Archive for the 'Niagara Falls News' Category

Falling for Niagara, family time

From the Culpeper (Virginia) Star-Exponent:

My husband and I, married four years in August, enjoyed a romantic getaway afterwards, venturing off Sunday a couple of hours west toward Niagara for an overnight adventure.

The mist of the mammoth falls — 188-feet high — greeted us a few miles from the border and we needed no identification to enter Canada, just an in unison response when asked where we were from. We did, however, need our passports to re-enter America the next day.

First-time visitors, my husband and I marveled at the sheer power and beauty of Niagara Falls and wanted to get as close as possible without falling in. For some reason also, we wanted to get close to each other.

Classic rockers ringing in new year at falls

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Classic rock will ring in the new year in Niagara Falls. Just like last year.

Former Supertramp singer Roger Hodgson and Canadian cornerstone Kim Mitchell will headline the annual free New Year’s Eve concert at Queen Victoria Park.

Young country singer Justin Hines rounds out the lineup, announced last week by the Niagara Parks Commission, who will once again partner with the city, the Fallsview Tourist Area, Ontario Lottery Gaming and other private sector businesses.

Last year’s New Year’s Eve had an ’80s flavour with Honeymoon Suite, Loverboy and Dennis DeYoung of Styx.

It was one of the most well-received New Year’s shows in years.

The combination of Mitchell and Hodgson will keep the oldies vibe going.

Niagara Falls for Love in Jetsetters Magazine

From JetSetters Magazine:

While Niagara Falls has long been considered the place for lovers - particularly for honeymooners - developers are broadening the appeal as a destination resort for families and retirees. But at the heart of it, it’s still a spectacular setting to find, celebrate, or renew romance for any age.

Customs cards a licence to cheat: Border guards

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Canada’s border guards are skeptical about a card that fast-tracks travellers across the Canada-U. S. border, fearing it’s become a “licence to smuggle,” says a new report.

So-called Nexus cards were first issued in 2000, and have become a boon to frequent travellers who use them to skip long queues and get waved through Canada-U. S. customs stations.

The cards, along with so-called Fast cards used by truckers, are issued by both American and Canadian authorities to travellers who are screened as low-risk.

But an internal evaluation by the Canada Border Services Agency found that front-line officers have seen too many card-carrying travellers cheating. As a result, they’ve lost faith in the system.

Casino carves up some Halloween goodies

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Turning fruits and vegetables into elegant centerpieces and entree accents is routine for the chefs at the Niagara casinos.

So, when given the opportunity to test their food carving skills on a caseload of pumpkins, they let their imaginations run wild.

“The competition was pretty well left open to their own ideas and interpretations,” said Ray Taylor, executive chef at the Fallsview Casino Resort.

From the minds of 25 chefs came some very unique Jack-o-Lantern creations including the traditional werewolf and witch to a Ying and Yang display and, of all things, the Kool Aid man.

Maid of the Mist firm reaches agreement to purchase hotel in Niagara Falls, NY

From the Niagara Falls Review:

The Maid of the Mist Steamboat Co., has reached an agreement to purchase an American hotel near the brink of the falls.

World famous for its boat tours, the company has bought Comfort Inn The Pointe, a downtown hotel located at the entrance to New York State Park.

“We’ve recognized there has always been a need for more quality hotel rooms in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and we’re very excited to be entering another area of tourism,” said Tim Ruddy, vice president of marketing with Maid of the Mist.

Fallsview Casino no gamble

From CANOE Travel:

There’s a tourist attraction that has eclipsed even a natural wonder of the world in drawing visitors to Niagara Falls, Ont.

The glittering Fallsview Casino Resort, built at a cost of $1 billion, and its sister Casino Niagara, attract about 30,000 visitors a day or some 10 million throughout the year.

From a vantage point on a cliff overlooking both the Horseshoe and American falls, this Las Vegas-style casino-resort opened in 2004 and continues to add to a long list of amenities.

Tourism surveys show the top draws for day-trips and short getaways are to casinos and to shop.

Centre facing cash crunch

From the Niagara Falls Review:

High steel prices could force the Niagara Convention and Civic Centre to hit up the provincial and federal governments for more cash on top of the $70 million they’ve already chipped in.

Project director Dragan Matovic confirmed the city and convention centre team have “approached” representatives at both levels “with a view to obtaining additional funding” for construction costs.

“We’re being prudent in anticipation of some of the events occurring across the world … We don’t know if this is an issue as of yet,” he said in an interview Tuesday.

Community effort revitalizes Niagara Gorge

From the Niagara Falls Review:

It took a lot of hard work, but the end result is well appreciated by those who use the path leading down to the Whirlpool area of the Niagara Gorge.

“The difference is like night and day,” said Steve Wilson, who worked on the project with his wife, Lisa, and a group of fellow firefighters from the Niagara Falls Fire Department, the Niagara Parks Commission and people who just showed up because they wanted to help.

New stairs have been installed and repairs were carried out to existing steps where the stones and gravel had slowly been washed away after many years of use.

Winter Festival of Lights offers ‘weather-proof’ pass

From Niagara This Week:

Patrons of the Winter Festival of Lights will be able to take advantage of another event this year.

Organizers have added an access pass to their package of entertainment options, which will gain admission to three of Niagara’s top attractions, including Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum; the ‘yellow bug’ elevator ride to the top of the Skylon tower; and the world’s largest indoor free-flying aviary at the Bird Kingdom.

The Attractions Pass offers a 40 per cent discount versus walk-in admission and is a described as a “weather-proof” way to experience the Falls, with all attractions hosted indoors.