First a little background. So the Hubs wants to go back to Western PA in August for his 50th high school reunion. I like to catch what interesting things I can on a trip, especially one so far from home, so I was looking around for things to do and see. Other than a trip down memory lane for him, and then for us at our nearby alma mater, there's not much. I grew up in Pittsburgh, so nothing new there to see. But Niagra Falls is a 3 1/2 hour drive. In Texas terms, that's practically next door! And the average daily high temp is 79 degrees! In August! Let's go! In cruising the internet, I can see there are many options. Do I want to spend US$400 for a room with a view of the Falls? Not so much. $200? Possibly. The exchange rate is in our favor, but there are all those sneaky and mysterious add-on taxes to deal with, on both sides of the border. I'm sure I can find a nice place to stay, but I am wondering about the pluses of staying on the Canadian side, if any. Are the views of the falls better? Restaurants? Yes, we have passports, so no worries there. I'm thinking three nights in Niagra Falls. Any and all thought welcome. Thanks. PS We'll probably be flying into Pittsburgh and then renting a car.
I was there when my daughter was about 3 or 4. Both sides and I remember the Canadian side being better. But that was 44 yrs ago.
Have you read this, Carol ? https://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-mandel/battle-of-the-falls-is-th_b_7984542.html
Holly's article sums it up pretty well. I have been there numerous times in the past, and was last there in 2017. The Canadian side is more glitzy and touristy, and the American side is more primitive and cheaper. Depending on how you feel, both side are okay. There is the GST in Canada, and you can get it refunded when you leave the country, but for the most part, it isn't worth it unless you make real significant purchases. You file paperwork and the refund arrives later. Where is your husband from in Western PA, Carol? I grew up in NW PA and my brother still lives there. That is actually why we went to Niagara Falls last year--he and his wife love the place. They took us on a helicopter tour of the Falls area.
Dave is from New Castle, PA. It's a little mill town on the Shenango river. We both went to Grove City College.
Chrissy, I also grew up in Pittsburgh. My grandmother had a house on Observatory Hill. We lived for a while in Monroeville, then Brentwood. Left after college and only came back to visit family.
I'm familiar with those areas...we lived in Brookline. That's in the area of Dormont, Mt Lebanon. Etc. I went to Pitt for a year then dropped out and moved to Chicago....only returned for family visits.
I grew up in Titusville, if you know where that is, and I graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville--I think Grove City graduates would know where that is, too. Small world! I had a cousin who lived in Monroeville also.
Yep, Don, I do know where those places are. Small world indeed, especially with the internet. We haven't been back to western PA since my father-in-law passed in the early nineties.