VJ Meetup (NYS/ON Area....).....July 11th, 2010!

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

I've posted about this on another VJ thread about this...

So it's time to make this VJ meetup into reality!

The details are listed below, as follows:

Who: All VJers and their families/friends...All are welcomed, regardless!....(though RSVP is needed)

What: The 1st VJ in-person meetup for the NYS/ON area...

When: Sunday July 11, 2010, 2pm (duration: to be decided in-person with everyone...)

Where: Niagara Falls State Park

Niagara Falls, NY, USA

Located nearby the Rainbow Bridge, and at the edge of Niagara Falls, on the USA side of the border....

Amazing views of Niagara Falls, one of the wonders of the world!

Meet in front of the visitor's centre, by the flags....It's right by the exit/entrance to the parking lot..

For more info about the park, you can read here: http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/

Why: To meet other VJers and share in lots of fun, memories, and to share about our immigration experiences...

RSVP by July 9th in this message thread below with your VJ username and number of people attending....

Feel free to post any other questions/concerns/comments/etc. about this event on the thread.....

More details to come....

Hope to see all you VJers there!

Ant

Edited June 29, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[antda 13]

July 11, 2010 (NYS/ON Area) VJ Meeting RSVP List..

VJ UserName........# of People Attending.....

Ant+D+BabyA........3.................

Edited June 29, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[sdw 10]

SDW....2

[OBX 51]

OBX - 1

It has been years since I crossed through Niagara Falls so, if anyone has easy directions for me that would be great. Thanks

Edited June 29, 2010 by OBX

[sdw 10]

OBX - 1

It has been years since I crossed through Niagara Falls so, if anyone has easy directions for me that would be great. Thanks

Where are you coming from OBX?

What highway do you take?

Edited June 29, 2010 by sdw

[OBX 51]

Where are you coming from OBX?

What highway do you take?

I was just being lazy.

Right after I posted I checked the link and got the directions. I will be in Welland for the weekend so I'll be coming from there. I'll just take Hwy 20 into the Falls, cross at the Rainbow Bridge and according to the link it should be easy from there.

BTW I am I correct in assuming they take Easy Pass for any bridge tolls?

Edited June 29, 2010 by OBX

[Pauley 2]

BTW I am I correct in assuming they take Easy Pass for any bridge tolls?

They do not use E-ZPass at the Rainbow Bridge or the other two in Niagara; they use an incompatible system called ExpressPass. E-ZPass is only accepted for bridge tolls at the Peace Bridge.

[OBX 51]

They do not use E-ZPass at the Rainbow Bridge or the other two in Niagara; they use an incompatible system called ExpressPass. E-ZPass is only accepted for bridge tolls at the Peace Bridge.

Dang.

So do I pay going into the US or coming back to Canada? And how much? I'll have to make sure I have cash on me.

[sdw 10]

You pay when coming into Canada. You can pay with either currency and I believe it is $3.50.

[OBX 51]

Dang.

So do I pay going into the US or coming back to Canada? And how much? I'll have to make sure I have cash on me.

Okay found my own answer again...didn't catch the link you posted Pauley.

So it looks like $3.50 and I pay coming back into Canada.

Next question ....what's parking like near the park?

[Pauley 2]

Okay found my own answer again...didn't catch the link you posted Pauley.

So it looks like $3.50 and I pay coming back into Canada.

Next question ....what's parking like near the park?

NFBC shows a current toll price of $3.25, either US or Canadian. The $3.25 US toll tends to stay pretty steady; they often adjust the Canadian price with the exchange. Last time I crossed it was $3.75 Canadian; at one point the posted Canadian toll was actually cheaper than the US toll due to the exchange.

Unfortunately, I don't know about parking; only time I went to the American Falls State Park, I walked from the Canadian side where I'd parked for the day early on.

[OBX 51]

NFBC shows a current toll price of $3.25, either US or Canadian. The $3.25 US toll tends to stay pretty steady; they often adjust the Canadian price with the exchange. Last time I crossed it was $3.75 Canadian; at one point the posted Canadian toll was actually cheaper than the US toll due to the exchange.

