NIAGARA FALLS -- APRIL 2002
Travel Strategy:
- Kid friendly!!!!
- Familiar destinations
- Reasonably close destinations
- Attention to cost (off season rates dirt cheap!!!!!)
- Access to pool
- Close to multiple attractions
The Trip, Day by Day
Monday, April 1, 2002
- Traveled from Troy, MI (7:00 AM) to Niagara Falls (12:30 PM) stopping only for breakfast
- Attempted to go to Niagara-On-The-Lake, but missed 55 and got lost for a bit
- Went to Butterfly House first
- Note for next time, tee shirt only! it's hot in there.
- Tried to stop at Whirlpool Restaurant which was not yet open (seasonal)
- Noticed Construction Everywhere.
- Attempted to go to Victoria Park for lunch, also not yet open (seasonal)
- Went to Minolta Tower for nice lunch
- Went to Clifton Hill to the Quality Inn
- More construction, Dinosaur Golf gone, Dazzleland gone
(large construction project in there place, it was cold, and I was a bit
discouraged
- Miniature golf being reconstructed adjacent to Comfort Inn
- Quality Inn changed a bit for this third stay -- whole section removed to allow access to the parking lot blocked by new construction
- Fun House, of course
- Sushi Dinner
- Late night at Shooters
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
- Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day
- Breakfast on Clifton Hill
- Wandered the Hill
- Lunch at Skylon Tower
- IMAX theater
- Time at the Pool
- Fun House
- Dinner at Rainforest Cafe
- Late night at Shooters
Wednesday, April 3, 2002
- Breakfast at Quality Inn's restaurant
- Lunch at Tablerock
- Journey behind the falls
- Observation deck closed for season, but still very cool
- Played hockey and other games with the kids at Shooters
- Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe
- Late night at Shooters
Thursday, April 4, 2002
- Quick breakfast in room
- Time at the pool
- Left at about 11:00 am
- 1 pm lunch in Woodstock (hour and a half)
- Home by 5 pm
Bottom Line: Lower your expectations if you visit Niagara Falls off-season. While still fun, certain attractions and restaurants do not stay open. The tourist trade uses off season to update and change attractions to attract $$$$ during their main season -- don't expect them to accommodate you as much off season.
Some things we STILL missed that are on our list for next time
