Winter at Niagara Falls was never even on my radar in the past. Previously, I had visited in the summer as part of our Canadian honeymoon road trip. That just seemed like the practical time to go because that’s ‘what everyone did.’ Well, let me tell you, by NOT visiting Niagara Falls in the winter you are missing out!
This post contains affiliate links – I may earn a small commission from qualifying sales.
Getting a deal on lodging
The trip evolved from:
- 1. “Hey, Mom. We have a long weekend off from school. We should go somewhere.”
- 2. Where should we go? It’s January and the whole country is cold right now.
- 3. Let me check Groupon to see what they have on special.
- 4. Ohhh, Niagara Falls – and it’s quite a deal!
- 5. We’ll fly
- 6. Oh wait. There’s a huge storm that’s going to hit.
- 7. Even better!
- 8. Flights cancelled. Looks like it will be a road trip.
As you can see, my daughter and I are both flexible and a little crazy. This was not going to be a beach vacation by any means. I had been eyeing Groupon’s Niagara Falls hotel packages for awhile but the timing never seemed to work out. This seemed to be the perfect opportunity. One glitch. It was nonrefundable.
I had purchased the Groupon and flights looked good (flying non-rev), so the trip to Niagara Falls seemed to be falling in place. Then the weather forecast picked up intensity. A huge amount of snow, and single digit temperatures, was headed straight for our destination.
Well, we ditched the flight plans, packed up the car and got on the road so we would be at our hotel before the storm hit. Traveling to Niagara Falls in the winter by car worked out a lot better than flying because of all the cold weather gear we packed. Have I mentioned that I REALLY do not like to be cold?
Yes, you read the correctly. The person who cringes to go outside in the winter was taking a winter trip to Niagara Falls with a dowsing of snow and below freezing temperatures in the forecast. Things I won’t do for an adventure.
Arriving at Customs
Growing up in Ohio, every few years I’d hear a quick excerpt on the news about Niagara Falls freezing over. I never gave it much thought. As I pulled up to the man at the Canadian Customs booth, he asked me why we were visiting. I simply stated we were excited to see the falls frozen. With a ‘oh you dumb American’ look on his face, he politely explained in his Canadian accent, “Oh, honey. Niagara Falls don’t freeze over in the winter. That only happens about once a century.”
I was feeling pretty naive, so I smiled, took my passport book and drove on. We learn something new every day, right?
Groupon Vouchers and Hotel Coupons
We were ahead of the snow, but the temperatures were steadily dropping. When we arrived at the hotel, the receptionist gave us a whole slew of coupons and vouchers. The vouchers were part of the Groupon which I had purchased. The coupons were an added bonus that I wasn’t expecting. Score!
Our first evening was on a Friday, so using our Buy One Get One Free coupon at TGI Friday’s seemed appropriate. We were able to walk to the restaurant from our hotel and begin to get acclimated to not just the area but to the temperature. I had major sticker shock when we opened our menus. Even when we calculated the US to Canadian conversion, the meals were still quite a bit pricier than in the US. We were definitely in a tourist destination. The bill came, and then, gulp. Taxes and tip added a hefty number to the bottom of our total. Lesson learned: do my homework on the cost of dining.
Niagara Falls at Night
The restaurant was about midway to the falls, so we zipped up tight and walked a few blocks to see this great marvel. Once we rounded the corner and spotted the Niagara Falls winter scene, we knew everything about this trip was worth it. Absolutely stunning. Various colors are beamed down onto the falls, so the view can be enjoyed long into the nighttime hours. There was a dusting of snow everywhere.
We walked along the edge of the river and took numerous pictures. The colors from the lights were constantly changing and the spray from the falls was a raging force therefore every few seconds gave you a slightly different view. Mother Nature can put on quite a show.
While we slept, the storm moved in and decided to stay. We were greeting with an 8” blanket of snow everywhere when we opened the curtains the next morning. The streets were empty except for the snowplows and a few brave drivers.
Added Excursions
We opted to have breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant for the sake of convenience. It worked out well because by the time we were finished eating and had completely bundled up for the day, the roads were somewhat clear.
Our first excursion for the day was to cash in our voucher for a free tour at Chocolate FX. I love factory tours and learning how things are made. This seemed like the perfect indoor activity while being in Niagara Falls in the winter.
Besides being in a warm building, the next best thing came at the end of our tour. Not only did they give you a chocolate covered strawberry (my favorite), they let you sample as much chocolate as we wanted. We couldn’t believe it. Well, even the best of our taste buds hit a threshold. We purchased our favorites and headed back out into the cold.
