Driving from nyc to niagra falls and then toronto Suggestions ??

I'd recommend visiting the falls, possibly taking a boat tour where they take you to the bottom of the falls.

Also, UNCHECK avoid tolls on your GPS, otherwise you may find yourself driving around the east side of Lake Ontario.

Exactly what I should have done a couple of years ago when I made the trip. I was not familia w/ the NE & I did not take a paper map w/ me. I ended up driving 8hrs to get to Toronto.

The boat ride is a great idea. It's call the Maiden of The Mist. Puts you in awe when it gets near the fall. BTW, the vista of the Fall is much better on the Canadian side, since you're going to be there anyway.

Also since your driving, don't take the QEW from Niagara Falls, Ontario but drive the Niagara Parkway {Canadian side) up to Niagara on the Lake and then over to St Catharines where you'll pick up the QEW to Toronto.

The Parkway follows the Niagara River with great views, tons of history, and the birth place of Hydro Electric power generation.

On the Canadian side, you can do that. Also there's a viewpoint on the shore of the Niagara river just under the CDN falls. Was there in the months of snow and ice when the deck was closed. Should be open and beautiful now.

The Canadian side is far better for sites and things to do.

Might want to set your route through the Finger Lakes and perhaps visit a winery or two. There are over 100 wineries. Also the Cities of Ithaca, and Watkins Glen are quite nice and scenic.

Thanks for the name of the boat, I couldn't remember even though I was on it ages ago. Canadian side is definitely better to see the falls from. I was on both sides, not much going on from the US side.

Watch the movie "Niagra" with Marylin Monroe before going.

What a great trip .I hate to say it but the Canadian view is way better than the US view. niagra falls was beautiful.C anadian side gives better oppertunities for better photo ops and shots . on the canadian side theres a nice area for kids with a bunch of mini theme parks and atractions in the area. drove to toronto after i was dont with NF. short hour and a half. Toront was nice too but ...... its a city and finding parking was very difficult. i suggest if you do go to toronto stay close to the city in a hotel with parking and utilize there public transportation. i used the POI file from this site and they were dead on.

Thanks again Guys

Or "Canadian Bacon"

I do get a kick at the end of the movie when the are boating back to the smokey industrial United States. The industrial mess they are heading to is in Hamilton, ON!

lol thats funny

Leaving NYC area, Rte 17 to Binghamton. If you are in the Binghamton area around dinner time, there is a great Italian restaurant, Cortese. Look it up online, it is right off the Rte 17/I-81 intersection. Went there for years when I lived in the area. Great food, have the marinara sauce.

From Binghamton, you can go either I-81 to I-90, or continue on Rte 17/I-86 to I-390 to Rochester area, then take I-90 to Buffalo/Niagara Falls. Either will take you through the very nice interior region of NY State. Watch for deer. I lived in the area, and if you go to a parking lot and survey the cars, most cars will have front end damage due to deer collisions.

Spend time at the Falls... very spectacular. It is where electrification was born. Viewing from the Canadian side is highly recommended. Plenty to do on the US side too.

Also, if you like Buffalo Wings, you have to go to The Anchor Bar, the birthplace of Buffalo Wings. Again, look them up online, they are just a couple miles south of Niagara Falls.

You didn't say where you were driving from. If you're going west on I-90 from the NYC area, you may want to detour a bit and visit Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Canadian side is much nicer than the US side
There is a place that makes totem poles and does wood carving. Make great pictures.
Was there last year and had a great time.

You can visit the Falls from the Canadian side. You can visit Fallsview casino. If you want you can download here this poi: Niagara on the Lake Wineries for a visit on your way to Toronto.

This link takes you to many waterfalls around Hamilton:http://www.cityofwaterfalls.ca/

This link you can see the coordinates : http://www.waterfalls.hamilton.ca/default.asp?waterfall=21

In Toronto, you can visit the distillery district where you can see a well restored Victorian Industrial buildings. Follow this link and you can see events for the time you are going to visit. http://www.thedistillerydistrict.com/

Enjoy

I basically take that route except rather than taking I-390 all the way to the Thruway, I get off at the Mount Morris exit on I-390, right after the rest area, take NY-63 to Batavia and pickup the Thruway there. It is mostly two lane road but it does move and a lot of trucks go that way too in order to save toll money and cut time off the trip. There are some areas like Retsof, Piffard and Greigsville where the speed drops to around 30MPH but it goes back up to 55MPH in short order. There is also a farm stand near Pavilion called "The Farmer's Wife" that I stop at too.

one is in corning new york, yup, corning glass and they have a simply stunning exibit that's worth the time to go through.

Second is in Bradford Pa, it's the Zippo factory and there are some interewting zippo lithers there... I know I know, your starting out a bit north of bradford, pa, but if you can go horizontal a little bit you might find this interesting.

Hope this helps.

BTW... when you go across the boarder, and they ask if you are a U.S. Citizen, say "Why yes I am but I can't vouch for the others in the car ;)" That will certanly give you sometihng to talk about later

Have to stop in Buffalo and have some Buffalo Chicken Wings in the city that originated them.

Here's a good place. http://www.duffsfamouswings.ca/content/home/home.html

MMM great wings

They originated at the Anchor Bar.
http://www.kitchenproject.com/history/BuffaloWings/

If you are going from NYC to Binghamton with no particular stops inbetween, I recommend I-80 West through NJ to I-380 North to I-81 North (Wilkes-Barre and Scranton). Better traffic flow and fewer speed traps. Much cheaper gas in NJ; not sure about PA gas prices.

My suggestion: Don't spped in Canada. They hate New Yorkers!!!!!

I will also vote for maid of the mist. You might also want to visit cave of the winds. Here's a link to things of interest around the falls:

http://www.niagara-usa.com/things-to-do/attractions/falls-re...

We stopped for a few hours years ago on our way to a week fishing on lake Nipising (well north of Toronto). We did the maid of the mist - I remember the ponchos - you get close enough to get good and wet. I think we went into the cave too. We did not visit at night, that is supposed to be a bigger treat.

Jim

have some wings as the birthplace of wings (Anchor Bar).

Hit up some wineries for sure that are all around in St. Catherines and Niagara on the Lake.

DON'T accept any rides in a barrel!

ML

Cave of the Winds, Niagara Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Niagara Science Museum, Niagara Gorge Trail, Niagara Wine Trail, Devil's Hole State Park, Daredevil Museum of Niagara Falls, Aquarium of Niagara, Seneca Niagara Casino, IMAX Theatre, Crystal Caves, and my favorite - Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours.

any ready POIs?