada will definitely be better during summer time, with a fresh breeze, but also a sea of people. November is a good month to avoid the crowd, but be prepared to face the cold.

Save Money
Save Money

Traveling with a family of five can become expensive really quickly. I found there are not many Airbnb's near Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. If you are renting a car as well, do a bundle and save a couple of bucks.

About This Day

Thinking of things to do in Niagara Falls with kids? This itinerary keeps it simple and slow, no rush. We had a plan in mind, but were flexible on changing it and simply went with the flow. Start off by checking out the falls and view along the Niagara River. Then, take a boat ride on the Hornblower to get up close and a little drenched. After that amazing experience, head to Boston Pizza for some well-earned food. This day proves that Niagara Falls with kids, with its incredible natural beauty, is always appreciated.  
Niagara Falls
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Walking along the Niagara River path is a view to enjoy. There are observation points, but isn't every angle an observation point? The kids won't get tired if they are having fun along the way and that’s the case with Niagara Falls. Every view was a "whoa" for them. Be sure to stop off at one of those big binoculars and look beyond the falls. This proves quite entertaining for the little ones. My kids looked at the rushing water and asked aloud, "Has anyone ever gone over and survived?" I told them to google that later.
DIRECTIONS If you are staying near Clifton Hill (Victoria Avenue), go down Clifton Hill and turn right onto Niagara Parkway. Follow the signs for parking. Parking is $22 Canadian dollars (around $18 USD), but it covers the whole day. If you are coming from the US through the Rainbow Bridge, then make a left onto River Road/Niagara Parkway and follow the signs for parking, it will be on the right.
TIP Weather was just perfect in August, and other thousands of people thought the same. Crowds are everywhere so be aware where your kids are, it’s easy to get lost, especially if you are traveling with small kids.
The Hornblower Niagara Falls
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The Hornblower Niagara Falls

5920 River Road, Niagara Falls
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The Hornblower is the boat ride that takes you as close as you can get to the waterfalls. Words are not enough to express how amazing this ride is. Prepare to get wet. No, actually, prepare to get soaked! To my surprise, the line wasn’t long and it went by pretty quickly from buying the tickets to getting on the boat. Raincoats are provided, so no need to worry about that. Perhaps your nuggets will be like my daughter, dancing and playing while the water was falling on us. As you get close to the falls it feels literally like you are dancing in the rain.
DIRECTIONS If you walk along the Niagara River it will be hard to miss. If you are coming from the parking lot, walk to the left and you’ll find the entrance.
TIP Getting on a boat with kids in a wild river can be scary, rails are pretty high, but still precaution is always good. They can get close to the rails, but keep an eye on them, no running, no jumping and of course no climbing on the rails.
Boston Pizza
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BathroomKid’s menuToys/kid’s activities (e.g.  crayons, books, etc.)
Pizza is every kid's favorite food and the only food you can’t go wrong with. What is fun about this place is that it is a restaurant/game arcade. What can be more entertaining that that? The restaurant is so centrally located that, although the wait for a table can be long, you can simply walk outside and spend some time while you are called. Time went by pretty quickly and we were starting to have fun with the dinosaurs from a park nearby when we had to run back once our beeper started to vibrate.
DIRECTIONS Boston Pizza is located in the heart of Clifton Hill. If you are coming from the falls, make a left into Clifton Hill. The restaurant will be on your left hand side, near the sky wheel, hard to miss.
TIP Service and pizza is good, but don’t wait until you are starving, the wait can be long. Ambiance is fun, a little noisy with the arcade downstairs.
Clifton Victoria Inn
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Rollaway bedPoolFree parkingFree breakfastFree Wi-Fi
WE LOVEDThe location and the service. Walking distance to almost all the attractions.
WE DIDN'T LIKERooms were not exactly clean.
TIPIf you choose to stay here, overlook the details. The good thing about this hotel is that is right on spot and has a decent breakfast.
STAYED10 August, 2017 with 8 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old

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