Family Travel to Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a great place for family travel, beloved by adults and children of all ages. It is an easy place to visit with small kids. While small children near giant waterfalls may feel a little nerve-wracking, the barriers around the falls are safe, so it’s actually pretty easy to keep them from trying to find a barrel and rolling on down. We chose to go to the Canada side of Niagara Falls because there is a better view of all of the falls there, and it is more walkable as well. So, this post is specific to the Canada side of Niagara Falls.

Getting to the Canada Side

In our experience, the Canadian Border is easy to get through, with little waiting. Most readers are from the USA, and my blog focuses on the mid-Atlantic region. As such, I should mention that Niagara Falls is very accessible from the mid-Atlantic region of the USA.

What documentation do we need? U.S. citizens aged 16 and over require a U.S. Passport, Passport Card (this is the cheaper version that works by land and sea for our neighboring countries of Canada and Mexico), or an Enhanced Driver’s License to cross into Canada by land and sea. Children under 16 only need a birth certificate (original, photocopy, or certified) or naturalization certificate if traveling by land or sea. By air, everyone needs a passport.

Drive or Fly? The trip is very drivable from this region, and I would recommend driving if you can. (This is mainly because we flew, and ended up missing our original flight and spending a lot of time in the airport. We got there 14 hours after we started, when we could have driven in 8.) However you get there, it’s certainly a place that is full of enjoyment and worth the trip!

Family Activities in Niagara Falls

The Falls

The falls themselves, obviously, are beautiful and impressive. Even the smallest of children can appreciate that. Visiting the falls is free and always open, though parking can cost around $20-30 CAD.

Journey Behind the Falls gives you a poncho, but you don’t actually get drenched. This is important when traveling with a baby. You’ll get sprayed a little, like you might in a very light rain, but nothing crazy. It’s lovely. Cost is about $28 per adult and $19 per kid CAD (but there are discounts and packages available to combine with other attractions.)

Clifton Hill

Clifton Hill is a big, ridiculous tourist trap, but it’s super fun for kids. There are rides that the whole family can enjoy. There’s an awesome Jurassic Park mini-golf place and a race track. Plus, there’s tons of silly souvenirs that they can choose from that will give them a little something to remember their trip without costing an arm and a leg.

We loved the Sky Wheel. I loved the view, I loved watching everyone’s excitement, and I loved the fact that our family could be in our own little clear pod where no one else could be bothered by my kids’ disregard for personal space or the weird comments they’re always making about poop and nipples. Cost is about $15 for adults and $7 for kids (CAD).

Outside of Clifton Hill

The Butterfly Conservatory was cool for most of our family. My boundless optimism prevented me from predicting that my brilliant but sensory-atypical son would be, like, the only kid ever to be scared of butterflies.  Fortunately, I found a solution in giving him my cell phone and asking him to take pictures of them. Somehow looking at them through the camera transformed them from fluttering specters into digital game pieces. Cost is about $25 for adults and $16 for kids CAD.

The Floral Clock is what it sounds like – a giant clock planted with about 40 square feet of flowers that sits along the highway about 6 miles north of the falls. It is different each year, but always a beautiful display. And yes, there are restrooms and a little gift shop and parking, so this is an easy stop to check out with the family.

Other Considerations for Family Travel to Niagara Falls

How long to go? There’s plenty to do there, but it’s not overwhelmingly large. 4-5 days was just right for our family. At the time, we had two small kids and a baby, so it was enough time to settle in. With older kids or adults, you could probably see everything in less time.

When to go? “Shoulder season” can be very pleasant in terms of nice weather and fewer crowds – early June, early September, and week days. Early June worked perfectly for us, but you will have to consider school schedules and the like. I also visited as a young person in winter. The frozen falls were amazing! But, with young children, the extreme cold may be a bit daunting, so my recommendation for young families would definitely be to go in the warmer months.

Is it expensive? Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, I felt that prices were reasonable. You just have to remember everything looks a little more expensive because it’s in Canadian Dollars. Staying and eating outside of the Clifton Hill area, using the WEGO bus system to save on parking, and not going during the peak mid-summer season can definitely save money. And of course, using points to cover travel expenses is a game-changer. If you’re not sure how to do this, here is a beginner’s guide.

Do I need to bring anything special? I always travel with layers, but this is especially important around giant waterfalls. Also, you will probably want to have a way to waterproof your phone and any gear that could be damaged by the mist. Bring comfortable walking shoes.

So grab your passports and your ponchos, and have a great time with your family as you travel to Niagara falls!