Clifton Hill – The Entertainment & Dining District

Walking around here, I am reminded of the Jersey Shore. It had the same feeling to it and that’s neither good nor bad in my book.
The place was sort of empty since it was super cold and winter at the time but most of the attractions were still open. I went into a few of the gift stores to get some gifts for back home and found the prices to be fair. Not too expensive like the stuff I was seeing in Toronto which was kind of surprising. There were a lot of attractions like the Ferris Wheel which surprisingly was still running even in the cold. There was a wax museum, Ripley’s museum and what I thought was a pretty cool upside down house.
Avoid the crappy casino though. Bunch of crooks.

Mini gold, video games, bowling, wax museums, haunted houses, food, drinks and fun. Clifton Hill has it all and more. There’s something for everyone from kids to adults and especially for adults that want to act like kids for a couple of hours. Sure it’s cheesy but for me that’s the whole point. If you can’t find something fun on Clifton Hill can I suggest a course in not taking yourself so seriously? Embrace the two blocks that taste forgot!
Most attractions are open in the winter so if you’d like to avoid the crowds consider a weekday or winter trip.
If it’s your first time make sure you get both the fun passes. Combined you’ll get about 10 attractions, including the wheel, for a lower price. And check your hotel for the booklets with the dollar off coupons.
Make sure to go to the bank before heading out for the day if you want to pay for things in cash. There are no major bank ATMs around and the fees for using the generic ones are quite high.

It’s been years since I went to Clifton Hill for a night of family fun. The reason I’m giving this 5 stars is from my fantastic pre purchase of a fun pass!
5 attractions for under 25.00 person. Mini golf, a ride on the Ferris wheel, A wax museum ticket, a ghostblaster ride, and 3 D coaster ride. Plus 5 game tokens per fun pass. It saved us over 25.00 per person +.
Good value and a lot of fun!

Clifton Hill is like a miniature and PG-​13 version of Vegas in the Niagara Falls area. There are many different restaurants and activities to do with the kids, or even as grown adults. There’s an arcade, places to go mini-​golfing, scary and haunted houses/​attractions, and even a newly built Ferris Wheel that overlooks the Falls. i went here with some friends on the last night of their vacation. The games aren’t super expensive (~$ 2 total a game, if you want to play air hockey). Most of the arcade games start at $ 1.50 per person to play. The Ferris Wheel does about 3 rotations around — it’s really nice to check out at night when they illuminate the Falls, but can cost you a pretty penny at $ 12 per person.
If you are looking for more adult fun, head to the area near the Hilton Fallsview Casino. There’s a bunch of bars and clubs around that area, with casinos and concerts all around.

Fun to walk around, would be better suited for kids I think. The moving theater (Ripleys) was definitely aimed more towards kids, but it was still fun. Lot of souveneir shops, overwhelming amount of restaurants, and every different kind of food and culture available.

If you’re feeling depressed, don’t jump off a Cliff. Instead, jump into the nightlife scene on Clifton Hill! It’s one of the coolest parts of Southern Ontario, and even though it may be 90% tourists on any given night, there’s plenty of fun to be had around here, including a Beaver Tails stand — Canada’s greatest gift to the world… yes even moreso than Mounties, Bacon, and Maple Syrup. Trust me.
Aly called it a «mini Vegas» as others did and I agree with them. That’s what it reminds me of.
I was most recently here about 12 months ago when I was heading for Toronto, and stopped off for some snacks. So many fun things around here, especially the Beaver Tails of course.
My most memorable and horrific experience here was running up and down the hill, down the back streets, looking for my gf as she was meeting me across the border to take me to Pearson where I had to catch a plane to fly me to the UK for my tour there. It wasn’t any fun. At all. I popped in and out of hotels on Clifton Hill and dodged tourist crowds and finally was able to find her, but I missed my flight sadly.
You can see how exciting and bright it is from across in the USA, and it makes you wonder why the American side doesn’t have a Clifton Hill equivalent yet. It should. Pine Ave in Niagara Falls could be something like this, but it’s never really been worked on enough to make it so.
If you’re in Niagara Falls, Ontario, make sure you check out this awesome nightlife district.

