Maid of the Mist & Canada
Today brings us to the final day of our 3 Days at Niagara Falls with Kids series. In Part 1 we visited Niagara Falls State Park and Cave of the Winds. Then Part 2 brought us to Old Fort Niagara and Whirlpool State Park.
Maid of the Mist
Our third day at Niagara Falls started off rainy. Thankfully just as we pulled into the Niagara Falls State Park Prospect Point parking lot ($10/day) the rain let up. It would continue to be cool and cloudy for the rest of the day.
The first order of business was to ride the Maid of the Mist. It was the final attraction we needed to visit with our Discovery Pass. No long lines today! We walked right up to the ticket booth and showed our passes. Everyone was given a Maid of the Mist postcard. Next, we walked right onto the elevator, and down we went to the dock. After exiting the elevator you are given a poncho and directed to a line to wait for your turn to board the boat. Unlike the Cave of the Winds, there were no birds here.
We were fortunate to be able to stand on the very front of the bottom level of the boat. We had great views. And yes, we got wet! The wind and spray from the falls were tremendous. All 3 of our kids were thrilled and loved the ride. When asked which they liked better, Cave of the Winds or Maid of the Mist, they all said Cave of the Winds because they got wetter.
Observation Tower
After leaving the boat you can either go straight to the elevator or you can take a boardwalk to a small overlook. Please dispose of your poncho properly! We saw many people who simply left theirs on the boardwalk or sidewalk.
Once getting off the elevator you can make your way out to the Observation Deck. The views are spectacular! The Observation Tower is included with the Maid of the Mist.
Rainbow Bridge
Next, we made our way to the Rainbow Bridge to cross over into Canada. This was the one thing the kids were most excited about. Leaving the U.S. you pass through a full-length turnstile and then are free to walk across. No fees to leave!
In the middle of the bridge, there is a plaque recognizing the border. The kids loved placing one foot in each country. The view from the bridge is amazing. You can see all 3 of the falls. Once you are on the Canadian side you have to go through customs. We had to show everyone’s passport (kids included) and answer some questions. The customs agent was kind enough to stamp our passports even though they usually don’t.
Canada
Following customs, we strolled along the sidewalk that paralleled Niagara Parkway. We passed the Wildplay’s Mistrider Zipline, the Hornblower, a statue of Nikola Tesla, and the Journey Behind the Falls. The path had many overlooks and street vendors.
Tablerock Welcome Centre
Our walk ended at the Tablerock Welcome Centre, which is right next to Horseshoe Falls. You are so close to the falls that you can get pretty wet from the mist.
The Tablerock Welcome Centre has an information booth, ticket counters, gift shops, restaurants, and restrooms. Since it was wet and misty outside we decided to eat our picnic lunch on a bench inside the center. We didn’t feel right about bringing our own food into one of the restaurant dining areas.
Falls Incline Railway
From the upper level of the center, you can access the Falls Incline Railway. The Incline Railway provides a quick link between the Fallsview tourist area and Table Rock Centre. It is open year-round from 9:00 am to 8:30 pm. A roundtrip ride is $4.87CAD +tax. Our kids found the ride to be too fast and uninteresting.
Fallsview Tourist Area & Clifton Hill
At the top, we wandered around the Fallsview tourist area, the grounds around the Skylon Tower, and through the Clifton Hill area. Unfortunately, it was so cloudy you couldn’t even see the top of the Skylon Tower. We decided to skip a ride to the top. If you do go, the movie plus a ride to the top is $17.50CAD for adults and $10CAD for kids. It is open daily from 8:00 am to 12:00 am.
The Clifton Hill area is a big tourist area. There are lots of amusement park-type rides, attractions, and arcades. You will also find tons of restaurants and gift shops. Our kids had never walked through an area like this so they were in awe of everything. The lights, sounds, and smells had them spellbound. This is a good area to pick up souvenirs if you want them. The prices were lower than at the attractions.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
The only thing we did in this area was a visit inside Hershey’s Chocolate World. Everywhere you look there was chocolate. The kids were amazed! We decided to spring for some dessert at their fresh food counter. 5 oversized cookies came to about $15USD. They were so good!
Rainbow Bridge
After our snack, we decided to walk back across the Rainbow Bridge to the U.S. To leave Canada, you have to pay a $1 toll per person in U.S. or Canadian quarters. There are coin machines in the customs building, but I’ve read that they are not reliable. Tip: bring enough quarters for your family.
Back on the U.S. side, we had to go through U.S. customs. This consisted of us showing our passports and answering questions. They wanted to know if we were bringing anything back into the U.S with us. I highly recommend walking across the Rainbow Bridge versus driving. If you drive, beware of tolls and long lines on both sides of the border.
That walk ended our 3 Days at Niagara Falls with Kids. The kids had a blast! So many memories were made.
Our Hotel
Where did we stay? We stayed at the Homewood Suites in Buffalo-Amherst. The hotel was about a 25-minute drive from Niagara Falls. We decided to stay in Amherst mainly because of the hotel price. Hotels at Niagara Falls in New York and Canada were quite expensive and most were also charged for parking. We love Homewood Suites. They are so spacious and we love to take advantage of the weekday complimentary evening socials (small dinners).
Further Reading
- 3 Days at Niagara Falls with Kids: Part 1
- 3 Days at Niagara Falls with Kids: Part 2
- New York State Museum with Kids
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I did not receive compensation for this post.
I enjoy your travel blogs so much. They are interesting and thorough with great photos. It is obvious you are well prepared for excursions and have a good idea of what to expect. Looking forward to hearing about your future travels.
Thanks Chris! My parents taught me well.