First off I think their should be a sticky for Niagara Falls information...

Something future travelers should know...

The infamous boat ride that takes you down to the base of the falls is Maid of the Mist. Currently they operate tours from both the american and Canadain side of the falls

The Candaians put their contract for the tour up for bid and hornblower won it starting in 2014. Maid of the Mist still has a contract for the US side but there are issues if it can still operate because on the canadian side give that its not as steep has the winter dry dock,boat storage, and maintenance services. So when the contract ends in 2014 the Maid of the Mist would lose access to this. Thus its posible Maid of the Mist is forced to shut down operations. Hornblower could take over or the trips to teh falls from the US side cease to exist.

http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/cover2.28.12.html

http://www.wkbw.com/video/Maid-of-th...147229475.html



To get ot the canadian side you do not need a car. You can park on the american side and walk across the rainbow bridge to the Canadian side. You still have to go through immigration which will require tha same ISD as if you were to drive...a passport or an enhanced ID (ID/drivers license car with a chip). Enhanced IDs are done by most border states. An alternate option for the enhanced ID that does work...If you have a military/government ID car that has a chip in it (you would use it to log into computers or open doors) will work.

American side....it is a state park. There is parking in the state park and at parking lots/garages in downtown Niagara Falls. There a few hotels in downtown Niagara Falls (Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Days Inn to name a few)


Canadian side....The have more high rise hotels and better falls viewing hotels because of the angle of the american side of the falls is facing Canada. Canadian side also has the typical tourist traps out there mainly on Clifton Hill (Wax museums, tacky tourist trinket stores,over priced restaurants, etc)


others feel free to add....