Advice for MARINELAND & NIAGARA FALLS in Canada needed?

Question

Have any of u stayed at the hotel at Marineland/ Niagara Falls? If yes, pls recommend us:

- economy hotel with swimming pool like walt disney world value resort

- are 2-3 nights enough to see everything?

- how much is the admission to marineland & niagara falls during our stay?

- what would you recommend us to do or visit there? I travel with my husband & a 20-months old boy

- which restaurant is worth to try to have a good dining experience?

- any outlets nearby?

- is there any public transportation we can take to go back to ajax (our friend's house) from there? if yes, how long will it take? how much?

thanks

Answer 1

I would suggest staying at the Great Wolf Lodge if you are looking fo someting comparable to Disney World type resorts. While on the expensive side, it is worth the money, as it  has an indoor water park. 2-3 nights is enough to see all the main things, Admission to Marineland was about $30 for an adult last time I was there, about half that for a child. Under 2 years old might even be free. There is no admission to Niagara Falls.....I would recommend the Imax theatre, the Maid of the Mist, the Journey Behind the Falls, the Butterfly Conservatory, but do browse the website. For restarants I would suggest Monticello's Grillehouse and Winebar as well as the Rainforest Cafe, which your child will love. There is the Outlet Mall on Lundy's Lane which has many stores. There is no public transport that I am aware of between the Falls and Ajax....perhaps try Niagara Airbus. Have Fun.

Answer 2

My ticket for Marineland with tax was $43.55

It's like $5 less for a child.

I know that you can buy package deals for Clifton Hill, where you pay one price and gain admission to several tourist attractions, such as the wax museum. Just look the tourist info up on Niagara Falls on google.

Marineland also hands out booklets with coupons on your way out of the park.

There's lots of $1 off admissions to several tourist attractions.

Answer 3

There is no official hotel onsite at Marineland and there is nothing the park owns/runs which would equate with any Disney resort.   They do operate a camping ground off site, but it's nowhere near calling it a Disney-style resort.  Most NFO lodgings are within 1-3 miles of Marineland.  The price of these properties changes greatly depending on whether you are staying there during the week or weekend and whether you are going in or out of the tourist season.  It is not unusual for a property's weekend price to be twice as much as it's weekday price.  Although there are some newer properties that have indoor water parks or themed pools, most closest to the falls can be defined as luxury high rise hotels which maximize the room view instead of themed family resorts

The most economical lodgings (as well as many reasonable restaurants both chain and independent) are on Lundy's Lane. This will put you somewhere between 1-3 miles from the falls (which would be in addition to the distance from Marineland), but you will be on a road that can take you directly to the falls. There are many cheaper lodging chains as well as independent places there.  One place that sounds like something you described is the Americana Conference Resort & Spa on Lundy's Lane.  This hotel has an indoor waterpark, a themed restaurant and family fun packages, one of which includes admission to Marineland.

Although Clifton HIll is called "the Avenue of Fun by the Falls", it's steepness might be too much of a walk or unsafe for a 20 month old or too much of a stroller push (or stroller "holding onto" as you descend) for either of you.   In addition, some attractions that usually would be "don't miss" things within the area might be too intense for someone that young as well.  For instance, I'd tell everyone to visit the Skylon Tower's observation deck and consider eating at one of their restaurants.  In your case, someone that young might have problems with such a long elevator ride in a car probably filled with strange people.

I'm not specifically saying not to go at all.  Ultimately, you need to make that decision.  However, you might find that the list of things you want to do in NFO is shorter than the things you avoid due to your son's age.  If it were me, I'd pick something a little less ambitious and save NFO for another 1-3 years down the road.  Your son's ability to fully enjoy everything the Niagara Falls area has to offer will grow as he does.  A little patience might substantially improve your eventual trip.  Personally, my family didn't take me to my first trip to NFO until I was three years old.  I loved it enough to go back many times since both with them and on my own.

Answer 4

Ia manswering this without reading the other responces so sorry if I am repeating something you already heard.  Save your money on Marine Land.  buffalo has a zoo that is much cheaper and better.  If this is your first time up there look into tours they pretty much offer one price thats lower than what you would pay individually.  A bus will take you around and you will have a tour guide. As far as hotels there are many from high to low....very low.  My advice would be to check out tripadvisor.com to read reviews., updated all the time of hotels in the region.  The closer to the Falls the more money and also they make you pay up to $20 per night just to park.  You can get a reasonable hotel within walking distance to the falls.  There are 6 Days Inn throughout there really reasonable and you can get a hot tube to.  MOst hotels have pools.  I like to go to the nicer hotels and use there pools no one ever checks. There are outlet in Buffalo and also in Grove City but thats about an hour and 15 min drive.  Restraunts to recommend....advice you will pay a lot to eat here.  Try to venture out a mile or 2 and eat. Breakfast is cheap though. The Anchor Bar, Duffs or La Nova Pizzeria is about a 15 min drive to buffalo for the Best chicken wings ever. Anchor bar is were they were invented.  They have buses and taxi to take you anywere.  Bring a camera Niagrafalls.com is a great site to do some research.  Its a great town up there little pricey but if you do some homework you can do it on any budget.  The wax museams and 4d movies are cool to,.

Answer 5

I live right beside Niagara Falls so i can pretty much answer all your questions and help save you from getting ripped off and make your stay a convient and pleasant one. Since you have a small child, you'll want to be close to all the attraction's and within reasonable walking distance to your Hotel. Stay at the Blackstoe Inn located on Ellen ave. The roo's are clean, the staff are great amd i'm good friend's with the owner. Been staying there for year's. And its;s only a 2 minute walk to Clifton Hill. Rooms are about 65-75  a night. You won't find anywhere cheaper. Wolf Creek Lodge, Double Tree etc, charge about 250- 350 and up a night so you won't get a better deal. Parking rate's there are very exspensive so this will also save you money. The number #1 restauran in Niagara is the Flying saucer Diner located about 4 km W on Lundy's Lane. Great food, huge serving's and really cheap. The restaurant actually is shaped like a UFO. So it's a fun dining experience. If you get there before 10 am, you can get breakfast for 99 cents!!! Loacted a bit further out is the Factory Outlet Mall.  If you like to shop, you'll love this place. Also, there is the Pen Centre which is a huge Mall located about 20 minutes from Niagara, Worth checking out. There is public transit that run's till 12am if you don't feel like driving. It goes to most major location's for tourist's. As for attraction's for a youngster, not a lot in Niagara. Look into Zooz Niagara. Only about 12$ to get in and a very impresssive collection of animal's. Pic nic area and a tram service which will drive you around the Zoo. Great if you have kid's. If you require any additional information, feel free to contact me at  [e-mail]

http://www.fallscasino.com/black_stone/

http://www.zooz.ca/default.asp

Do not go to Marine. Total ripoff. Nothing much there to really see and it's 50$ to get in the gate. Worst attraction in Niagara. Hope all this helped. Good luck and enjoy your trip.