The girls were very excited about their first visit to a wax museum, which was Louis Tussaud's Waxworks. (The kind lady working at the counter asked Maggie her age. When she replied, honestly, that she is seven, the lady said "No...I think you look five!" and let her in for free!) Both girls loved seeing some of their favorite stars, and really got into posing for photos!
With Lady Gaga
With The Scarecrow, The Tin Man and The Lion
Being blessed by Pope Francis
Don't judge, but my nine year old daughter plays a mean "Folsom Prison Blues" on her guitar!
The photo above - with their idol Taylor Swift - was actually taken in front of Movieland Wax Museum, a different option on Clifton Hill
We had to visit the Hershey's Chocolate World, where the girls used more of their spending money from Grandma and Grandpa to buy some flavoured lip balms. No more chapped lips this year!
We also took a "wish you were here" pic for their Coca-Cola loving Grandpa outside the soda shop/collectors' boutique.
Oh yes - and we saw the Falls!
After a refreshing afternoon swim back at the hotel, we were off to the main event of the day - the Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show (about a five minute drive from downtown). This award-winning musical show, which is held in a rustic log cabin theatre, is celebrating 20 years of entertaining all ages.
The performers - who also serve as the waitstaff! - are absolutely fantastic. In addition to their vocal talents, their enthusiasm and energy are contagious. The Oh Canada Eh? show (seven-time winner of Niagara Falls Tourism's Attraction of the Year) features all-Canadian music, from maritime folk songs to modern pop, and includes favorite Canadian characters like Anne of Green Gables and a hockey player.
During the show, the performers serve their famous all-Canadian family-style (on platters shared at the table) meal of French Canadian Pea Soup, Garden Salad, Fresh Bread, Alberta Grade Eh? roast Beef, Lightly Battered and Fried Atlantic Haddock (probably my favourite), Manitoba Roast Chicken, New Brunswick Vegetable Medley, PEI Potatoes (also delicious) and Maple Chocolate Cake for dessert. Okay, maybe that was my favorite part!
Our girls were captivated by the musical performances, but I should be clear that they are very used to musical theater and to sitting for shows like this one. Though they're too young to recognize a lot of the music (it's important that Oh Canada keeps updating their show to incorporate new songs; you can find the song list here), they still really enjoyed the experience. Not all kids would be as enthusiastic though, so keep that in mind if your kids are not music-lovers...or wouldn't be happy at a table for two hours!
Children are welcome (there are some kids-are-free deals), and as promised the show was "squeaky clean" (which is not just for the kids, but for visitors of all ages who are looking for clean content). They even offer a free side of macaroni and cheese for kids under 12 to go along with the rest of the family meal, which is nice, though even my "discerning" daughters managed to find several items on the menu to enjoy as well.
I can see why this is an award-winner and a must-see, especially for tourists from outside of Canada who want to experience our history and culture through a fun - and tasty - musical experience.
Disclosure: We were provided with free admission to the Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show. Opinions are, as always, our own.