I have recommended this before, but had the name wrong. About an hour away from Niagara Falls, is a town that reflects England with a tea house, really cute homes and lots of neat things to look at. I think it is Niagara by the Sea. Someone up in Canada was nice enough to provide the correct name. Beautiful! Also we ate at the restaurant
at the falls at night that goes around if it is still there. The boat ride --something Mist is worth it also.
It has been many years since I was there. Loved it!!!
Marie

Hi Tami ... I live about 4.5 hrs from Niagara Falls. The restaurant that Marie is referring to is at the top of The Skylon Tower. The town she referred to is Niagara-On-The-Lake. The Maid of the Mist ran tours for many many years from the Canadian side of the Falls but it is now run by a company called Hornblower in the US. In March, the weather will likely still be pretty chilly. Will you be taking youngsters? The Butterfly Conservatory might be something that appeals to you. The Clifton Hill area has some things to do. I think they still light up the falls for a couple of hours each evening. A google search will turn up lots of information about Niagara and the local area there.

Tami has been to NOTL on one of her previous trips. The boats won't be running in March.

Tami, what about staying in Toronto and seeing the new Ripley's Aquarium. I haven't been there but I hear it is good.

The Ripley's Aquarium is fantastic, according to friends of ours that have been there.

I also was thinking of the Butterfly Conservatory.
Niagara on the Lake is gorgeous, but more in the summer.

Thank you all. Heather, I thought we had gone there with you before! DH has thought about staying over night in Toronto. He wants to see some tower? I will mention the Aquarium and Butterfly Conservatory.
Any suggestions are helpful. Any areas to stay away from? Safety wise?

Tami

LOL, it's the CN tower that your hubby will want to see.
Downtown is safe. The only area to stay away from is Jane and Finch area, but you wouldn't have any reason to be near there.

Hey Eccentric, can you chime in and offer more suggestions?

The CN Tower is in downtown Toronto right near the aquarium. There is lots to see in this area. Check out the convention centre. There may be something worth seeing then too. Car, home, horticultural, boat shows. Toronto has lots of great music and ethnic festivals going on but most of those are in warmer weather.

Hi jasdip - I am back in from chopping ice!

tami_ohio - yes I agree that it is the CN Tower that your husband wants to see. And the Ripley Aquarium is supposed to be great too. Funny how when you live in a city you often don't do the tourist bit!

Re dangerous areas - definitely Jane and Finch is a no-no - but then things seem to happen in every neighbourhood these days.

You might like Bloor Street - you could go to the Royal Ontario Museum - or there is the Eaton Centre - although the area has started to be quite dodgy - but the Eaton Centre at least is an indoor mall.

If you could give us an idea of your hotel budget I should be able to recommend a few hotels - either right downtown near the CN Tower or in between Bloor and Downtown with the Bloor locations being more expensive.

Will you have a car? That would be an important consideration due to hotel parking costs. It is very expensive to park in central Toronto.

I also agree that Niagara on the Lake would be much more enjoyable in the summer - especially this year.

We will be flying to NY to March 16 - weather permitting. I am kind of worried about the snow/ice etc. - here and there.

we went over on a lark, and found a motel (clean) but it could have been out of the 1950's? we drove by a park with a clock made of flowers? (too early for that) and if you golf? wow on the drive from Detroit we must have passed at least 3-4 golf courses...oh the night lights were awesome on the falls...we also drove following the river for a while so pretty...you know, I think we ate at one of the places right by the falls...

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I will pass them on. We don't want the most expensive place to stay, but someplace clean and safe. DH found a place for $55/night, but has not booked it. It is, I think, about 1 1/2 miles out of downtown. We will be using all public transportation. We will not be renting a car at all on the trip. We love the Falls area, and have met Heather several times. She and her DH have been wonderful personal tour guides! And we love Jasmines! No, we are not golfers.

Tami

I grew up in Buffalo, and we considered "The Falls"' and Toronto as great places for one-day car trips. I believe many of the attractions (Maid of the Mist boats, Cave of the Winds) are closed in winter due to ice on the Niagara River. But have fun when you go, Tami!

tami - have you checked out the motel on Trip Advisor? The rate sounds very good. But I would check just to be sure - and since you travel I am sure you know how to "read" the reviews - you want the truth! All I ever ask for is clean, quiet and safe. Emphasis on the quiet. 1 1/2 miles from downtown - as the crow flies? Depending on location you would be looking at the subway, streetcar (bus) or Go train. I HATE golf. My husband used to curl 4 times a week - a sport that I think is much the same as golf. Of course I am seriously bad at all sports - it isn't in my mind, it is true.

Eccentric, no, he hasn't checked it with trip adviser yet. We will have to take a taxi, the bus doesn't go there.

Tami

Eccentric you should have email.

I do. Psycho computer has been psychotic for a couple of days.

The big shocker is that I do have mail. I have just replied to you (I hope)!

Eccentric please pm me your email address. We have replied to you a couple of times. I have gotten several of your emails and responded. You are being very helpful. Tami

Re: Vancouver, Tami, I've e-mailed you a couple of times. Anything going through?

blfenton, no I haven't gotten any emails from you. Dates are set, but I don't want to put to much information on the forums. Please try again. Tami

Hi Tami - e-mail address sent via Garden Web and direct - it will be interesting to see if either goes through.

Tami - tried again just now.

When I send it through GW the e-mail address doesn't show on my e-mail, just your user name. I don't know if that's normal or not.

Eccentric and blfenton, you should both have mail again. I got them both today, and replied. Hope you get them.

Plans are taking shape!

Tami

There are also a ton of wineries in the Niagara Region. Sorry I can't name one but when we were out there, we just stopped here and there. I hope to make the trek out to the aquarium too but we are four hours away - but I'm doing it!