Niagara Falls

[Miss_Ellie1]

Hubby and I have decided to head to Niagara Falls mid July and would welcome suggestions for a camp ground that has water & sewer and 50 amp service and places other things to do. Have been going thru different sites and touristy things but also looking for personal suggestions.

[temccarthy1]

Stayed at 4 mile Creek State Park last year! Great campground! some big private sites if you look at their site map. Right on Lake Ontario!
Highly recommend!

[campinrooter]

We stayed at the KOA in Canada nice road the bus to the falls saved on finding parking lot more to do over there don't need a passport you can get what they call a pass card a little cheaper so you can get the whole experience you can walk the bridge to go back and forth Have Fun

[jpbuch9309]

There a state park along the lake ontario shore called four mile creek clean and small but great veiw leave camper there and go to niagara fall to go sight seeing

[RVbikers]

I can't speak too much for the Canadian side, but offer the following for the American side:

The State Park as indicated in other posts would be great, but they do not offer full hook-ups.

There are 3 campgrounds on Grand Island: Grand Island KOA, Branches of Niagara Campground and Resort, and Cinderella Campgrounds and Motel. I have only stayed at the KOA on Grand Island, have heard nothing but good things about Branches, and have not stayed at Cinderella. Any of these would offer full hook-ups.

The KOA is right next to a small amusement park called Fantasy Island. It is a nice little park, great for smaller and a little older children. Fantasy Island also has a water park.

Grand Island puts you in easy driving distance to Niagara Falls and Buffalo.

Since you are sticking with the American side here are my personal suggestions being from WNY:

Niagara Falls: I suggest getting the Niagara USA Discovery Pass. This gains you access to the Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Niagara: Adventures Movie, Niagara Gorge Discovery Museum, and the Aquarium. If you really like adventure and to witness the power of the lower rapids, I highly recommend the Jetboat rides in Lewistown. It is an experience that is amazing.

Buffalo: Buffalo Naval Park is another nice little place, if you enjoy historic war ships. There is also Buffalo Canalside. There are many different activities.

North Tonawanda, NY - Herschell Carrousel Museum is a nice little museum in my home town that showcases one of the main manufacturers of wooden carrousels and amusement rides starting back in 1916. Mid July, depending on your travel dates, would also put you in around the time of Canal Fest which runs along the Erie Canal between Tonawanda/North Tonawanda.

Lockport - you can do a Canal Ride and tour the underground caves

There are various wineries all over the Niagara Region.

Food Suggestions: My favorite place to go for hot dogs is Ted's (they are all over WNY), but if you want to eat by the river, check out Mississippi Mudds or Old Man Rivers in Tonawanda. Western New York is big on Friday Fish Fries. So if you like fish, that is a must. Sadly, I never get in town early enough to enjoy a good fish fry. For Italian food - Chef's restaurant in Buffalo.
Wings - you have Anchor Bar and Duff's. However, I have found that most of the local places make just a good of wings if not better than Anchor or Duff's.

If there is something specific you want to know, just let me know and I will do my best to help you out.

[Retired_JSO]

Fort Niagara.

[Welfarewagon]

Never been but I'm going in July staying at Branches of Niagra campground does anyone have any experience with this location?

[toedtoes]

WNYBob wrote:
Toedtoes wrote:
"The Journey Behind the Falls is on the Canadian side. It is a tunnel that takes you to a platform right next to the Horseshoe Falls (near the base) and then takes you to two openings directly behind the falls."

There are 2 tunnels that come out under the falls, once you were able to go to the end of the tunnel, but cracks were found and now it looks like a window to see the back of the water. I always thought it was neat to look straight up and see the water flowing over the edge about over your head. Those were the days.

I remember reading about someone who had jumped over the guard rail to collect the coins people had tossed. The wind blew and the cascading water came inward and washed him right over the edge.

I like the view from the platform on the side where you can see the sheet of water coming down.

[WNYBob]

Toedtoes wrote:
"The Journey Behind the Falls is on the Canadian side. It is a tunnel that takes you to a platform right next to the Horseshoe Falls (near the base) and then takes you to two openings directly behind the falls."

There are 2 tunnels that come out under the falls, once you were able to go to the end of the tunnel, but cracks were found and now it looks like a window to see the back of the water. I always thought it was neat to look straight up and see the water flowing over the edge about over your head. Those were the days.

[toedtoes]

While I agree that the Canadian side is best, don't worry if you can't do it. The American side is well worth the trip on its own.

The Canadian side has better views of the Falls as a whole, but the American side is much more natural a setting when you get to Goat Island and the Three Sisters Islands. You can walk right to the edge of the water (BUT PLEASE pay attention to the warning signs and DO NOT wade in the water there - the water is deceiving and can sweep you away very quickly and you really DON'T want to go over the falls, especially the American Falls).

[toedtoes]

Roadpilot wrote:
niagra falls - canadian side cave of the winds (american side-no cave-$100pp or more)

The Cave of the Winds is on the American side. It used to be a cave, but the cave collapsed many years ago. Now it is a series of stairs and platforms under the Bridal Falls (part of the American Falls versus the Horseshoe Falls) where you get completely drenched in the spray. It can be seen in a Thompson's Water Seal commercial. The stairs and platforms are dismantled every winter and rebuilt for every summer.

The Journey Behind the Falls is on the Canadian side. It is a tunnel that takes you to a platform right next to the Horseshoe Falls (near the base) and then takes you to two openings directly behind the falls. You do get wet, but not nearly as wet as Cave of the Winds.

They are two distinctly different experiences and both are worth it.

As a trivia note, in the movie Niagara, when Marilyn Monroe is chased, she goes into the Power Plant, and then, wearing a Cave of the Winds raincoat, she actually runs through Journey Behind the Falls only to end up on the outside at Cave of the Winds.

[WNYBob]

There is an alternative to a passport, and that is an enhanced drivers license. Check with your local DMV on availability and details.

I live and grew up in WNY and have fun helping others get around and see the area.
Please ask any questions about the area, I'd be glad to assist.

[Veebyes]

Confirm what many have already said. Viewed from the the Canadian side is by far the best.

[SpeakEasy]

If you are a state park kind of person, the place to go is Four Mile Creek State Park. It's close enough to Niagara Falls, yet far enough from the hustle and bustle so that your camping experience is peaceful and quiet.

-Speak

[Gib3633]

I live 14 miles from Niagara and no need to go camping there. On our way home from the Falls Sat. evening on the south end of Stanley avenue we passed a campground called King Waldorf and I commented to the wife how interesting it looked . It is on the water , close to the falls , close to Niagara Parkway, casino, food etc. It is also easy access from the QEW being our main highway from Peace Bridge at Buffalo to Toronto. You would exit at Lyons Creek and go east to Stanley avenue. Not saying anything negative about Yogi Bear or KOA or Good Sam