More Tips From The Falls: Lights, Rooms and Ice Cream by Travelogger

Sep|14|2006

More Tips From The Falls: Lights, Rooms and Ice Cream

Posted by Zahir as Americas, Backpacking & Budget, Family, Food and Drink, Nature, Tips

Very graciously, Jamie has sent us another installation of her riveting Niagra Falls memoirs, giving me full permission to “rip off wholesale”. Another big thank you, Jamie!!

” …I did forget to mention that every night they illuminate the falls, too. The lights for American and Horseshoe come from a huge bank of spotlights on the Canadian side,
and Joshua amused himself by watching the spotlights change so hecould predict what color was next. (I think Bridal Veil was illuminated by a spotlight closer to the fall that I couldn’t see.)

At one point American and Bridal Veil were red, white, and blue, and Horseshoe was red and white; other times they’d decorate in rainbow, or just with vivid colors that had no meaning whatsoever. And of course the whole time you could hear the roar of the water.

Also, in regards to staying and eating there: there are lots of inexpensive places on the Canadian side, and though we were warned about Canadian taxes they were really about equal. Instead of making reservations long-term, it’s a good idea to have a place lined up for your first night, and then going over to the Canadian side to look at prices and where the hotels are really situated.

There are some really cheap places about two blocks from an incredible view, and other places that have a much better view than their online descriptions might imply, and others that just aren’t online.

Twist of the Mist is a really good ice cream place (bizarrely decorated, with an outdoor garden to relax in while you eat) next to a hot dog/sandwich place on the American side right next to Rainbow Bridge; they have free wireless access. They are the ONLY PLACE I found with it.

And if you need to change money, you can park there and walk across the street to the duty-free store; if you park at the duty-free, you will be forced to drive into Canada and pay the US$2.5 toll. That happened to us.

One more thing: there’s a large cafeteria called something like Victoria’s Station that is located directly across from Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side. It’s one of the few reasonably-priced places to eat there that also has an amazing view. And there’s a bar &
grill on the top floor — though the Canadians have a different term for it!”