"The Street of Fun"- that's what the website calls this place. =)
This is Tourist Central for this area. This was only my 2nd time here, and unfortunately, since I happened to be visiting during the winter, half of everything was closed. We made do, though.
There was little to no crowd at all, which was a big change from the overcrowdedness of last summer. I enjoyed the Ripley's 4D Theatre, wax museum, amusement park, etc.They have so many tacky "touristy" stores, many of them sell the exact same products- for example, that damned maple syrup is in every other store.
Cheap shot glasses, hoodies, t-shirts and baby clothing with "I partied hard in Canada" or some other phrase written on there can be found in just about every souvenir shop. Lots of restaurants, shopping, and entertainment is here. There really is something for everybody here- just make sure you have the funds to do so!
And since I'm a chocoholic, we absolutely had to go to the Fudge Factory, and the other countless sweets stores they had.
Cool place.
*bring your walking shoes*
HUGE tourist trap! Â But who doesn't love one while on vacation! Â Been coming here since I was a lil kid and I still enjoy this place. Â I think it's all the lights and carni stuff that gets my jolly's in a uproar.
There is tons to do on the hill...walk through haunted houses, wax museums, walk through fun houses, indoor glow-in-the dark mini golf, places to eat, places to get wasted, amusement park gaming/video game centers and more!
Plus they have several souvenir shops to bargain at for a good deal on more tchotchkes and tshirts than one household needs! Â Still fun to look through it all.
Hill Come More Eh?
I can't say enough about Clifton Hill! Â If your not a Canadian, you need a passport to get here because its in Canadia. Â There are lots of things to do here, although you have to walk up a hill to do them. Â Its also so full of people! Â And every smell you can imagine! Â I like the haunted houses and wax musems, and you can get just about any kind of souvenir you want (I collect magnets with thermomneters on them!) Â I spent about an hour watching them make waffle cones through a window--neat! Â And Skeeball! Â I miss the Houdini musem, tho...how'd they make that disappear? Â By the way, did you know you can also see a natural wonder? Â Walk over the bridge and put a leg in each country!
PROS: Hundreds of fun things to do on one hill!
CONS: Most of the restaurants are at the top.
If clowns, carnies and old school gangsters from Las Vegas planned a section of a city, the strip of Clifton Hill would be it.
Clifton Hill itself is a massive tourist trap with inflated prices and tacky attractions. Â The things around it though are pretty beautiful including the Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls and even the old casino.
I'm from Chicago and for me, this is just like Wisconsin Dells. It's kitsch on overload with a huge display of the lights like in Vegas.
Louis Tussaud's Waxworks and Movieland Wax Museum (if you're picking between the two, go to Louis Tussaud's!)
Ripley's Believe It Or Not.
House of Frankenstein.
Criminals Hall of Fame.
Sugar Mountain.
A giant ferris wheel - The Niagara Skywheel.
Dinosaur Adventure Mini Golf and Galaxy Golf Mini Golf
Canadian Midway full of arcade games.
Bowling.
Nightclubs.
You can find the absolute cheapest souvenirs here - better than anywhere else in the Falls. Clifton Hills is full of restaurants, hotels and full of fun, cheesy things to do. Don't instantly discount it on your trip to Niagara! It can make for some fun activities.
If you're going to Niagara, there is no way you can miss out on this. Clifton Hill is where it's all happening. The food, the entertainment, the museums, and the shopping are the best. There is so much to do and so much to see. I don't want to go into details because that would take me all day to write and take up so much space. Just know that this is the happening spot. No matter what you're in the mood for, you'll definitely find it here.
Touristy!! A must see!!
You surely must be taking the Clifton Hill District waaaay too seriously. Â Look, the deal is, and and given the makeup of the all the storefronts -- admittedly so, it's touristy. Â It's as if, Las Vegas (there's only one casino which is nearby but not on this strip) and Universal Studios had a nice clean cousin. Â Neon signs everywhere!
Touristy which is anchored by all things touristy: wax museums, coffee shops, karaoke, hot dog shows, restaurants, knickknacks, maple creme cookies, Canadian flags, maple syrup, Niagara Falls snow globes, arcades for kids, a modern Ferris wheel (Skywheel) and a casino for adults nearby: all within the guise of the natural wonder of Niagara Falls. Â There's even a Dave and Busters nearby the wonderful bridge of video and carnival type games for kids and booze for adults. Â Free WiFi for all too.
