Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

North America
July 11th 2013

Published: August 2nd 2013

Edgewaters For the Official Birthday Dinner

What a treat, our adult children made all the arrangements for my 70th birthday weekend with all nine of us on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls!

We saved on major attractions by purchasing an "Adventure Pass" at our local AAA Travel office. The pass included 48 hours of usage on the WEGO Bus. There was a WEGO bus stop almost directly across from the Radisson Hotel & Suites Fallsview where we stayed. We only used the car once on day 3 to go to the lovely village of Niagara on the Lake. The hotel suited us fine and had a Tony Roma restaurant where we gathered for cocktails and had dinner on night 1 and a buffet breakfast on day 2. Both meals carried generous discounts and special prices because we were Radisson guests. We didn't use the indoor pool or health club; but they were there! Only wish there had been a continental breakfast option for those who don't want a big morning feed!

Beth and Tricia took our Adventure Pass vouchers to the Visitors Center to make reservations for some of the included attractions and pick up our WEGO bus passes. Wonderfully helpful staff

Garbed in Plastic Ponchos (BEFORE)

Getting ready for our wonderful ride on the very well named "Maid of the Mist!"

advised them to make reservations for early morning for Maid of the Mist as that waiting line can really get long, especially on weekends. Great advice; we literally boarded as soon as we arrived early on Friday morning we and 550 other tourists had a great wet ride. It really is not to be missed. They also chose "Behind the Falls," White Water Walk, and my personal favorite "Niagara's Fury, a 360 degree, interactive presentation in 4 D (one of the "D's" would be occasional sprays of cold water)!

At the end of one busy day, we met for drinks in the bar at the top of Skylon Tower. The view is excellent and there are several dining options. The children enjoyed standing splay legged with one foot on the "rotating" dining room floor and the other on the stationery center core floor where the bar is - just to see how long they could take the "ride!" Kids are so amazingly creative when it comes to finding awesome things to entertain themselves.

Aside from Tony Roma's, we had dinner outside on the upper deck at Edgewaters Tap & Grill where we watch the colored

Horseshoe Falls From 12th Floor

Here's the view from our room at the Radisson!

light show on the falls rev up as the sun went down. Food was great and we were treated to fireworks just as we finished eating. On Friday night, we tried to eat at Margaritaville; but were discouraged by the estimated hour wait and did way better indoors (it was hot) at Johnny Rocco's Italian Grill. We walked back to the Radisson from Johnny Rocco's, stopping for ice-cream cones along the way. The kids had a great time dancing to the beat blasting from the patio of the Copa Cabana Brazilian Steak House!

We watched fireworks on 4th of July from a spot in Queen Victoria Park. On our trek back up the hill, Chris grabbed a cab for the children and a few older ones who were totally bushed after a grand day. By day, Queen Victoria's lovely green expanses and flower gardens are cool and refreshing with an almost constant "mist" from the falls providing endless hydration!

Maid of the Mist - A definite must do. We got wet; we had fun; and we admire the captains of these boats who take their 500 plus charges so close to the

American & Bridal Veil Falls

Fab to catch these two from the Canadian side!

falls. Amazing.

Our entry into Canada from Niagara Falls, NY via the Rainbow Bridge took two hours idling in traffic on a hot day - In fact, Wes had to turn on the HEAT to keep the SUV from overheating. The exit (with a first stop at the Buffalo Airport) was way easier via the Peace Bridge. BTW, we all have passport except for two of the children who crossed the border handily both ways with original, stamped birth certificates.

Oh, did I say we had a fab time! Well, we surely did – thanks, Tom, Tricia, Beth, Chris, Casey, Vivian & Jack!

Additional photos below

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