@terryliv We went to the Canadian Side of Rainbow Bridge. We crossed over from the city of Buffalo (actually a part of Buffalo called Niagara Falls, NY). Our son visited there in June, and he said the Canadian side was better. Because we did not do anything on the American side, I can’t tell you about that. If you have money to spend, you can have more fun! Your feet will get tired.
We stayed in the Embassy Suites. One suite had 4 rooms, so if your son and family are coming with you, rent just one suite. The good thing about the Embassy Suites is that they have a rail lift down to the falls. So, you can park your car at the Embassy, and then you won’t be hunting for nonexistent parking spaces for your entire stay. The Embassy also has an indoor pool and a free, big buffet breakfast.
Once down to the falls, there are busses to catch. They are on and off and run all day. The maps explaining them are not too difficult, and I say this as someone from a car culture.
You may buy different kinds of passes. We bought the $34 one and it lasts for 2 days. Our son and his wife bought one of the $90 ones, and they liked it. After you buy a pass, you wear a lanyard that they scan as you go to various activities. The $34 one got us into “Behind the Falls,” which was worthwhile. It also got us into a cheesy movie where water sprays on you. I’d skip that unless you have little kids with you. They would like it.
It got us onto a boat ride to the falls. On the Canadian side it is called Hornblower. The line seemed really long, but they move it along quickly. They give you plastic ponchos on anything that will get you wet, so don’t worry about that or about your camera. This was one of the most fun things we did. Everyone was laughing hysterically.
The last thing our pass got us into was the White Water Walk, and we all liked that. We spent just one day there, so that’s all we had time for, but our son and daughter-in-law spent 2 days and did even more things. Because we did not use one day of our 2-day pass, we gave our lanyards to the parking garage attendant, and he said he knew people that would use them.
Two things we did that were not on our pass (perhaps they are on the $90 one?) were the zipline and the sky tower. The zipline was fun, but the line was very slow. We waited 2 hours! It was expensive too—like $50 or $60 a person. You must make an appointment too. If you want to do the zipline, I would hurry over there in the morning to be one of the first in line. It is not scary at all.
The sky tower (not sure if that is what its official name is, but you can see if quite easily) has two dinner options that include a ride up to its observation deck, which costs money on its own. I took the rainbow border photo from there. We ate high up at a buffet which was delicious. If we had known beforehand, we could have made reservations for the rotating top floor. To eat there at night would be quite pricey, but so memorable as the light show would be going on.
Another fancy option for eating that would need reservations is to go out on the Hornblower for a dinner cruise with the night lights going. We were not there on a day that there were fireworks, but that happens most days, so it’s something else to keep in mind.
Away and up from the falls, where the entry to the Embassy Suites and the Sky Tower are, are many, many fun places, especially for children. There are fun houses and a magnificent ferris wheel. We saw an IMAX movie there, and also toured a museum about people who have gone over the falls that displayed their barrels. We had no children with us, plus we had no time, plus we came to see the falls, not Las Vegas (yes, there is a casino too); still, if you have children with you, these places will call to them. There is no end at Niagara Falls to be relieved of your money. Each place you go enters and exits through a gift shop. There are eateries and food stands all throughout as well. It might be a circus, but it sounds like you will be there while North America is in school, so that should help. When will you be at Canyonlands, and I will tell my park ranger son.
Wow!! Thanks for all that Jane. We are booked into the Ramada Hotel Fallsview on the Canadian side. We (Rhoda and I plus Rohan and the two granddaughters) are driving over from Chicago. We only have two nights at Niagara - 12 & 13 Oct.
Now Canyonlands. We arrive in Moab from Monument Valley on the afternoon of Fri 29 Sep. In the morning of Sat 30 Sep, we visit Arches NP and then over to Dead Horse Point in Canyonlands before heading back to Moab. We then have the afternoon to ourselves.
It doesn't appear that we go to Island in the Sky but if we are "allowed" and if your son is up to it, I would certainly love to see more of Canyonlands and Island in the Sky in particular. Lolling around a resort does nothing for us.
@terryliv I'll let Robby know. I think you will go to ISKY. Dead Horse Point is not in Canyonlands. It is a state park. It is 5 miles from Canyonlands, which is a national park. If your itinerary lists Canyonlands at all, it is ISKY. I'll get back to you after I check with Robby about his schedule. He works as a ranger 5 days a week and for the town's ambulance service every other weekend at night, so we'll see what he's up to that day. I notice that it's a weekend, so he may have it off, and he would love to show you around. Moab is a wonderful place for street photography, plus there is a river with cliffs with petroglyphs and also a wetlands with migratory birds. If he's available, he will definitely keep you from sitting around. ISKY is 30-40 miles from Moab. Robby is 30 and single and very kind. He loves to goof around. Goofy and kind--you'll see.