Unfortunately, I don't know about parking; only time I went to the American Falls State Park, I walked from the Canadian side where I'd parked for the day early on.

As long as they take either currency I'll be fine

The park link lists the parking facilities but no mention of cost?

I've never been to the US side of the Falls...should be fun.

Edited June 29, 2010 by OBX

[Pauley 2]

I've never been to the US side of the Falls...should be fun.

The view's really better from the Canadian side. Harder to see the American falls from the American side, and the Horseshoe Falls are obscured by mist anymore anyways, after all the commercial buildings messed up the airflow over the falls.

(Yes, I'm aware I haven't RSVP'd yet. Gotta make sure Yvonne's still available and hasn't scheduled something without telling me. )

Edited June 29, 2010 by Pauley

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your replies and your RSVPs!!

So far so grood (great+good)! Glad to see that there will be a great turnout too.

Glad you found the link to the park useful too...

Now in answer to your other questions...

-The Rainbow Bridge charges $3.25 to go into Canada and it is free to go into the USA. US or Canadian currency is fine.

-Parking ranges between $5-$10 USD, depending you where you park. There is a parking lot right by the park, which charges a bit more, but there are also smaller independent lots and parking garages that charge less, especially during off-hours. For example, there are parking lots near the Hard Rock Cafe, the Seneca Casino, etc. There are also currency exchanges and tourist shops in the area too.

Directions on how to get to the main parking area (from my experiences): From Canada: As soon as you cross the Rainbow Bridge, make a right on the first set of lights down Prospect Street. From the USA: Make a left down Prospect street, which is the set of lights right before you hit the Rainbow Bridge...

-From the website: http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/Destination_Directions.aspx

Niagara Falls Travel Directions

From Buffalo Niagara International Airport:Take Route 33 to Interstate 90. Take Exit 50 and merge onto Interstate 290. Take the Interstate 190 North Exit and cross the South Grand Island Bridge. After crossing the North Grand Island Bridge, immediately take Exit 21 to Robert Moses Parkway. Continue on the Parkway as it turns into Prospect Street. Signs will direct you to Niagara Falls State Parks parking lots.

From Albany & Areas East:Take the Interstate 90 West to Interstate 290 West to Interstate 190 North Exit and cross the South Grand Island Bridge. After crossing the North Grand Island Bridge, immediately take Exit 21 to Robert Moses Parkway. Continue on the Parkway as it turns into Prospect Street. Signs will direct you to the state parks parking lots.

From the West:Take Interstate 90 East to Interstate 290 West to Interstate 190 North Exit and cross the South Grand Island Bridge. After crossing the North Grand Island Bridge, immediately take Exit 21 to Robert Moses Parkway. Continue on the Parkway as it turns into Prospect Street. Signs will direct you to the state parks parking lots.

From the South:Take either Interstate 90 West through New York or Interstate 90 East through Pennsylvania to Interstate 290. Take the Interstate 190 North Exit and cross the South Grand Island Bridge. After crossing the North Grand Island Bridge, immediately take Exit 21 to Robert Moses Parkway. Continue on the Parkway as it turns into Prospect Street. Signs will direct you to Niagara Falls State Parks parking lots.

From Toronto, Canada:Take the Gardiner Expressway to the QEW South. Enter USA via the Rainbow Bridge across the Niagara River on to Niagara Street. Turn right and follow the signs to the Park.

For Further Park Information, Please Call (716) 278-1796.

-The park admission is FREE, as it is a state park. The only cost is for parking, and for whatever else you wish to purchase there.

Hope this helps too.

Ant

P.S. Personally I think the view from the American side is better.....But I'll let you decide for yourselves....

Edited June 29, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[OBX 51]

The view's really better from the Canadian side. Harder to see the American falls from the American side, and the Horseshoe Falls are obscured by mist anymore anyways, after all the commercial buildings messed up the airflow over the falls.

(Yes, I'm aware I haven't RSVP'd yet. Gotta make sure Yvonne's still available and hasn't scheduled something without telling me. )

That's what I've heard... soon I'll know for sure