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Niagara Falls Local Customs

A brazilian adventures in the Falls village!;) - Niagara Falls
A brazilian adventures in the Falls village!;)
by RafaelTheSecond
Learn the local customs of Niagara Falls. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Niagara Falls locals.
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Eh!
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  • JennysTravels
  • By JennysTravels on July 11, 2006
  • Niagara Falls Page by JennysTravels
  • Niagara Falls Local Customs
    by JennysTravels
    A bit of orginal language that seperates us Canadians from the rest. So when you comming to Canada, eh?

    Eh is a spoken interjection in English and Spanish meaning "Huh?", "What?", "Hey", or "Repeat that, please". It is also commonly used as a method for inciting an answer, as in "those trees are red, eh?"

    In addition, "eh" can also be used as an exclamation: "He's all right, eh!" This has its origins in Scotland, where it can still be heard.

    The only usage of eh that is peculiar to Canada, according to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, is for "ascertaining the comprehension, continued interest, agreement, etc., of the person or persons addressed" as in, "It's four kilometres away, eh, so I have to go by bike." Similarly, "It's nine-o'clock, eh?" means "You do know that it's nine o'clock? You are aware that it's nine-o'clock?".

    In that case, eh is used to confirm the attention of the listener and to invite a supportive noise such as "Mm" or "Oh" or "Okay". It essentially is an interjection meaning, "I'm checking to see you're listening so I can continue."

    "Eh" can also be added to the end of a declarative sentence to turn it into a question. For example: "The weather is nice." becomes "The weather is nice, eh?" This same phrase could also be taken as "The weather is nice, don't you agree?".

    Further examples of Canadian usage include: "I know, eh?" (Agreement), "Yeah, eh?" (Agreement; tone of voice changes meaning slightly). "I know. Eh!" (Pause between 'know' and 'eh' and emphasise 'eh'. This is an excited agreement.) Although technically questions, these are also said as statements.

    The usage of "eh" in Canada is often mocked in the United States, where some view its use as a stereotypical Canadianism. Many Canadians dispute its use (for example, singer Don Freed in his song "Saskatchewan" declares "What is this 'Eh?' nonsense? I wouldn't speak like that if I were paid to.").

    Usage of "eh" is more common in Eastern Canada, and less common in the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia.

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    Parking in Niagara Falls (NY & Canada)
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  • machomikemd
  • Updated By machomikemd on September 28, 2007
  • Niagara Falls Page by machomikemd
  • Free parking is rare. Many parking lots vary in prices from day to day and from month to month. The major parking lots are as follows:

    Commercial Parking Lots Ontario Side:

    Table Rock parking - Niagara Parks Commission - a fee is charged
    Rapids View parking - Niagara Parks Commission - a fee is charged
    Greenhouse parking - Niagara Parks Commission - a fee is charged
    Kingsbridge Park parking - Niagara Parks Commission - free seasonal
    Botanical Gardens parking - Niagara Parks Commission - free
    Niagara Glen parking - Niagara Parks Commission - free
    Spanish Aero Car parking - Niagara Parks Commission - free
    Queenston Heights parking - Niagara Parks Commission - free
    Casino Niagara parking - Bender Street - a fee is charged
    Skylon Tower parking - Robinson Street "A" lot - a fee is charged
    Skylon Tower parking - Robinson Street "B" lot - a fee is charged
    Hoco Clifton Hill parking - a fee is charged
    City of Niagara Falls street parking & lot parking - a fee is charged

    In many cases, parking on City of Niagara Falls streets at paid meters are cheaper than most commercial parking lots. Most commercial parking lots charge approximately $7 to $10 CAN. Many city owned and operated lots charge approximately $5 for 8 hours. The choices are endless and it is your choice. You will pay for convenience. Hotels/Motels provide free parking for patrons.

    Many small privately owned lots are available throughout the tourist district. They are relatively small and charge a dollar or two less than the commercial lots however they are often located several blocks away from the primary commercial lots thus much more walking is involved getting to where you want to go.

    Commercial Parking Lots New York Side:

    Niagara Reservation parking - New York State Park - a fee is charged
    Goat Island parking (west lot)- New York State Park - a fee is charged
    Goat Island parking (east lot) - New York State Park - a fee is charged
    Rainbow Plaza Parking Garage - Niagara Falls Blvd. - a fee is charged

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    Sales Tax in Niagara Falls!
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  • machomikemd
  • By machomikemd on September 28, 2007
  • Niagara Falls Page by machomikemd
  • SALES TAXES: Sales tax vary somewhat around the region wherein Ontario has a 8% Provincial Sales Tax + 7% GST (both of which international/US visitors can get rebated on purchases of goods) and in Niagara Falls, NY Side the local sales tax is 8.25%.

