Where to stop between NYC - niagra falls- Chicago

Those locations are in the United States. This is the Canada board. Are you planning to drive from Niagara Falls to Chicago through Canada?

Yes I am planning on driving through Canada . That's why I wrote here....:-)
Even the niagra falls I want to be in the Canadian side

Thanks

Hmmmm.... it's not really a drive I'd spend 10 days on - some pretty areas, but a lot of it is fairly major highways. You could spend a couple of days in upstate NY, some in Niagara on the Lake/Toronto and then maybe explore a bit of Michigan. I'd rather get through most of it (the London to Detroit corridor is not one I'd stay around in) and have extra days in Chicago.

From JFK to Niagara Falls (Canadian side), I'd probably allow at least 9 hours. Longer if there are any delays at the border. With two kids, I'd split that over two days. I prefer to avoid the NYS Thruway as much as possible and go west vi Binghamton. The prettiest place to stay overnight would probably be in the Finger Lakes area - about 5.5 hrs from NYC. There are hotels and lots of B&Bs in the area. Do a search and see what you come up with in terms of places that are kid friendly. The area has the lakes, wineries, good small farms and lots of pretty scenery.

Make sure you have proper ID for the border. Adults require US passports (or passports from the country of your citizenship. The kids can have birth certificates, but passports are recommended as they mean less hassle. There are several border crossings in the Niagara Falls area, so you will want to check online to see which is likely to be quicker.

Niagara Falls in Canada is really good for a shortish day trip, but I wouldn't want to stay there. Pretty touristy with overpriced hotels - it's far nicer to stay in Niagara on the Lake or go through to Toronto.

From there to Chicago is another 8 hrs, so probably more days. I've only been in the Ontario part of that drive, but I think it would probably be more scenic to go through the US. You tend to be on major highways in Ontario - not along the lake (you have to get on pretty small roads to get close to the lake). London isn't much in the way of places to stay and Detroit is anything but scenic. I guess you'd want to stop around London or Sarnia - perhaps you can find something in a smaller town. I think the 'mitten' of Michigan is supposed to be pretty.

Does your ten days include time spent in NYC and Chicago? Or do you have 10 days allocated to the journey from NYC to Chicago? If it's the first option, you'd want a minimum of four days in NYC and three days in Chicago, which doesn't leave much time for seeing anything in between. In fact, I'd not even go to Niagara Falls, spend more time in the cities, and fly in between them.

If you have ten days for the trip, I'd drive from NYC to Montreal going either via the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York State or via Vermont, taking two or three days. You'll want to spend 2-3 days in Montreal, one day to drive to Toronto, and 2-3 days in Toronto. Niagara Falls is a day-trip from Toronto. I'd then drive straight to Chicago from Toronto or Niagara Falls. (There is nothing of interest in between Toronto and Detroit on the Ontario side).

There is nothing of interest in between Toronto and Detroit on the Ontario side.

And after the Falls, there is even less on the US side of Lake Erie.

Well going back to the original post, Shimritchairman, says he is looking for nature and attractions. In that regard there is plenty to see and do in the Niagara Region that meets those criteria. There a countless parks, in the Niagara Region not the least of which is the Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls which has a monument to Nicola Tesla. If you are a little more adventurous there is always a walk in the Niagara Gorge, which is free of charge. Also there is the Floral Clock and the Botanical Gardens next to the Butterfly Conservatory, also just down the road is Queenston Heights. There are also other attraction that are low cost or no cost, however you would have to travel along alternate routes rather than the usual routes to Detroit. It would take longer but if you followed Highway 3 it would take you along the South Shore of Lake Erie and almost all the way to Detroit. The Upside , no really busy highways, the downside, longer travel time.

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