We are going to Niagara Falls on July 27th, staying one night in Cleveland, where I get to meet 2 online friends that I have been emailing with, since 1998! I'm so excited.

We are at a hotel in Niagara, within walking distance of the Falls and all the stuff we would want to see, on the Canadian side, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Then trekking home on Monday. Not sure if we will just drive home, then, or stay one night somewhere on the way home. We are playing that by ear. The other hotels are booked already.

Today, we drove to where we used to live to pick up new copies of birth certificates for the girls. It was WAY too expensive to just order them on the computer. Besides, we got to eat lunch with a friend, see our old house, the hospital where I worked and Gary's newspaper, where he worked! It was fun seeing how much had changed in 10 years and how much had stayed the same!

We still have to go to Milwaukee to pick up a birth certificate for me. Gary was born in Sheboygan, so he only has to go downtown!

We need birth certificates to cross into Canada.

Birth Certificate Costs

Go to the url to find out what we would have to pay to just order them on the computer. It was well worth the road trip. Our diesel car gets 40 miles to the gallon. To drive 350 miles today, didn't even use up one tank of fuel!

Emily is complaining she was bored, on the way home, but I enjoyed the whole trip, since we haven't been back to Marshfield, in central WI, for about 10 years!

By Kate on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 - 10:37 pm:

I hope you have fun!!

But why did you need NEW birth certificates?? Don't you already have them? Also, you and your husband should only need your license to get into Canada, and the BCs just for the girls since they don't have licenses.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 - 11:59 pm:

Couldn't find birth certificates for DH and me. He had heard that they recently changed the design and that they were being picky about you having the new style. We don't want to take any chances. We have also heard that you definitely need the birth certificate to cross the border. Will let you know what all happens, when we go.

The ones we got today had a different paper than we had ever seen before,with more colors and the shape of WI on it, too.

By Marcia on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 12:44 am:

I'm in Canada, and we've always needed birth certificates to cross into the States. We're rarely asked for them, but we always have them in hand. We will now need a passport, and none of us have one. I have to get cracking on that. They're $80 each, and I don't have an extra $400 to spare!!

Have a great time at the Falls, and visiting your friends. Don't forget to go into the Hershey's store for some samples. Mmmmm!!

By Feona on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 06:41 am:

I really want to go there. Hope you have a ball!

By Jackie on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 08:27 am:

I love Niagaria falls. We were there 3 yrs ago, on the Canada side. It is so beautiful, so breathtaking...You have to do the "Maid of the Mist" boatride, very cool!
We had found all our birth certificates as well, and they didnt even ask to see them at the border, but you never know.

By Tonya on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 08:51 am:

I live in Michigan and only ever need my license. I have my BC on hand but they never ask for it.

Have fun i have always wanted to go there just haven't gotten to it yet.

By Bellajoe on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 08:52 am:

We are going to Niagara Falls and Marineland the second weekend of August. We are bringing the kids birth certificates and our passports to get over the border.

Have fun Dawn!!

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 09:01 am:

We just found out about the Hershey store yesterday, while searching for Niagara souvenirs! LOL! My 13yo dd wants to go there! Both of my kids can't wait to go shopping at the big souvenir store, near the Hershey store.

Hershey Store

Niagara Falls Marketplace

Sarah wants a NF hoodie and a NF key ring.
Emily wants a t-shirt.
I want a t-shirt.
We also want to see if we can find some sort of Bandanna, for the dog! LOL!

By Marcia on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 09:34 am:

There's a beautiful butterfly conservatory not far from the falls, but it's a bit pricey. Then again, everything is in that area!
The falls are beautiful at night, with all of the lights shining on them!

By Karefl on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 10:51 am:

Have a great time! I LOVE Niagra Falls. We used to visit every year when we lived in Ohio. Now we try to make a trip if we're visiting family on vacation! I really like the Cave of The Winds on the American side. There are some nice parks on the US side too!

By Bemerry84 on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 01:56 pm:

In April we went on my sons 8th grade class trip to Toronto and Niagra Falls on a bus from New Boston, MI and getting into Canada they did not check but on our way back into the States they came aboard the bus and checked almost everyones two pieces of ID luckily the school had made ID cards for the kids and us adults had our license and birth certificates. What a lovely trip. We did the Maid of the Mist, Journey behind the falls, shopping (lots of stores), and the Butterfly Conservatory was out of this world. Wish we had more time, there's a Ripley Museum and numerous other sights. Have a wonderful time!!!

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 03:52 pm:

I don't think we are going to do the butterfly conservatory, since we went to the Milwaukee Public Museum on Memorial Day weekend, and they have a butterfly room, there. We are more interested instead, in the big Aviary, that they have there. When we booked our hotel, we got a coupon for one paid adult admission.

Maid of the Mist and Journey Behind the Falls, are high on our list! We want to get wet!

I'm starting to think a nice fanny pack would be a good idea, for carrying the birth certificates, in case we cross the border on foot. I wouldn't want to be carrying my purse all day. Or else, one of the small backpacks that my kids have!

Today, at Elder-Beerman, they had small suitcases on sale (21" expandable carryon) for $16.99 (normally $60!). We picked up one for each kid. I have a big suitcase that DH and I can share. It's old and I have had it since high school! LOL! The kids were excited, because their suitcases roll!

By Reeciecup on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 09:44 am:

Dawn, I just got back from a family vacation in Niagara on the Canadian side. Email me if you want any tips or have any questions (especially about exchanging money)

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 11:22 am:

Have fun and take plenty of pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Sunny on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 12:30 pm:

Have a good time! I had wanted to visit last summer, but we just never seemed to pinpoint a good time.

I would love to hear all about it when you get back, though!

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 10:50 pm:

Will take pictures. My 15yo suggested we buy waterproof disposable cameras, for the wet stuff. We just might do that!