After years on our bucket list, we finally had the opportunity to visit Niagara Falls on the Canadian side this September. The weather during September and October turned out to be ideal for exploring Ontario, Canada. I wanted to share some highlights from our trip, along with tips and insights we picked up along the way, to help you plan a fun and memorable visit for travelers of all ages.
We decided to do a 4 day trip.
Day One – Getting there. The flights are not long from the East Coast. We flew into Buffalo NY (BUF) that arrived around noon on a Sunday. You can choose Toronto Airport but the drive in is further. You will need your passport for this trip reguardless of which airport entry you choose.
- Buffalo Airport is not huge. Only about 50 gates. Manuervering around the airport was easy!
- I found a Taxi Service that I highly recommend for getting from the Buffalo Airport into Canada.
- The trip is about 30 of driving plus a wait at the border crossing (since it is the off season our wait time was only about 15 mins). You do not have to exit the car at the border crossing, you just need to have your passport ready.
- Buffalo Airport Taxi was the service we used to get it across the border and to our hotel. Our driver was Lily and she was amazing. They communicated via text-message and the experience was top-notch! They also set up the times to bring us back to the airport when our adventures were over. The cost was about $100 US for the trip both ways.
- Hotel, we stayed at the Marriott Fallsview but my recommendation would be to book a room at the Embassy Suites. Trust me, it is close to everything Niagara Falls and it will be worth it.
- We booked dinner the first night on OpenTable at the Skylon Tower. The meal was pricy but the views are incredible and make the experience worth it. It was a great way to see the falls. During dinner, we made a complete rotation around the tower and afterwards you get to go to the observation deck above the restaurant and have another opportunity for some amazing views/photos.
Day Two – Niagara Falls
- We purchased Niagara Falls Pass which gave us several attractions, a WEGO bus pass, and a incline railway pass (which is 100 yards from the Embassy Suites).
- We setup to go and do the Whirlpool Aero Car first. (take the green WEGO bus north to that stop)
- Then we rode the green WEGO back south one stop to Maple Leaf Place for some shopping and a quick lunch.
- The next stop back on the green WEGO is the White Water Walk
- Then we rode back to the boat ride area.