Snow had continued to fall the entire time we had been in the factory. The plows couldn’t completely keep up and my driving found more slick spots than I enjoyed. Wiping out on Mario Cart is one thing. Doing so in a foreign country, not so much.
Braving the cold again
After a relaxing soak in the hotel’s pool we layered up (I’m talking 4-6 layers, snow pants, the works) and took on the great outdoors. Walking along the sidewalk we had to take shelter a few times by plastering ourselves up against the buildings’ walls just to keep from being blown over. I’ve never been out in wind so intense.
We found a cute park bench area and decided to have some fun taking pictures. It had a stone wall that was shaped like an inlet so the wind couldn’t get to us as easily. It’s not every visit to Niagara Falls in the winter that gives way to so much snow.
Heading down to the falls again, it was neat to see them now in the daylight. Still stunning. Still fierce.
Niagara Falls is a very touristy place. The number of fun houses, wax museums, souvenir shops and chain restaurants attest to that fact. Being there in the winter removed 99% of the tourists so many of the shops were closed. The souvenir shops were opened, and I have to say, they had some of the cooler souvenirs that I’ve seen in a while.
Travel = Memories
To warm up after walking outside in 3-degree weather, we headed to Starbucks. My daughter was so excited to find free newspapers available for customers. She insisted we attempt the crossword puzzle. I couldn’t quite figure out the source of the excitement until she explained that she had never read from a real newspaper! She also said she felt like she was in a movie scene: sipping coffee and working on a crossword.
These priceless moments are what I cherish most during vacations. Take the vacation. Share the memories. Spend time with those you love. Time speeds by us too quickly.
Previously, I had mentioned vouchers were included in the Groupon. The chocolate factory was one. There was also one for ice wine tasting and the third was for slot play at one of the local, downtown casinos. The winery was too far away considering the road conditions, so I didn’t get to take advantage of that one. My daughter was too young to go in the casino where the slots were, but she could sit in the foyer area by the fountain.
Casino fun in Niagara Falls
I’m not much of a gambler, but I did have fun making the most of the opportunity. I would go in and get my card scanned, play a few games, and leave when I’d won enough to buy our next meal. Call it luck, but the casino, in essence, paid for our next two nights’ dinners. That’s a score in my book.
Winter beauty at Niagara Falls
During our second evening in Niagara Falls, the roads had been cleared off and the snow eased up for a few hours, so we got in the car and went exploring. There is an area to the right of the falls where tour buses normally park. During our visit, this area was completely barren except for about 10 people. There is an adorable Visitor’s Center which had a stairway covered in ice. It looked like it would lead you straight to a magical frozen fortress.
The mist coming off the falls, along with gusting winds, created phenomenal ice sculptures on the light posts, railings and park benches. We felt as though we had walked through the wardrobe and into Narnia. Because of the beauty we experienced, visiting Niagara Falls in the winter is highly recommended. Yes, the gusts of wind almost knocked us over and yes, the snow made getting around a bit more challenging, but the sights just can’t be beat.
Continuing down the road, we were pleasantly surprised to find a park that had a drive through light display. The Winter Festival of Lights was quite a delight. It was fun seeing a light display in another country, highlighting their region. A moose, the Canadian flag and various other iconic items graced the landscape. It was all synchronized to music on the radio just as many do in the States.
Our final day at Niagara Falls
Something else that was the same, yet different, was our experience at AlMac’s Buffet down the street from our hotel. The majority of the items were ones we normally see, but there were a few that were intriguing to try. It was quite a deal at $7.99 (Can).
Our second day of walking around took us on a self-guided tour through tunnels under the falls. Some of the views were fabulous with the water gushing down overhead. Others were fabulous, not because of the movement, but because of the serene stillness: the frozen falls. Yes, dear Customs Man, there were parts of the falls that were frozen, albeit small. There were also huge chunks of ice floating in the river as it tried to freeze. But, overall, no, the river was not frozen and it continued to rage.
Something else that was the same, yet different, was our experience at AlMac’s Buffet down the street from our hotel. The majority of the items were ones we normally see, but there were a few that were intriguing to try. It was quite a deal at $7.99 (Can).
By the time we left on Monday morning, the snow storm had moved on, the roads were cleared and we were ready to head home. It was a fabulous weekend. One that I would not have guessed I would have enjoyed as much as I did, knowing the weather conditions that were present. Adventuring with enough layers and the right attitude makes all the difference.
Hoping to get to Niagara Falls one day? Be sure to Pin this article for future reference. Feel free to Share it with others who may enjoy it as well.
Check out my other international articles about Paris, Germany, Costa Rica, Ireland, and the Dominican Republic.
