BTW, just in case you don't know, the Canadian side of the falls is much more impressive. Be sure you have passports.
For an alternate route home, we have driven from Niagara around Huron (pretty area) and through Sault Ste. Marie with a stop at the locks then down to Mackinac Island for a day.
This also gives you the option of visiting Chicago. Surprisingly a very easy city to visit with parking right on the lake at Soldier Field with fairly easy access to the museums along and near the lake. Sue at the Field Museum is awe inspiring. Many other museums in the area. Science and Industry is my favorite, but there are a bunch of interesting museums there.