Well this place reminds me of The Wharf and Pier 39 in Frisco with some hills to walk up and down on. Food and entertainment here after or before you visit the falls. It’s Canada and they know if you’re American if you ask to trade your vinegar packets for ketchup for your fries. I met some interesting people here from around the world. It’s geared towards family fun and its just a few blocks. Get something to eat and check out the falls

Clifton Hill is quite the juxtaposition with the natural beauty of the Falls, and it strangely amplifies my appreciation for them. Worlds (almost) collide. Comparisons to Mini-​Vegas are spot on. It’s most certainly a tourist trap, what with Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, 4 D theater, wax museum, haunted house, fun house, goofy golf, maze and arcade — as well as a Ferris Wheel that isn’t as close in proximity to the Falls as ads might have you believe.
Love carnival food?
Clifton Hill has loads of it.
Want to sit down to eat at a gimmicky overpriced chain?
There’s Hard Rock Café and Rainforest Café, and a few other familiar establishments
That isn’t to say you can’t enjoy yourself here for free (with the exception of parking.) My family took cheesy pictures with dinosaurs outside one of the goofy golf places en route to the Falls, and there’s an impressive wax model of the Joker you can see from the street, as well as shops to browse and people to watch.
As for parking, prices range from $ 2.50 an hour to flat fees of $ 5 – 12 depending on how much walking you’re willing to do The cheap spots aren’t far for spring or summer, but may give you pause on a cold and windy day.

I went here with my family and I loved it, but I’d also recommend it for just going with friends at any age. Other people described it as a mini Las Vegas and that’s a close comparison. It’s a lot of fun packed in to a couple of blocks. Some of the attractions include: restaurants, Ferris Wheel, mini golf, wax museum, haunted houses, casinos, arcades, hotels, etc. Plus, Clifton Hill is right on Niagara Falls so it’s near those attractions. I should also add that Clifton Hill is on the Canadian side.

It’s like a mini Las Vegas strip here in Niagara Falls.
Clifton Hill here in the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is about 2 blocks of Las Vegas strip style entertainment district for individuals, families, and others to entertain themselves after seeing the majestic Niagara Falls during the day or night. It’s literally on a hilly road called Clifton Hill that starts on Victoria Avenue and ends on Fallsview Boulevard. A few of the shops and businesses sort of borderline on the weird, including the Guiness World Records museum and a couple of haunted houses. Wonder how much sales do they get? Clifton Hill, like most entertainment districts, has something for everyone. Well, almost everyone. This place is an acquired taste, that’s for sure.
The hill itself is steep when you walk up towards Victoria Avenue, but doable when you need to get up there. There is also a Ferris wheel, which is common in these kinds of amusement park atmosphere places. The ambiance was that of being Las Vegas in a way, with the lights, but only for 2 blocks. There was really nothing to do here in Clifton Hill, unless buying souvenirs or finding a bite to eat. Thankful that there are places not in Clifton Hill that are better than the offerings here. Parking here is very limited here, so best bet would be to find parking on street parking on residential areas nearby. There’s always parking on Fallsview Boulevard as well, but be prepared to walk up the hill to enjoy Clifton Hill properly.
Other points of interest would be that Guinness World Record museum, as mentioned before. Not glamorous, but it’s something to do if you are bored. If you were planning on coming to this side of Niagara Falls and have nothing better to do with the kids, I have seen a few families wandering around the hill when I was there, so its something extra to do and see while in Niagara Falls, after you’ve seen her already. For me, I wanted to see what the deal was about this place. It’s not much to say, other than that it’s one of those places where you can easily avoid if you don’t need time to kill, but worth the look if you are wondering what this place is about.
Can’t say I would recommend it, but if you are bored, go for it. Maybe you will like it more than I had.
Support local!
C

Clifton Hill is family-​friendly and there are a ton of activities for children. Unlike Wisconsin Dells, there is one thing missing: bars. So, as two adults, Clifton Hill didn’t have much to offer. I also would not call Clifton Hill a «district,» it’s more like the length of one or two city blocks.
When on vacation, I always purchase refrigerator magnets. Clifton Hill has many souvenir shops, and if you are looking for kitschy, cheap souvenirs, this is where you need to go.
The one activity we did partake in was the Niagara Skywheel. It looks really cool lit up at night, and the view is nice during the ride. It’s a lot more comfortable and sturdy than a Ferris Wheel.
Even if I had children with me, I wouldn’t be too interested in many of the attractions. Ripley’s and Tussaud’s Wax Works seem like huge ripoffs; although, the dinosaur minigolf would be fun.
Closer to the falls, there’s a vantage point to see fireworks and the falls lit up, but at this point you’re essentially exiting Clifton Hill.
I wish that they could close off Clifton Hill like they do Bourbon Street in New Orleans or St. Catherine in Montréal, because there are so many families which means children running amok and strollers steamrolling through.
It becomes extremely frustrating when you find yourself ALWAYS being the one to move out of the way for someone else. No matter the time of day, it was crowded and people acted like animals.
You will probably want to take photos while you are here, and that’s fine. But please, for the love of God, move off to the side! Nothing is more frustrating than someone stopping suddenly in the middle of the sidewalk to take a photo.