As for Niagara, I didn't notice the Ramada, but hopefully it shares the rail lift to the falls. I forgot to mention that the passes also get you onto the busses.
@janeandcharlie Just read the blurb again and I think you are right. I now think it is saying Canyonlands AND Dead Horse Point. Previously I was reading it as Dead Horse Point in Canyonlands.
September 2nd, 2017
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Thanks so much for your comments about my photo of Niagara Falls framed by red flowers. I'm a one-trick pony with putting a plant in the foreground.
We stayed in the Embassy Suites. One suite had 4 rooms, so if your son and family are coming with you, rent just one suite. The good thing about the Embassy Suites is that they have a rail lift down to the falls. So, you can park your car at the Embassy, and then you won’t be hunting for nonexistent parking spaces for your entire stay. The Embassy also has an indoor pool and a free, big buffet breakfast.
Once down to the falls, there are busses to catch. They are on and off and run all day. The maps explaining them are not too difficult, and I say this as someone from a car culture.
You may buy different kinds of passes. We bought the $34 one and it lasts for 2 days. Our son and his wife bought one of the $90 ones, and they liked it. After you buy a pass, you wear a lanyard that they scan as you go to various activities. The $34 one got us into “Behind the Falls,” which was worthwhile. It also got us into a cheesy movie where water sprays on you. I’d skip that unless you have little kids with you. They would like it.
It got us onto a boat ride to the falls. On the Canadian side it is called Hornblower. The line seemed really long, but they move it along quickly. They give you plastic ponchos on anything that will get you wet, so don’t worry about that or about your camera. This was one of the most fun things we did. Everyone was laughing hysterically.
The last thing our pass got us into was the White Water Walk, and we all liked that. We spent just one day there, so that’s all we had time for, but our son and daughter-in-law spent 2 days and did even more things. Because we did not use one day of our 2-day pass, we gave our lanyards to the parking garage attendant, and he said he knew people that would use them.
Two things we did that were not on our pass (perhaps they are on the $90 one?) were the zipline and the sky tower. The zipline was fun, but the line was very slow. We waited 2 hours! It was expensive too—like $50 or $60 a person. You must make an appointment too. If you want to do the zipline, I would hurry over there in the morning to be one of the first in line. It is not scary at all.
The sky tower (not sure if that is what its official name is, but you can see if quite easily) has two dinner options that include a ride up to its observation deck, which costs money on its own. I took the rainbow border photo from there. We ate high up at a buffet which was delicious. If we had known beforehand, we could have made reservations for the rotating top floor. To eat there at night would be quite pricey, but so memorable as the light show would be going on.
Another fancy option for eating that would need reservations is to go out on the Hornblower for a dinner cruise with the night lights going. We were not there on a day that there were fireworks, but that happens most days, so it’s something else to keep in mind.
Away and up from the falls, where the entry to the Embassy Suites and the Sky Tower are, are many, many fun places, especially for children. There are fun houses and a magnificent ferris wheel. We saw an IMAX movie there, and also toured a museum about people who have gone over the falls that displayed their barrels. We had no children with us, plus we had no time, plus we came to see the falls, not Las Vegas (yes, there is a casino too); still, if you have children with you, these places will call to them. There is no end at Niagara Falls to be relieved of your money. Each place you go enters and exits through a gift shop. There are eateries and food stands all throughout as well. It might be a circus, but it sounds like you will be there while North America is in school, so that should help. When will you be at Canyonlands, and I will tell my park ranger son.
Now Canyonlands. We arrive in Moab from Monument Valley on the afternoon of Fri 29 Sep. In the morning of Sat 30 Sep, we visit Arches NP and then over to Dead Horse Point in Canyonlands before heading back to Moab. We then have the afternoon to ourselves.
It doesn't appear that we go to Island in the Sky but if we are "allowed" and if your son is up to it, I would certainly love to see more of Canyonlands and Island in the Sky in particular. Lolling around a resort does nothing for us.
As for Niagara, I didn't notice the Ramada, but hopefully it shares the rail lift to the falls. I forgot to mention that the passes also get you onto the busses.