Niagara Falls Travel Advise

Oh, and I'll second the Maid on the Mist tour. It's awesome.

 

A lot of chain places around the Falls and the Casinos. A lot of tourist trap places like Applebees and Dennys. Be careful, a Grand Slam breakfast will run you about $14 because they know they can get away with it.
The Fallsview Casino has a nice buffet. They have an upscale restaurant in the Fallsview Casino that is supposed to be great, but I've never ate there.
In Niagara Falls I like to eat where the locals go. Garrison Subs has the best steak subs I have ever ate. Kelly's Winghouse is also good and cheap.
Locals might steer you to Mick and Angelos or Casa d'oro, but I found them to be overrated.
If you want something unique, eat at the Flying Saucer on Lundy's Lane. Good portions and great atmosphere. I believe it's open late too. They also used to have cheap breakfast.
I also like Betty's out in Chippawa, but most of their clientele is over 65.

 

The fireworks are Friday and Sunday nights, or at least that was the summer schedule. Started at 9 p.m. Maid of the Mist boat tour is excellent and can be accessed from either side. Cave of the Winds on the U.S. is a lot of fun. You can skip Journey Behind the Falls on the Canadian side. Not much to see, really.

 

There's always The Sundowner on the Ontario side. No cover in the afternoon and a $6 buffet

 

If you have a car, its definitely worth driving up to Niagara on the Lake. The drive is pretty along the river gorge, only about 20 minutes or so, and the restaurants are way better, and less expensive than anything comparable in the Falls. Anything decent in the Falls is some upscale chain.
Try this place -- http://www.stoneroadgrille.com/

Entrees are $20-$30

 

Drive back to Buffalo and eat at Duffs.

 

Ah, Cranberry, thanks for reminding me of the Sundowner.

 

Be careful about sitting on the railing.

 

Better still (and I've done this), stay in Niagara Falls, rent (or bring) a bike and do the ride along the river to Niagara on the Lake. It's about a 25 km (15 mile) ride one way.

 

I'll third it. Awesome experience. Make sure you have a camera. I've done it three times and would do it again without hesitation. As for crossing the border, usually it's more of a hassle coming back into the U.S. than going into Canada. Although it's been a while since I crossed at Niagara Falls. I usually cross at Sarnia and that's a royal pain.

 

Folks thanks for all the suggestions. Seems a lot to do there and I am going to wish that I had more time.

Would it be safe to assume that it's better to cross the border at a time other than rush hour?

 

Back in '79, I showed up at the Niagara Falls border at 4:30 am following an all-night drive from Syracuse with two friends in a '64 Corvair that was burning oil pretty badly. The border patrol agent said nothing good could possibly come from our being in Canada at that hour and told us to wait an hour and try again after the change of shifts.