I can’t find Clifton Hill Family Restaurant on Unilocal,so I’m going to state here to not go to that place under any circumstances. They’ve basically turned cheap bar food into a sit-​down place where everything is 2−3x more expensive. Like deep fried mac and cheese bites? $ 12. My local bowling alley sells those things for $ 4.50.
The dinosaur mini-​golf and Skywheel aside, much of this strip feels like it hasn’t been updated or renovated in 20 years which, coincidentally, is how long ago I was last in Niagara.

So so much to do! Perfect for family’s or just couples! Summer nights deff amazing here the crowd is awesome the restaurants and the Falls! Everything is so close by within a block or two! Most of the restaurants are open till 2am! They’ve always go live music!

Ummm…
So at our hotel, we were asked, «Have you checked out Clifton Hill yet?» No, we had not. We were staying in a different area and only at the Falls for a couple of days. Still, we had already done the up-​close-​get-​drenched tour of the Falls and were curious, so we wandered on over.
What the heck, Niagara Falls. What is this street/​town section? I felt like I was on a movie set, or in a carnival, or completely out of my mind delusional. The bright colors. The noises. Sensory overload. Wax figures. Rando-​museums that I so did not spend money on. Arcades. Chain restaurants. Perhaps if I was 15 years younger, I would’ve loved it. But, alas, I was not. Eep.
What I did love? Dippin Dots. Nothing like ‘em. They also had ample seating for the old (re: lazy) people like me, which is good because there is an incline.
Near the top of the district, you can find a hidden crêpe place named Crêpe Delicious. Now that’s worth a stop. So good!
…But overall, this whole district perplexed me.

If you are here in the summer time its great and amazing to walk around and check out various different shops but don’t expect much in the winter as it could fell like haunted at some times. I have seen both extremes as I used to live close by.
There is lots to do if you are willing to spend a little or else you can take a walk down and up to see different décor of building they have designed for the rides they intake. Food wise there are plenty of choices and there are restaurants from every culture and you can also find big chains. You will also be surrounded by a lot of hotel.
But hey! I have been to the American Falls across the boarder and there is way more to do here.

I stayed at the other end of Niagara Falls when I visited. Clifton Hill is about a 15 minute walk away and some locals told us not to walk later at night. It’s something to do in a pretty uneventful city. We walked around and visited a bunch of stores for a couple of hours, I wouldn’t recommend staying in this area unless you have children.
I enjoyed my time in the newer section of Niagara better.

Does anyone know where I can find a coffee shop or a souvenir shop? How about some of the worst wax figures ever seen? Over priced fun houses? They are all here, in redundancy.
From our hotel, just around the corner on Falls Ave to Clifton Hill and Victoria Ave, which is the main strip, we past three Starbucks and a Tim Hortons. More souvenir shops than you can shake a stick at, I was perplexed at how they can sustain so many in such a small area and make a living doing so. Haunted houses are a dime a dozen, fun houses galore and more coming.
Once you get off this beaten path, it gets real depressing real quick, stick to the tourist trap. We got a free show of some drunken locals shouting at some police officers outside of Kelsey’s and continued as they walked down the street something about the wedding, good times. Unfortunately for us they were headed the same direction as us, so we ducked into a few shops until they got far ahead of us.
If I didn’t have young kids I don’t think I’d come here again.

Family friendly fun down here on Clifton Hill. I honestly can’t believe how BIG and TOURISTY this place has become! The last time I was in NF was probably 12 years ago. So much has changed, and EVERYONE and their brother is here. I have never seen so many people (large families with children included) standing on street corners!
Aside from that — if you can handle the crowds, definitely go check out the Dinosaur Adventure Miniature Golf. Grab a coupon from a tourist brochure or print out online. It’ll save you a buck or two. Apparently the Red course is more challenging, so that’s what we did…
The volcano is pretty cool. I couldn’t believe how HOT it was. It’s definitely an experience! The course itself was fun, and it included actual sand traps! If you can get past the rude foreigners (oh wait I forgot I’m a foreigner too — but I don’t think I’m quite as rude) who let their children tromp around so they can take a picture with every dinosaur statue, then you’ll probably have fun. It’s best to go when the sun goes down. You get a great view of the SkyWheel and the volcano seems more impressive!

You surely must be taking the Clifton Hill District waaaay too seriously. Look, the deal is, and and given the makeup of the all the storefronts — admittedly so, it’s touristy. 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. Neon signs everywhere!
Touristy which is anchored by all things touristy: wax museums, coffee shops, karaōke, hot dog shows, restaurants, knickknacks, maple crème 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. There’s even a Dave and Busters nearby the wonderful bridge of video and carnival type games for kids and booze for adults. 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. At the top of the hill is all the bars and restaurants with all the bars that one could ask for. 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. You get a nice friendly workout walking up and down the hill.
Good times. If you maintain a BAC about 0.04 consistently, that’s a nice buzz. 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!