    Stores stay open until 6:00 p.m. in most parts of Niagara. Many city and suburban stores are open until 9:00 p.m. at night for two, three or five weeknights.

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    Free Postcards!
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  • kazander
  • By kazander on June 6, 2005
  • Niagara Falls Page by kazander
  • Maid of the Mist postcard - Niagara Falls
    Maid of the Mist postcard
    by kazander
    Before you go off and buy a postcard at one of the HUNDREDS of souvenier shops, it's good to know that you can get one for Free. When you purchase your tickets for the maid of the Mist boat ride, they give you a complimentary postcard. It's a great bonus souvenier!

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    Tipping in Niagara Falls (NY & Canada Side)
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  • machomikemd
  • By machomikemd on September 28, 2007
  • Niagara Falls Page by machomikemd
  • Some hotels include tips or gratuities with group programs to simplify bookkeeping. This will usually include gratuities for housekeeping, bell service and food service. In a hotel, bell service should be tipped about $1 per bag, and housekeeping $1 to $5 dollars a day (in proportion to your room rate). Visitors should know that the standard tip in restaurants is 10%-15% (on restaurant bills, an average tip will match the GST & tax for Canada Side), with 20% for very outstanding service. This is especially important for visitors from countries where tipping on meals is not done: here the waitering staff depend on tips for a significant portion of their incomes. Tip taxis about 10%, and a dollar a bag they carry for you (not just unload), or at the very least round fares up to the nearest dollar.

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    Prepare for winter
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  • JennysTravels
  • By JennysTravels on July 3, 2006
  • Niagara Falls Page by JennysTravels
  • Niagara Falls Local Customs
    by JennysTravels,
    2 more photos
    Our winters are cold and tough. Bring gloves, hat, scarf, boots and good warm long jacket if you are planning on visiting Niagara Falls in the winter. It's extrememly beautiful to see The Falls during winter, the snow falling. It's amazing.

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    Gratuties & Tipping
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  • JennysTravels
  • Updated By JennysTravels on August 1, 2007
  • Niagara Falls Page by JennysTravels
  • I have been in the hospitality industry for over 15 years now. I enjoy my job and all the interesting travelers I get to meet. My beef is, when you are traveling please remember your waitress at the end of your dinner. It is customary to tip 15-20% of your bill. Or you can add up all of Ontario's fine taxes to get 15%. That entire gratutiy does not go soley to the waitress. We must tip out our bartenders/hostess and bus kids and even management. If your service is poor, I can appreciate you wanting to leave little. But please show us some respect with nothing lower then a 15% tip.
    Thank You.

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    Feel the water move you.
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  • JennysTravels
  • By JennysTravels on March 20, 2006
  • Niagara Falls Page by JennysTravels
  • Rainbow Brink - Niagara Falls
    Rainbow Brink
    by JennysTravels, 2 more photos
    There a great viewpoint of the brink of Niagara Falls right along the pathway. You can see the water rush over the falls. It moving. I make it there at least twice a year. To find it, just look for the huge group of people by Table Rock.

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    Tim Hortons
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  • JennysTravels
  • By JennysTravels on July 6, 2006
  • Niagara Falls Page by JennysTravels
  • Niagara Falls Local Customs
    by JennysTravels
    A Canadian Legend. Coffee and a donut. The best if you ask any Canadian. The first store opend in 1964 in Ottawa, Canada.

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    CRAZY FELLOW IN THE PAST
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  • RafaelTheSecond
  • By RafaelTheSecond on July 9, 2005
  • Niagara Falls Page by RafaelTheSecond
  • Bobby did it... - Niagara Falls
    Bobby did it...
    by RafaelTheSecond
    He deserves to be my first tip in my Niagara Page!!!! This was Bobby Leach and his barrel after his trip over Niagara Falls, 1911, two years before my Grandma Carmen born. Anyway, I doubt Bobby would do such a thing during the winter, hahahaha

    Much before, in 1902 a great woman named Annie Taylor, 63-year-old was the first person to go over the Falls in a barrel; she survived virtually unharmed. Since Taylor's historic ride, 14 other people have intentionally gone over the Falls in or on a device. Some have survived unharmed, but others have drowned or been severely injured. Survivors of such stunts face charges and stiff fines, as it is illegal to attempt to go over the Falls.

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    More Niagara Falls Tips
    Overview
     
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    Off the Beaten Path
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    Tourist Traps
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    Warnings or Dangers
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    Local Customs
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    Packing Lists
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    Sports Travel
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    General Tips
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