NOTL sounds wonderful! I am now including it in my visit.

This place is the best! I am so excited now!

Thanks, thanks, thanks for all the suggestions.

I have printed out everything so far to take along with me!

As for the food, I just like to take in the local/cultural experience.

Our interests...Nature/scenic rides, outdoor stuff, the wineries sound wonderful.

The boat trips don't run in the winter - and the cable car doesn't either AFAIR.

FYI: The Prince of Wales is on Conde Nast's Gold List.

I grew up in NF too (US side) and the city itself is dismal due to mismanagment and industrial pollution going on 100 years now.

And this being off season, you can't do some of the better touristy stuff (like Maid of the Mist). But it's a great walk on a not too cold day (bundle up, the cold water spray is icy) around the park.

Places to eat in NY (USA):
In the state park on Goat Island, the restaurant on the second floor (above the gift shop) is decent (nothing special but certainly not awful) with as good a view as you'll get on the US side.

Senaca Niagara casino has a decent buffet set out. I think Lunch was $15 last time I was there. The hotel part of the casino has some new restaurants but I'm not sure if they are open yet (the hotel is supposed to be nice but is only partially open now...not sure if the spa is open).

That stands to reason, was just presenting options for short sleeve weather as well I suppose. I guess neither run do to the buildup of ice from the mist created by the falls?

I second the idea to hit Downtown buffalo maybe for a night as well. Not sure if your teenagers are hockey fans, but the NHL's Buffalo sabres play there are are playing quite well. Nice arena and a cool spot to hang out before/after the game if the Pearl street Brewery Co., tons of pool, darts, video games etc. Also if getting wings, Anchor Bar is good, but its a tourist trap--Gabriel's Gate on nearby Allen street has the BEST wings in Buffalo IMHO.

Anchor Bar's are good--but you might wait in line. Hell, every restuarnt in Buffalo has great wings, so go ahead. There are also some very nice museums close to downtown--The Albright Knox Art Gallery is quite a place--huge exhibits. The American History Museum is right across the street as well. Could make a day out of that and then head to the Falls, do teh touristy stuff for a 1/2 and then hit Niagara on the Lake for a day. All in all a nice mix.

You beat me to it! ^

Ok a couple of ideas for NFO.

First off when visiting the wineries, try and find a local one. Some of them mentioned here Jackson Triggs, Inniskilin have been bought up by large corporate entities and are not like they were. In fact JT is connected to the old Bright's wines, total gutrot stuff (not saying they don't have good wines, just there are better).

Some of the more local wineries with restaurants (I believe these have restaurants) are Angel's Gate, Henry of Pelham, Joseph Estate, Pilleteri, Chateau de Charmes, Reif (I know these guys don't have a restaurant though).

For local restaurants, well in NOTL they are pretty much all tourist. The town may be considered quaint, but compared to when I grew up and used to head down there drinking in the 80's, it is a tourist trap as well, just a bit more upscale.

If you can take back some jams or preserves from Greaves - they have a retail store on Main St. NOTL. Not cheap but incredible quality. Just up from Greaves, same side of the street is a local restaurant (drawing a blank on the name) - last summer I believe the building was yellow - distinguishable by its large patio/front porch. It is close to the local theatre if that helps.

Now in Niagara Falls. There is no distinctive Canadian cuisine per se - it is like everywhere else in North America. Some of the local restaurants include:

Zappatelli's Pizza, Mick and Angelo's, Far East, The Bellevue Tavern (excellent wings, not sure kids are allowed though) and while touristy Falls Manor Broasted Chicken.

Now for activities. If there is snow, you can cross-country ski at Whirlpool Golf Course (on the parkway towards NOTL). You can also stop at the Horticultural Gardens, next to the Butterfly exhibit. The only museum worth going to was the Niagara Falls Museum but it has since closed down As has been suggested above, consider a tour of Fort George.

Oh yeah, when in NFO, go up the Skylon Tower. You will get an amazing view of the Falls and surrounding area. At night with the lights on is the best time, but your view of other things is somewhat limited.

Now if you were truly local, then you would head to Niagara Falls, NY for cheap beer and wings

For cheap eats in a really weird environment, try the Flying Saucer Restaurant at 6768 Lundy's Lane.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Waited 60 minutes for them to bring me bacon and eggs....but at least they brought out our drinks after 30 minutes Seriously though, I'd go with the winery restaurant over the flying saucer.

Joseph Estate has a restaurant now? I haven't been there recently, but it was a smallish family-run winery with the usual varietals plus some interesting fruit wines and grapeseed oil.

Reif has excellent ice wines and Greaves does make some delicious jams ^

Have fun, winter is a great time to see the Falls.

No Joseph does not have a restaurant but they do have snack food out. BTW they remain one of my favourite wineries in the region. The owner was one of the founders of Reif (I believe) but left cause it got to big.

They make an incredible cream sherry.

On both sides of the falls is a Hard Rock Cafe if that is yours or your kids thing. As for the boarder crossing, you will need proper government ID. It will be scanned into the computer by the CA authorities. If you do not have a passport, the grumpy CA immigration officer will tell you that the US Gov't will require it of their own citizens in the future (I had to listen to that about 20 times). If you walk across, the boarder crossing can be time consuming at certain times of the day.

I think the restaurant I am thinking of in NOTL is the Buttery. (the one with the big front porch/patio)