There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it: taking a trip to Niagara Falls and stopping at Clifton Hill will fascinate everyone in your family, especially the youngest among your crew. Niagara Falls’ “Street of Fun” offers it all: bright lights, amazing activities, and family-friendly eateries for everyone to enjoy.
Making memories and spending time with family are both essential and crucial for making lifelong bonds.
Here are 5 ways to make special memories on Clifton Hill.
1. Let Your Kids be the Photographer
Imagine what Clifton Hill must look like to your little ones…The butterflies in their stomachs, everything looks 10x bigger and brighter through their little eyes. Give them the opportunity to express themselves with something tangible like capturing cool images while out on the Hill. It’s fun to look back and reminisce while pondering their unique perspectives of the Hill’s wild atmosphere. Be sure to stop in at the Canada Trading Company, they offer many different photo albums to collect all your travel adventures on Clifton Hill.
2. Let Your Kids Choose Their Own Souvenirs
Another way to make the most of your memory making together is to let each child choose their own souvenir(s) to commemorate the trip. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money; Clifton Hill is full of inexpensive items. It allows children to find a keepsake that signifies a special moment in time.
I can distinctly remember a time when I was six years old, in which my parents gave me $5 going into an old barn full of antiques and allowed me to choose what I wanted. I chose a Mickey Mouse ring. Looking back I can’t remember the city we visited, but I remember how I felt slipping that ring on my tiny little finger. It’s not just about the souvenir, it’s about the emotions evoked at a particular moment that builds memories to last a lifetime.
Christine Lynn
3. Use “Humor” to your Advantage
Did you know that the “humor effect” is a real psychological phenomenon that causes people to remember information better when laughter occurs? It’s true! Humor enhances a person’s memory. Think about a commercial that you remember on TV, or a lecture that you had to sit through in college. When it’s funny, you remember. On Clifton Hill, you are in luck! There are plenty of ways to cause laughter. A round of golf at Wizard’s Golf is a great place to start…we constantly see families leave the course laughing and ribbing each other on their short games. Another way to have fun? Head to the Great Canadian Midway its full of arcade games to compete against your friends and family. If you are a family that loves to bowl, Strike! Rock N Bowl is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. There are any of number of ways on Clifton Hill to make the whole family roar with laughter!
4. Make it a Vacation of “Firsts”
One of the key ingredients to make a vacation memorable is a milestone event. Chances are, you remember the first time your baby took his/her first steps, first words, first day at school, etc. Making a memorable vacation on Clifton Hill is no different. For example, head into the Fudge Factory for the first time your family tries a macaron, or a child tasting fudge for the first time. Of course, a “must” on Clifton Hill is the Niagara SkyWheel. This will be a first for many people — not just children — to try an observation wheel reaching 175 feet tall. How about the first time the kids try go-karting? Not only would they be trying something new, but on Canada’s first elevated go-kart track at the Niagara Speedway, which is opening on March Break (weather permitting)! We remember emotionally charged events better than boring ones. It is the emotions aroused, not the personal significance of the event, that makes events easier to remember.
5. Embrace Traveling During the Off-Peak Season
Besides the obvious opportunity for cost savings as one of the greatest advantages of traveling in the off-season (cheaper hotel rates), there is also less line-ups and less crowds. While the colder temperatures may bring about closures at some seasonal attractions, the Winter also brings about unique opportunities that you simply won’t get in the Spring and Summer months. When temperatures dip below freezing, you’ll get to see a side of Niagara Falls that many travelers don’t ever get to see. Whether it’s experiencing the “Frozen Falls”, or taking in the frosty panoramic view from the cozy, climate-controlled gondolas of the Niagara SkyWheel without waiting in long queues (if at all), you’ll absolutely never regret visiting Clifton Hill during the off-peak season and making memories with the people you love the most. Together…it’s just more fun.
