(LC) Florida boy heading to Fallsview - recommend restaurants, etc...

[People_Mover]

Hi Ontario My wife and I are headed to Fallsview Ontario next month for some vacation, relaxation, etc... We are both 26. What are some good restaurants/things to do there? What is this ice wine I hear about? Butterfly museum? Any good steakhouses or wine bars? We aren't much into clubbing, but I hear there's a good strip club there??

We are flying into Buffalo and will be cabbin' it to our hotel, probably the Sheraton. I play a lot of poker online, so I'm definitely going to check out the casino and their poker games there. How is the weather? We bought some heavy wool coats for when we are walking around town. Do we need some gloves, hats, long johns, boots? What is the best way to exchange US funds for Canadian Funds? At the casino? My bank does not do it and Suntrust said I have to be a member. I don't want to get assraped on fees though. ATM max is 300.00 and I need more than that. Thanks for any tips/suggestions you can recommend.

[PerryLynch]

The best advice I can give you is to keep it on the plastic! The credit card company will do the currency exchange automatically, and you'll often end up in a better position that way - or at least a more accurate one.

[Webwader]

If you really want cash, take your US money to a Canadian bank when you get there. Try to guess as close as possible how much you will need so you won't lose as much when you have to reverse the process. But as stated, plastic works best of all if you are with a good credit card company.

[People_Mover]

Originally Posted by Webwader

If you really want cash, take your US money to a Canadian bank when you get there. Try to guess as close as possible how much you will need so you won't lose as much when you have to reverse the process. But as stated, plastic works best of all if you are with a good credit card company.

ok thanks

[People_Mover]

booked the Sheraton 149.99/night for 5 nights, the larger hotel room on floors 25-31 with big bathroom, yadda yadda yadda.

I'm looking at restaurants online and was wondering if you awesome helpers can give any review on the following:

The Keg Steakhouse - 9th floor of Embassy Suites
Rainbow Room - Brock Plaza Hotel
Terrapin Grille - Marriot
Watermark Restaurant - Hilton 33rd floor

Also, are their fireworks during February? Some of the pics I've looked at look awesome with the fireworks over the falls. Chicks like that romantic stuff and helps getting sexytime imo

[Tim Vance]

Hey People_Mover...
If I'm reading you right, your going to Fallsview Casino, in Niagara Falls Ontario? http://www.fallsviewcasinoandhotel.c...FQT-lgodQhGrQQ

First, if your flying into Buffalo New York, your not really going to be cabbing it to Fallsview Ontario...you are going to be crossing an International Border (Canada) first. Your better off to rent a car at the airport, and drive across - it can get real expensive going the 30 miles to the border, then waiting at the border. The Fallsview complex is literally right across the road on the Canadian side. ( And get a good map and directions - it can be tricky - there are 3 Border crossings - you want Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, not Peace Bridge Buffalo, or Lewiston - Although, personally, we usually cross at Lewiston - but I live here )

I would actually suggest going to Casino Seneca in Niagara Falls New York, since IMO it's a much better Casino/Hotel, but Niagara Falls NY is dead compared to Niagara Falls Ont. You can take a tour across the border, or just walk across - it's about a mile walk from casino to casino, with the Falls, and the Border in the way... (make sure you have your birth certificate and drivers license to cross the Border - you need it to get back into the US - Passport is good too, but not mandatory)

The Canadian side is a much better tourist town (trap) and defiantly has better attractions, restaurants, etc, etc...But, it is alot more expensive! Think Disney World, or better yet, Universal Studios...

If you want to look into icewine http://www.niagaraicewinefestival.com/
Then you should know the Icewine Festival ends on 3 Feb. and is in the area of St Catherines Ontario - about a 1/2 hour from Niagara Falls, towards Toronto (about an hours drive from NF).

For all your info try here: http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/

The fireworks/illumination schedule is halfway down on the left, but basically there are no fireworks (except Christmas/New Years) during the winter. But the nighttime illumination is really spectacular!

You can exchange money almost everywhere, but use a bank - US or Canadian side, doesn't matter, but be prepared to get screwed on the 'exchange rate' Our money is about 2 or 3 cents more than yours right now, but they charge a fee everywhere, and you get screwed. Put major purchases on your plastic, and use ATM's - you only pay ATM fee ($2), and you shouldn't need more than $600 a day, right? ($300 each?)

Hope this helps, have a great time, and bring back PICS!!!

PS, your coming to Canada in the middle of winter - Feb is about the coldest month of the year, so if your going out - and you can't see the Falls without going out - you have to stand there to believe it - bundle up - mist from the Falls covers everything in ice, up to 1/2 mile away...

If you don't mind hanging with a couple of old Element owners, let me know - We're only an hour from the Falls, and we love hitting the Falls area! IMO Winter is the most beautiful!


The first pic shows Rainbow Bridge, and the US side; Casino Seneca is the tall square white building on the right. The Second shows the Canadian side, and Fallsview is the big building straight ahead. The last pic is Horseshoe Falls.

