Vacationing in New York/Niagara. IDEAS?

[DSpud]

My wife and I will be visiting New York and Niagara Falls/Toronto during the first couple of weeks in July. Obviously, we are going to see a Yankees game(yes I have the tickets already), and see the statue of liberty, 9-11 site, empire state building, times square. I am just curious what people who have been that way before find interesting in the city, throughout New York state, and in the Niagara Falls/Toronto area. Any ideas would be appriciated!

 

[Bobby]

On your way north from NYC, you might stop at the FDR home in Hyde Park. It is very interesting.

 

[goaliebob99]

what about seeing David lettermen or Conan Obrian while your in NYC.

 

[DSpud]

goalie, I would love to Obrien whele in NYC, but the way they do the tickets is really stupid. You have to call NBC every morning starting at 10 a.m. and check if they have tickets available for the day you want. and when they are gone, they say check back tomorrow...that message goes on for weeks and then one morning, more tickets for the next couple of weeks, then a recorded message again. You never know when the tickets on the day you want to go are going to be available.

Letterman is worse, you have to put in a request, and when they call you, they give you trivia about the show. I signed up, but I am worried because I watch the show often, I certainly don't watch it everyday.

 

[JimMcC]

On a silly note, before you go, watch the movie "Niagara" with Marilyn Monroe. Damn, she was hot!!!!

 

[dantheman77]

i hear the falls are nice!! lol

also baseball hall of fame. is that on the way?

 

[rockymtnhigh]

i hear the falls are nice!! lol

also baseball hall of fame. is that on the way?

I was going to recommend Cooperstown. Easily on the way, cutting across upstate.

Its funny, having grown up in Albany, absolutely nothing is coming to mind, in terms of things to recommend, between NYC and Niagara Falls.

And the capital district is a place to live, not to visit.

If you like caves, Howes Cavern is cool; but I haven't been since I was a kid.

and if you are willing to go "off-course" a bit, then I'd go north to Saratoga, 30 miles north of Albany. The thoroughbred horses now race pretty much all summer, not just in August, like they used to. A day at the track is pretty fun. And Saratoga is a nice little touristy city.

The NY State Museum in Albany is good, but if you are into museums, there are so much better options in NYC, like the Met or the Museum of Natural History.

 

[navychop]

See the falls from the Canadian side. And definitely go atop the CN Tower in Toronto. And see their underground.

SatelliteGal is your best bet for good info on that area.

 

[Ilya]

If you are spending a night in Niagara Falls, make sure to stay in one of those hi-rise hotels on Canadian side. Ask for a room high enough with a good view of the falls. It will cost you a bit more, but is well worth it!

If the weather permits, make sure to take one of the boat tours to the Falls. You can't really appreciate this wonder of nature until you look at it upward and feel the watter on your face!

 

[jbernardi]

I agree with navychop. Definitely see the Falls from the Canadian side. My favorite spot is just opposite the edge of the Horseshoe Falls where you can best appreciate the power and volume of water flowing over the edge. Also take a trip on Maid of the Mist at the Falls.

 

[fayrich]

The Marriott by the Falls is a great place to stay. You might want to check on the 2 night package deal they offer. Includes a certain dollar amount voucher for dinner for 2 in their fallsview dining room (cannot remember the amount), and free buffet breakfast for 2 both mornings (really good). The view from the rooms up high is unmatched. We have stayed there several times and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Also dinner the second nite at the revolving tower restaurant is also recommended. Can't remember the name just now (senior moment), but you can't miss it. Be sure to take in the "behind the falls" attraction just below the hotel. Well worth the money.

 

[Van]

I love Toronto, if your into the night life head down to Younge street and hit some of the bars just dont go into Remington's Men of Steel. You can find some good B&B's just west of downtown, I stayed at a nice one with a full apartment complete with living room and master bedroom with king size solid wood four poster bed and a huge master bath for $60 a night.

Theres some good shopping at the mall on Younge street though I had heard it was closed down about 10 years ago but I cant confirm that. Theres a sky needle down by the water front and last I remembered there was a ferry boat ride as well and a beach to the southeast of downtown.

If you like to experience diferent cultures then head north of down town and there is a wide variety of resturaunts worth checking out oh and theres a donut shop every block or so.

 

[DSpud]

All great ideas everyone! Didn't even think about cooperstown, thats a new stop! I appriciate all the comments on how to see the falls, I have been there twice before but I was young. My wife has never been there and she really can't wait to see it. Keep the ideas coming, everything you all have said I am seriously considering. Van, do you remember the name of the B&B?

 

[Derwin0]

With the falls, I would stay on the Ontario side, much better view of the Falls and more hotels. See them in the afternoon and evening from there, they have a light show on the American Falls in the evening.
But I would also spend a day on the NY side, and walk around Goat Island. You can get right up to the Falls, and it's not as touristy as the Ontario Side.

 

[Bob Haller]

Ben niagara a number of times.........

if its still open visit niagara mohawk power station, they took us on a nice tour including the generating plant. dont know if this ended after 9 11............

once did 3600 miles on one week weith my best friend and brother from phoenix........

a highlight was battle ship cove, tour a battleship and sub marine..... very memorable but dont remember exactly where it was,,,,,,,,,,, along the coast

 

[SatelliteGAL]

See the falls from the Canadian side. And definitely go atop the CN Tower in Toronto. And see their underground.

SatelliteGal is your best bet for good info on that area.

lol Well, I'm a "transplant" and all I can think of are the casinos.

 

[navychop]

Yes. The casinos are beautiful. Go in one. Look around. Take out your money from your wallet. Fold it in half. Put it away. Leave. Tell everyone you doubled your money in a casino.

 

[SatelliteGAL]

Yes. The casinos are beautiful. Go in one. Look around. Take out your money from your wallet. Fold it in half. Put it away. Leave. Tell everyone you doubled your money in a casino.

lol We usually go with a certain amount of money we are willing to lose. If we lose it no big deal. If we win some then that's even better. And we stick to the cheap slots. We just go for fun and the buffet restaurant.

 

[navychop]

I enjoyed the food at the casino restaurant we ate in. Don't remember it being particularly expensive. I remember drinks on the floor were almost cheap. Live entertainment, although I seemed to be the only one watching.

 

[snathanb]

Have to be up there myself to teach a few seminars next week for Verizon Wireless. 1 week in Rochester then another in Buffalo the next week. The wife is flying up to spend a long weekend with me in Buffalo.

Thanks for all the good tips in this thread... we'll check out the falls from the Canada side!