If you're referring to Marineland as the aquarium on the Canadian side, it's closed until May 21. However, there is the Aquarium on Whirlpool Street on the American side (http://www.aquariumofniagara.org/) which is open year round. I haven't been there since I was five, so I can't offer feedback (I'm sure things have changed in 30 years.) The Buffalo Zoo recently changed its hours due to county budget cutbacks, so be sure to double-check its hours if you go. It's one of the oldest zoos in North America. Work is (was?) being done to add new, modern exhibits. Some of that work is done, some of it just got put on the back burner (see budget problem.) They have a new river otter exhibit. The zoo is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Some of the older exhibits do, however, have a more, um, victorian feel to them. The Convention and Visitors Bureau has a nice list of things to do, broken down by type. See http://www.buffalocvb.org/Attractions_0.html for details. Nurseries... on Niagara Falls Boulevard (but not near Niagara Falls) at Robinson Road in North Tonawanda is Menne Nursery, which, in season, has a nice collection of more unusual perennials and a nice spread of annuals. Seeing how it's March, and it's snowing out, I'm not sure what they'll have other than house plants and nursery items like pots, and of course seeds. The Botanical Gardens would be a nice breath of spring air. Their page is linked from the CVB page cited above. I think their spring flower show goes through that weekend. If your kids are budding history buffs, take them to Fort Niagara in Youngstown (north of Niagara Falls) for a tour of an actual fort that predates the War of 1812 (which was fought in the area.) If not, there's a carousel museum in North Tonawanda, Museum of Science in Buffalo, Historical Society in Buffalo, a children's museum in East Aurora, toy town museum (also East Aurora), and a host of other things of that ilk. See CVB page for links and info. (I have nothing but great things to say about the CVB, who helped us out getting area info for a conference we hosted at the university some years ago. They are very helpful and have a well-organized site. They even link to things on the Canadian side.) If you go to Canada, be sure to bring ID for you and the children. Good luck.

I can't help you with hotels as I never had to stay in one since I live so close and work there. Here are some suggestions for things to do, especially if you have kids 1) Serendipity - it may be overrated but definitely something to enjoy http://www.serendipity3.com/ 2) The Met http://www.ny.com/cgibin/frame.cgi?url=http://www.metmuseum.org/&frame=/frame/museums.html 3) Central Park (If its not too cold) you can go ice skating there, go to a zoo and eat at the Boathouse http://www.ny.com/sights/neighborhoods/central_park.html 4) Shopping at SOHO/Village (not really a kid thing to do but definitely something to do when you are in Manhattan) 5) Broadway play would be great (eat at at the stardust diner - we had a lot of fun there) 6) Burgers at the Parker Meridian hotel 7) Brunch at Sarabeth's or Jane 8) Empire State is a must only because that is a very NYC though I ewnt once with someone from out of town and thought it was boring. 9) Museum of Natural History on the West side is nice - great for kids though I like the one in Washington better Union Square is fun and a great shopping mecca as well If the weather is bad, go to chelsea piers for some indoor sports fun The intrepid or the Childrens Museum of Manhattan If you want to venture out to Brooklyn, there is an aquarium, puppetworks and the brooklyn children's museum Rockefeller is nice. within that area, there is the Ninetendo Store and the American Girl Doll store, St. Patrick's cathedral and Saks (the window display is cute but not as elaborate as the other stores) Check out the ABC Home Store for you and FAO Schwartz for the kids (there is also a GIANT TRU in Times Square Check out cupcakes from Crumbs and Magnolia Bakery Hope this helps.

If you move now, you would lose $60k immediately and the future growth potential of your current house. It will take 50 months for you to recoup the loss if you indeed could save $1200/month (assume you will save the amount instead of just spend it on vacation...etc.). In other words, at the 33rd month, you will be in a smaller house, using the alimony you do not have to pay to recoup the loss sooner. If you stay, you have the choice of using the equity on the house for any short term needs. At the 33rd month, all the amount for alimony will be available for you. Being an education-fanatic, I am struggling over your tuition savings. In MHO, it should not be the problem all for you to face, the mother should have to share it too.

I wouldn't go. If she doesn't want you there on her special day, don't give her a reason to resent you for ruining it (in her own mind anyway) It would just give her something else to whine about. You're SDs sound like they have a lot of growing up to do. Why spend a whole day being uncomfortable? Let your DH and younger SD go and enjoy the wedding without distraction. Plan a day for yourself,and enjoy it. As for younger SD moving out, yeah,let's see how the older one and her husband will welcome another adult into their home after they are just married and starting a life together. Frankly, I admire the fact you have even tried this long to connect with them. If it were me, I would be counting the days til that 18th birthday, and celebrate it by helping the little shrew pack her crap into the back of a moving van and changing the locks....but that's just me. Both of them are old enough now to know that you are not trying to be a substitute for their mother,and they should certainly realize how you make their father happy. What did they want? Their father to wallow away in miserable solitude,lighting a candle for their mothers memory every night until his death? They sound childish and selfish. I suspect that when they are older and hopefully wiser,perhaps with children of their own, they will come around and apologize for their terrible treatment of you. But I digress. To sum it up, don't go. SD doesn't want you there, and it's her day. Don't take it personally,as she sounds like a petulant brat who would treat anyone who had married her father the same way. You will not enjoy it. SD would not enjoy it. DH wants you there as his wife,good for him, but it may be a relief to him if you decided on your own not to go. He would have to deal with his daughters tantrums. Go to the spa. Go shopping. Take advantage of an empty house and eat bon bons on the couch in your underwear. Anything. We have to few days on this earth to spend any one of them doing something unpleasant if we can avoid it. You not only can avoid it, but have been given a free pass to do so. Take it.