[davedad]

Originally Posted by Tim Vance

Hey People_Mover...
If I'm reading you right, your going to Fallsview Casino, in Niagara Falls Ontario? http://www.fallsviewcasinoandhotel.c...FQT-lgodQhGrQQ

First, if your flying into Buffalo New York, your not really going to be cabbing it to Fallsview Ontario...you are going to be crossing an International Border (Canada) first. Your better off to rent a car at the airport, and drive across - it can get real expensive going the 30 miles to the border, then waiting at the border. The Fallsview complex is literally right across the road on the Canadian side. ( And get a good map and directions - it can be tricky - there are 3 Border crossings - you want Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, not Peace Bridge Buffalo, or Lewiston - Although, personally, we usually cross at Lewiston - but I live here )

I would actually suggest going to Casino Seneca in Niagara Falls New York, since IMO it's a much better Casino/Hotel, but Niagara Falls NY is dead compared to Niagara Falls Ont. You can take a tour across the border, or just walk across - it's about a mile walk from casino to casino, with the Falls, and the Border in the way... (make sure you have your birth certificate and drivers license to cross the Border - you need it to get back into the US - Passport is good too, but not mandatory)

The Canadian side is a much better tourist town (trap) and defiantly has better attractions, restaurants, etc, etc...But, it is alot more expensive! Think Disney World, or better yet, Universal Studios...

If you want to look into icewine http://www.niagaraicewinefestival.com/
Then you should know the Icewine Festival ends on 3 Feb. and is in the area of St Catherines Ontario - about a 1/2 hour from Niagara Falls, towards Toronto (about an hours drive from NF).

For all your info try here: http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/

The fireworks/illumination schedule is halfway down on the left, but basically there are no fireworks (except Christmas/New Years) during the winter. But the nighttime illumination is really spectacular!

You can exchange money almost everywhere, but use a bank - US or Canadian side, doesn't matter, but be prepared to get screwed on the 'exchange rate' Our money is about 2 or 3 cents more than yours right now, but they charge a fee everywhere, and you get screwed. Put major purchases on your plastic, and use ATM's - you only pay ATM fee ($2), and you shouldn't need more than $600 a day, right? ($300 each?)

Hope this helps, have a great time, and bring back PICS!!!

PS, your coming to Canada in the middle of winter - Feb is about the coldest month of the year, so if your going out - and you can't see the Falls without going out - you have to stand there to believe it - bundle up - mist from the Falls covers everything in ice, up to 1/2 mile away...

If you don't mind hanging with a couple of old Element owners, let me know - We're only an hour from the Falls, and we love hitting the Falls area! IMO Winter is the most beautiful!


The first pic shows Rainbow Bridge, and the US side; Casino Seneca is the tall square white building on the right. The Second shows the Canadian side, and Fallsview is the big building straight ahead. The last pic is Horseshoe Falls.

Your reply hit the nail on the head although personnaly I think the Casino in Ont. is nicer, There is a great steak house in the Casino on the American side and both have good buffet, I agree with crossing over the rainbow bridge however if you rent a car (advisable) you can cross the peace bridge and take the scenic route to the falls on river road it's a nice drive and the lines going over the peace bridge are usually shorter, Again, bring warm cloth's to wear as it gets extremely cold next to the falls, and again make sure you have passports or 2 forms of ID (military ID, drivers license, and a birth certificate) as the new border crossing rules are going into effect next week and I'm sure customs will be checking for ID closely, you don't want to get stuck in Canada!(although that might not be bad).

[Tim Vance]

Originally Posted by davedad

make sure you have passports or 2 forms of ID (military ID, drivers license, and a birth certificate) as the new border crossing rules are going into effect next week and I'm sure customs will be checking for ID closely, you don't want to get stuck in Canada!(although that might not be bad).

You've hit one of my pet peeves here. I follow this very closely since I manage cross-border drivers.
There is alot of mis-information floating around. US Customs has demanded 2 pieces of ID (one must be gov't issued, with a photo) for over 2 years now, but the regs for this only come into effect next week.
The truth is, if you are driving across the border you only need Gov't issued id with a photo (driver's license will do) and proof of citizenship (birth certificate, green card, landed immigrant card, etc).

Homeland Security would prefer that everyone show a passport, and all foreigners (anyone not a US citizen) must have a Visa...
Ya know, it's your Border, do what you want with it, but if you want to shut off billions of $$$ of trade, this is a good way to do it. You guys American's) need to realize that you get almost 1/2 your oil from Canada, plus diamonds, gold, etc, etc....


Don't get me wrong, my stepfather is American, and my daughter is about to marry one, but what your gov't is doing is putting a real dent in my livelihood....

(sorry for the hijack, and rant...)

[Andy-Montreal]

Originally Posted by People_Mover

Hi Ontario My wife and I are headed to Fallsview Ontario next month for some vacation, relaxation, etc... We aren't much into clubbing, but I hear there's a good strip club there??

With no intended insult to my fellow Ontarians, Quebec rules when it comes to strip clubs.

In addition to looking at the prettiest ladies north of the border, all of our clubs close at 3:00 A.M.

[Tim Vance]

Originally Posted by Andy-Montreal

With no intended insult to my fellow Ontarians, Quebec rules when it comes to strip clubs.

In addition to looking at the prettiest ladies north of the border, all of our clubs close at 3:00 A.M.

Hey Andy - No insult taken..
Besides, it's a well know fact here as well that our clubs don't hold a candle to the Quebec ones...not to mention the best looking women...

Now, that isn't to say that there aren't some good ones here as well....
Sadly, it's been a few years since I've been to any, so I can't recommend any in the Niagara area - the ones I used to go to where in the Greater Toronto Area....