RE: Niagara Falls

[luvourjayco]

 
As the season approaches I am getting a lot of emails asking for the following info so I thought I d post it here and everyone can access it faster without waiting for me to catch up on  the mail.
 
 If you are looking for a Provincial Park atmosphere in the Niagara Falls area you are not going to get it. All the land is heavily taxed and zoned commercial tourist.
 Most parks have extra charges for more then 2 adults 2 kids. Being tourist they are taxed on the number of persons staying there not the sites used. All parks accept pets as long as they are leashed and picked up after.
 I highly reccomend people to use the transit system for gettting around the tourist areas here is the link http://www.niagaraparks.com/discountpass/attractionspass.php
 
 Here is a couple of links to places that might help.
 http://www.tourismniagara.com/online/
 
 Campgrounds vary widely and everyone expects something different.
 
 Marineland does have its own campground and it will provide you with discount coupons for the park. We had freinds that used to seasonal there but the owner changed the rules and they left at the time the campground had little shade althought the new pics look different and the memories are 5 years ago.
 http://www.marinelandcanada.com/camping.html
 
 Park specifics that we are familar with
 
 Camparks... railway line runs right at the back of the park
 large barn for shelter. Public transit runs right in front.
 Nice pool. Good playground. If you chose the right site there is shaddy ones available.
 
 KOA........ railway line runs along the back. 3 pools, hot tub. Public transit right in front. Nice payground. Mini golf. some shaded sites.
 
 Glenview.. will be closing and is slated to become a waterpark resort this summer.
 
 Shalamar... Last summer this place was filthy and staff were aweful. We had used this campground as a weekend get away the year before but I refuse to return!
 
 Yogi Bear.. We have heard good things about this park although we have never stayed there. The highway is close by but there is a service road and a fence between the campground and the highway. Pool and store are right there and the Niagara Sqaure shopping center is close also. Great playgound.
 
 Frenchmen s creek.... no info
 
 Dressel s Still Acres... no info
 
 Knight s Hideaway... no info
 
 Scotts Trailer park... is just that a trailer park!!
 
 Riverside Park
 this is the park I would reccomend this year. We stayed for a couple of weekend last summer and enjoyed the quiet family atmosphere.
 www.riversideparkcampgrd.com
 
 all the others are at least half to 1 hour away.
 Sherkston Shores is a resort. I have heard horror stories about the things that go on there.  Talk to  momto3 if you need more info she has stayed there.  
 Bissels is a nice campground but they nickel and dime you You have to add everything to their base price and it adds up fast!!! Also one hour away!!
 
 Hope this helps. Any more info please feel free to ask.
 Sharon
 
 
 
 

[fivegonefishing]

 luvourjayco
Sharon thanks for the report!  
 
 A bunch of guys at DH s work have booked the July long weekend at Sherkston s, I think it s $250 for four days including a camping site and pool access for 6 people.  Hope they enjoy it, we ll be Sandbanks.
 
 Tammy

[luvourjayco]

 luvourjayco
Tammy if its just the guys they may be ok. Us family gals would go totally nuts. It is party central there. No quiet hours, bars in the complex, teens partying it up and booze everywhere. Not to mention the sites in an open field with no privacy at all. No thanks not for me.

[homecrew]

 luvourjayco
Sharon,
 
 Thanks, we actually looked at your posts from before and decided to stay at Riverside during our visit this June. We were able to get site 55. If you were to pick only one way to visit the falls, what would it be? (Maid of the Mist? Jet Boat? Neither?) Thanks, Mark
 
 
 

[luvourjayco]

 luvourjayco
Mark, my favourite way to visit the falls would be maid of the mist hands down. 2nd place would go to the journey behind the falls.
 Ask dh the same question and he d say the jet boat. Remember though that the jet boat does not go all the way to the falls. It cannot go past the upper rapids its just too dangerous.
 If I had to pick a favourite attraction it would go to the butterfly conservatory.
 Favourite thing to do would be the trails in the gorge. Hiking down there is just gorgeous. ( the price is right too free!!)

[homecrew]

 luvourjayco
Sharon, Thank you, it sounds like we will definately have some good choices. We will be placing our dogs in a kennel when we are visiting the falls. Do you know whether dogs are allowed on the trails? Mark

[luvourjayco]

 luvourjayco
I know you can have your dogs on the Bruce Trail accessed by Queenston Heights Park as long as they are leashed. I have seen some in the gorge but there is a killer set of stairs to start down and it may frighten the dog. If you go down by the whirlpool you will have better luck with getting the dog down there. No need to kennel it for that trip []
 email me off list if you need someone to help research kennels locally we do not have a dog but friends of ours do and I can see what I can do to help you out.
 luvourjayco@hotmail.com

[whitestar505]

 luvourjayco
Went last year , but did not camp. After all was said and done I wished I had. The hotel was a dump for high prices. Camping should of been the way we should of gone.