Clifton Hill a great place for people watching of people of all types from locals, average families to Hasidic Jews to Catholic Nuns to Hindus and Muslims and mostly American and Canadian kids (we are in Canada, if you didn't know) gallivanting in the local club, Rumors or was it Rumours? Spelling aside, what I'm trying to say is if you have time to kill, Clifton Hill is great for bar hopping and boozing. Â At the top of the hill is all the bars and restaurants with all the bars that one could ask for. Â The street at the top of the hill reminded me of the nightlife of the streets that run parallel to and are in the shadow and awe of the Las Vegas Strip.
Top of the hill, I say? Clifton Hill is a street that's at a decent incline (the falls are near the bottom), so start hiking and bring good shoes. Â You get a nice friendly workout walking up and down the hill. Â
Good times. Â If you maintain a BAC about 0.04 consistently, that's a nice buzz. Â Also, cabs are everywhere, so don't drink and drive.
Clifton Hill though a little cheesy... a little bright... very touristy... but as long as the tourists enjoy their experience and spend their money here, then there is good for the economy and all the businesses.
I remember the days before the Casino.. Clifton Hill is like a really run down version of a small town fairground...but now it comes more vibrant.
Locals would not have come here on their own. If they want local experience, they might be eating in one of the wineries restaurants... or stay in one of the smaller Bed & Breakfast or go to some of the farmer markets in the Niagara Region..
Unless of course they have out of town guests... entertain them... and glad they are here to visit us!
I visit Niagara Falls a few times year and never is Clifton Hill an area I find myself looking forward to spending time in. It's overly crowded in the summer season and just a lonely and almost abandoned stretch of street in the winter months.
It's got no charm and is a completely artificial environment that tries to be like Atlantic City, I would assume that for older teenagers this would be a great area for a night out at a club, to stumble out and find yourself torn between choosing Wendy's or Burger King. But for the (tourist) family that's made to walk through here my heart goes out to them, there's nothing great (forget healthy) to eat around here, and nothing you can munch on for a low cost (unless the Sheraton happens to have a good restaurant).
It misses out on a one star rating because I do see the purpose that this area exisits, it's a great money grabbing spot and provides cheap thrills and I'm more than certain small kids would love it here. And for older people (aka people that are not small kids), this area can do to serve as a location for a cheesy yet fun day out together playing minigolf, getting lost in the maze before topping it all off in one of many haunted houses. There is a wax museum but judging from my friend's facebook albums it's nothing fancy, and the mini Ferris wheel which I would assume would give great views I hear is not cheap but can potentially be worth it.
If it's your first time at the falls area and you know you won't be back for a while yes I would say you should walk around here because getting to the area would probably have taken you some travel time, and even if you spend over an hour staring at the falls you would probably would still want to have something else to pass your time before you head back. But if you know that you will be back in the area every now and again I would most definitely not recommend you check out Clifton Hills unless you have kids and want to spend money on them.
Take your wallet !!! Â Everything is pricey but that is what entertainment costs I guess. Â
You will spend at least $10.00 per person to do anything. Â We had the best time at Louise Tussoes Wax Museum, and Dave & Busters. Â The mirror mazes were sort of lame. Â Â Next time we are going to the indoor watermark. Â Thats worth doing if you get the chance. Â Check group on for coupons to get weekend packages.
Clifton Hill is a mixed review especially when I'm mixed about it myself. Â Many many... many years ago as a visitor brought to Niagara Falls, I found this district to be so fun especially with some friends taking photos everywhere and it was a great summer experience that was very memorable from the Ripley's to Tower Ride to Guinness World Records Museum(Everyone took photos here).
Fastforward, coming back for the umpteenth time it does lose the attraction and does get old on you but still bringing out-of-town friends to see this and see their photo-happy face light up makes this place A-OK. Â Still has the power to provide good memories although avoiding all the cheesy Museums, Haunted Houses, Rainforest Cafes, Wendy's at all cost.
I suggest bring young ones or first-time Niagara photo-happy friends here but if you bring others more adapted to this environment already, then just stay at the Casinos all night and eat buffets and watch shows there instead.
I had to come to Niagara Falls on business. I walked around a little the first night I was here. Here is my impression of Clifton Hill...
Imagine if Las Vegas and Times Square had a baby and that baby puked, the puke would be Clifton Hill. It's gaudy, full of toursit trap restaurants and bad chain restaurants (TGIFridays for example) and it's just awful.
Maybe if you have kids or have never been to Las Vegas or Times Square, you would think this was rad, but I've been to Vegas and lived in NYC and this place is just trying too hard and failing miserably.
I can maybe see the appeal if you got kids to check out this place. I thought it was a bit over-the-top when we went there. The whole place is geared towards tourists with wax sculptures, cheesy games, and overpriced shops. Parking here is also really expensive so I would suggest walking or taking a bus if you really got nothing else to do.
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