Ooh-la-la, Niagara Falls. Think Lois Lane and Superman in a pink honeymoon suite. Think Marilyn Monroe, trying to kill her husband in 1953’s Niagara. Whatever the image, Niagara Falls is a classic American vacation. It’s the light at the end of the station wagon, the last stop before Canada in a RV. And visiting is dirt cheap.
Niagara Falls has a trunkful of cheap fun. Hotels are a pittance, the national park is free, and there’s mini-golf, ice cream cones and bowling to boot.
On the edge of the falls, is the Niagara Falls national park and visitor’s center. Admission is free and includes self-guided walking tours of Goat Island, Three Sisters Island and the American Falls. A movie history of the falls rings in at $2 and the Cave of the Winds tour, including a poncho and close up view of bridal veil falls, rings in at $6. At dark, the falls light up in a tacky yet strangely romantic display of colored lights. There’s plenty of stuff to do, and most of it is free. Parking costs five bucks or so per day.
For 50 cents, you can walk across the bridge to Canada. Most people admit that the Canadians have a much better view of the water. And they’ve got a fabulously maintained park that stretches the length of the falls, filled with places to sit and little pink tulips. The Canadians are also hogging all the greasy spoon diners and cotton candy stands.
Lodging in Niagara Falls is hit or miss, but mostly hit. Niagara Falls Boulevard, on the American side, is lined with inexpensive vintage motels from the 1950s and 60s. Most have their original signs, heart-shaped jacuzzis and clean rooms. It’s a little bit of a drive—maybe ten to 15 minutes—to the falls, but not a bad drive at all.
The Cascade Motel , 7804 Niagara Falls Boulevard, is a winner. Rates start at $29 for singles on a weeknight, and the owner really cares about the building. He’s outside planting flowers and cleaning the pool, waving hello as you drive by. Our room even had glitter on the ceiling.
The Coachman Motel, at 523 Third Street, is cheap and it’s right next to the falls. The weeknight rate starts at $35 and you can walk to all of the sights so you’ll save some dough on parking. For some tips on navigating cheap motels click here.
If you're traveling solo, a hostel can be cheaper than a hotel. Located at 1101 Ferry Avenue, the Niagara Falls hostel is close to everything and will only cost you about $17 a night.
Cheap food is hard to find near the falls. On the American side, you can get an ice cream cone the size of your head for two bucks at the Twist of the Mist—a walk-up ice cream shop shaped like a giant ice cream cone. Or if you feel like splurging, the Goose’s Roost serves up Italian dinners with all the fixins for under ten bucks. It's best to head away from the falls, to the Pine Street area, for local lunch and dinner spots.
The best deal is the Pilgrim’s Restaurant located in the Clifton Hills area of the Canadian Falls. They have $4.95 and $6.95 breakfast and dinner specials. Figure in the exchange rate for America dollars and you’re paying a little over three dollars for lunch. Frankie's donuts, at 717 Portage Road, serves up deep-fried , sugar coated goodies for super cheap too.
When you’re bored of the water and stuffed to the gills with Clifton Hill caramel apples, go bowling. The Rapids Bowling Center, at 9524 Niagara Falls Boulevard, is the cheapest bowling ever at 99 cents per person per game.
Want some nerdy fun? Old Fort Niagara is a short drive 12 miles north of the falls. It’s an old fort from the 1700s. Admission is pretty steep at $7, but you get history nerds in period costumes sporting muskets and well, you might just learn something. Or hit your head on the low door jams. It’s got some nice and free picnic spots overlooking Lake Ontario too.
Niagara Falls Cash Breakdown
Motel for 2 nights :$70
Hostel for 2 nights: $34 (Per Person)
Visit to State Park, American Falls and Island tours: Free,$5 to park
Cave of the mists tour:$6
Visit to Canadian Falls:50 cents( bridge toll)
Old Fort Niagara:$7
Breakfast at Frank's Donuts: $2
Lunch or dinner at the Pilgrim Restaurant:$3.50 to $7
At the Goose's Roost: $10
Putt Putt at Dinosaur Park Mini-Golf: $5
Bowling :99 cents per game
Postcards: 12 to 15 cents
