We decided that we had such a great time at Niagra Falls, that we thought the places that we visited deserved some type of recognition for their services. Plus, as a bonus, those places that didn't provide the best of service have also won a spot on this page! If you decide to travel to Niagra Falls, for a wedding, a honeymoon, or just a vacation, then, please visit these places. They are among the best we found there.
We arrived in Niagra Falls on Friday afternoon. The trip through Canada was beautiful. The country side was breathtaking with the trees beginning to blossom and bloom. We found the Canadian Border officials to be extremely friendly. Everything was very clean in Canada. The roads were great. After driving in Michigan for so long, these roads were a welcomed change of pace.
Upon arriving in Niagra Falls, we tried to follow the directions given to us by The Scottish Inn where we had reservations. Needless to say, when one turn is left off of the directions, it makes a place hard to find. After stopping at a visitor center for directions, we found the hotel. We stayed the first night at The Scottish Inn. However, do not take this as a recommendation. It is in fact, the opposite.
Despite having advertisment on the Internet, this hotel was something of a gag. The jacuzzi suite left something to be desired as far as luxury and service goes. The only extra or amenity in the room was the jacuzzi which we paid extra for. The experience here was quite exasperating along with the service. Upon checking in, we notified the Registration Desk that we did not wish for the Neumeyer's to be placed in the adjoining room. However, when they arrived, they headed directly to the room next to us. After calling the Registration Desk back however, this problem was amended. The drain in the jacuzzi did not work properly. This problem was remedied only in time for the couple to be joined by the Neumeyer's. The comment card from the previous couple was left in the room, leaving some doubt as to the cleanliness of the room. Instructions for the phone were not given. Help from the front desk was difficult to obtain without a visit to the Registration Office. In the middle of the night, we were awoke by a commotion by the hotel tour bus working on their van outside our bedroom window. And the list goes on. The only good thing we found with this hotel was the discount we recieved for the jacuzzi suite. As you can tell, we do NOT recommend this hotel to anyone visiting.
Your money can be much better spent at the Clarion Hotel near the Falls. We stayed Saturday night here. This hotel is within walking distance of the falls. The cost of the room was minimal, but the service was extrodinary. The Niagra Falls Wedding Chapel is also located within the Clarion. The Clarion offers all of its guests' the use of their indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, work-out room, bar and game room, resturants, a gift shop, a private parking ramp (which was the cleanest and safest feeling in the area that we had found) and fast and friendly service. The rooms and service here were both above the normal standard. The room came with such amenities as an iron and ironing board, a coffee pot, coffee, coffee condiments, glass drinking glasses, a radio, and a view of the civic center. The gentleman at the Registration Desk, Jamie, was extremely friendly and helpful. Our special thanks to him for his warm personality and friendly service. We really recommend this hotel to every one visiting Niagra Falls for both business and pleasure. It is truly a fine establishment.
Our first night in Niagra, we dined at Red Lobster. The food and service was excellent. The waiter had no problems replacing items on the menu for me as I do not eat fish. This was greatly appreciated. The cost of the meal was average for Red Lobsters in our area.
We visited many souvenier shops while there. We found the prices to be reasonable and ran standard in all shops. For honeymooner items, we found the shop located in the strip mall next to the Hard Rock Cafe to be the best. The only item we were not able to find was a t-shirt which said "Married at Niagra Falls".
Visiting the falls the first night was done on the American side. The view was spectacular, but the wind was extremely cold. It would be wise to pack for winter weather including a hat and gloves when visiting the falls this time of year. We did not however. But, we still enjoyed the falls from both the main land and Goat Island. The view in our opinion, was best at Goat Falls on the American side.
On Saturday, we started the day with breakfast at Denny's. The service was good as well as the food. The prices were standard for Denny's. We enjoyed our breakfast so much on Saturday, we returned on Sunday morning also.
After breakfast, we crossed over to the Canadian side of the falls. While here, we toured the streets. There are many different museums, shops, and unique places to visit. We toured the Skylon Tower, taking the elevator to the top at the observatory. The view was breath-taking. The Canadians' definitaly have the best view of the Falls. The glass out-door elevators gave a splendid view of the falls. We recommend that even if you are afraid of heights to take in this attraction. It is worth the cost of admission.
For lunch on Saturday, we went to the Carver's Table. The food and service were good. We only had sandwiches, but, they were good. They had no problems making the sandwiches the way we wanted them.
We found the best grocery store while visiting there also. Tops. I really wish we had one of these here. This grocery store put Meijer's, Carters, and other local chains to shame. The prices were low, the amount of items unbelievable, and the service friendly. We suggest if you forget an item or two or wish to get "munchies" this is the place to go! They are located on Niagra Falls BLVD.
Saturday evening was spent preparing for the wedding. To see the wedding pictures, click here. To pass some time after we were dressed and ready, we visited the bar in the hotel for a soft drink. The bartender gave us our sodas on the house since we were about to get married. This was a nice treat to calm the nerves.
After the wedding, we and the Neumeyers then left the Niagra Wedding Chapel in the Clarion Inn for an exceptional dinner at Timberlodge Steak House. The food and service were excellent. The menu contains some uniquely named items, and is entertaining to just read. We both recommend this establishment to anyone visiting the Niagra Falls, NY area.
After dinner, the Neumeyer's returned to the hotel leaving us to tour the town on our own. The first stop on our tour took us to Goat Island to view the falls lit for evening. This was a breath taking sight. Other tourists to the Falls were very friendly, offering to take pictures of us together. A special Thank You to all of the people who wished us the best or offered to take pictures. Your kindness was greatly appreciated.
Upon leaving Goat Island, we headed to The Hard Rock Cafe on the Falls. Craig enjoyed a Hurricane while Kristi delighted in a Sex on the Beach. Both drinks came in tall souvenir glasses. The glasses have now become vases holding dried roses that Craig has given Kristi while they have been together. This is a neat place to visit, but, we recommend that you try to visit during off hours. There was a wait for tables to eat, but, they do provide a seating area for waiting for dinner at the bar.
Once finished with the drinks, we retired to their suite at the Clarion. For the most part, we enjoyed our visit immensely and suggest that everyone take in this sight. For those getting planning on getting married, this is a unique way to exchange wedding vows. We are glad we exchanged our vows this way.
More Pictures and Recommended Places To Visit
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