Niagara Falls Canada

[LisaP]

Thinking up packing up and heading to Niagara Falls. Would like any input. Where to stay, border crossing with trailer and dogs.Any interesting spots along the way...Texas to Niagara. Traveling end of Sept. Thanks for your help!

[wasagachris]

LisaP The best place to cross the border is the Queenston (Ontario)- Lewiston (N.Y.) bridge. Take the I-190 North through Niagara Fall N.Y. to the Queenston- Lewiston Bridge. This is the main crosing point for truck traffic so there is plenty of room for TV&TT. Bring your vaccination certificates for the dogs. There are food restrictions both for entering Canada and going back in to the U.S. Check both government web sites for the lists of restrictions. The dog's food must be in it's original packaging so they can verify the ingredients. U.S. customs is much more strict in this regard. I was making a day trip across the border once and they siezed my dog's food because it wasn't in the original bag. I took only a days worth rather than a 25lb bag. Here is a link to camping in Niagara Falls Ontario. Have a safe and fun trip.
Info Niagara | Lodging | Campgrounds

[erock53]

We did the Niagara Falls trip over the summer. It was our inaugural trip in our almost restored Airstream. We stayed at the KOA Niagara in Canada. The campground was acceptable and clean, but we are used to State Parks with a little more room. The campground was fairly empty, so we were not crowded, but if it were full, the sites would be very close. The campground was only 3-4 miles from the falls, so it was easy to get to them. We had never been to the falls, so we did all the tourist things like the Maid of the mist, rode the big ferris wheel, took a tour of the power station and of course hit the tourist trap of arcade games and t-shirt shops. I would recommend the KOA, but just because of the location. Crossing the border was not much of an issue. We had passports for the adults and at this point the kids only need birth certificates. We did not bring any food into Canada, we just went to the store and purchased what we needed. Our trip back to the US was just as uneventful as our entry into Canada. We spent 3 days at Niagara and did almost everything we wanted. After Niagara we went to the Birthday Bash in upstate NY and a side trip to Cooperstown Baseball hall of Fame to end our Summer vacation. Good luck with your trip and send me a PM if you have any other questions

[Wingeezer]

If you have time, you might enjoy a visit to the nearby town of "Niagara on the Lake."

It too is a bit of a tourist trap, but quite different than Niagara Falls, with many interesting shops and restaurants. The town itself is very attractive.

Brian

Burlington Ont - about an hour from the Falls.

[LisaP]

Thanks everyone ! I knew this forum would be the best place for info. Thanks for putting me on the right track!

[tinhutjohn]

You shouldn't have trouble at the border if you do the things mentioned. One other tip--don't even try to bring firearms into Canada. They will be confiscated.
There are a ton of provincial parks in Ontario Ontario Map and you can reserve on line. They are probably the most aesthetically pleasing places to stay.
there are also Conservation areas that have parks you can stay in. They are not as fancy as the provincial parks, but certainly worthwhile having a look at. Of course not all Provincial or Conservation area parks have camping facilities.
Hope you enjoy visiting our country. You've picked a perfect time of year with moderate temps, the start of fall colours and the best of the produce in the road-side markets.
Sarge

[airstream66]

And remember, no firewood.

That will ruin your day as you have to turn around and take it back to the US, and then come back.

We crossed in Lewiston and it took forever, but it took twice as long to get back into the States at Port Huron.

We thought we could save some time on our way back home by going through Ontario, but didn't.

[Tikiman]

LisaP,

My wife and I are also heading to Niagara Falls. We're attending the Fall Forums Rally Sept. 30-Oct. 3rd and then headed to the Niagara area. Maybe we'll cross paths.

Brian & JoAnne Flowers

[CrashInBlack]

Check out the Angel Inn in Niagara on the Lake. They brew a very nice beer.

[Gene]

Though you should see the Falls from each side, Niagara Falls, NY, is pretty rundown despite all the attempts for decades to revive the city. Niagara Falls, Ont., is a much nicer town though there's a lot of goofy tourist traps near the Falls.

The Rainbow Bridge is right by the Falls, the Whirlpool Bridge is downstream a couple of miles and the Lewiston Bridge is quite a bit farther north. Any one can handle a trailer, though I don't know if there are any restrictions on the first two bridges—you could Google them and see.

Canadian border guys are much nicer than US ones as a general rule. In our last times crossing the border, the US guys (women too) had turned into the fruit police. The rules are kind of daunting and any fruit purchased in Canada without a US label still on it will be stolen (oh, sorry, fruit police, "confiscated"). The irony of this is the fruit in Canadian markets is generally much better than we see in US markets. California must ship the best stuff to Canada. We had no problem going into Canada. They have some rules too, but don't seem to enforce them nearly as much.

A good principle in border crossings is the less room to park your vehicle and inspect it, the less likely you will be inspected. When I lived in that area 30+ years ago, the first two bridges had very little room, but the Lewiston Bridge had lots of space at each end.

Not too many people visit Buffalo, but the 1930's City Hall is full of wonderful Art Deco, along Delaware Ave. are many mansions from the era when Buffalo was a much bigger and richer American city, Allentown (both sides of Allen St. and Delaware) is full of Victorian houses, as are other parts of the city. Stay through the winter and you'll be a stronger person for it—I did for 7 or 8 of them, it's a snowy blur now.

Gene

[LisaP]

We are back from our trip! Thanks again for all your help. We crossed at the Lewiston Bridge . Easy coming and going. Niagara Falls was amazing, Niagara on the Lake so beautiful. The ice wines were wonderful. Heading home we came thru the Finger Lakes. More wine! Then Hershey PA for a car show. 16 nights in the Bambi is a record for us . Everything worked well!