Niagara Falls very end of March

[Furbabe]

I expect to be in Niagara Falls at the end of March for several days. Is the weather at that time of the year fur-friendly? Would you take a full length coat or a jacket/stroller? Would anyone know if there are specifically fur-friendly venues (i.e. restaurants, shops, etc.) in the Niagara area on both sides of the border? I apologize for the silly questions but I've never been there before. I would appreciate any advice.

[JGalanos]

I was there during very early spring a couple years ago. It was warmer than I expected (highs in upper 40's/lower 50's). I had a full length and a hip length fur with me. I thought it was a tad warm for full length fur (years in the upper Midwest no doubt increasing my tolerance for cold weather) but I found the jacket came in handy during the evenings.

 

Being one of the most famous natural attractions on the planet, Niagara Falls draws a diverse crowd. The area includes "tourist traps" as well as upscale venues. I felt comfortable wearing fur at the hotel and area restaurants/shops/galleries.

 

WF is much closer to the area than I am so he probably has "insider information".

[JGalanos]

P.S. I visited both Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York. From both a falls viewing and an amenity availability perspective, the Canadian side wins, hands down. Last time I was in the area I did not even bother to stop on the American side.

[White Fox]

Indeed, the "Canadian Side" beats the other side hands down. Go up the two towers. Have a look at Clifton Hall and watch the falls lit at night. Also don't miss the Niagara IMAX film (make sure it is the IMAX you see as there are others), and the daredevil display in front. All kinds of stuff. But now back on topic.

 

Weather varies, but you have at least a good chance that time of year. As always you need to remember that Niagara is surrounded pretty much by "big water" of the Great Lakes, and that huge amount of water surrounding it has a very large moderating affect.

 

As for destinations. Some of the museums are closed in winter. I've not saw many furs in the casinos. But the two towers bring you way in the air, and indeed you will love to be wearing fur when visiting them. Also, you of course HAVE to wear fur to look at the lights on the falls at night. Another area not far away to have a look at it "Niagara on the Lake". More of a cultural town. I've not been there a lot, but have some, and have saw a few but only a few furs there. It IS a great place to wear fur though and being a cultural area, you and your furs will be appreciated there. Some nice theater productions there too.

 

Just a few things that I can think of off hand. By the way, you will likely be late for the very cold weather. BUT the falls is spectacular after a week of extremely cold freezing temperatures. If you can get temps down around minus 10 degrees Celcius for a week or more that mist coats everything with ice and icicles. A pretty unforgettable spot. Nice time to look at the falls through the tunnel under the falls, but not in fur. You can get soaked down there.

 

International customs can give you hassles with fur as they don't understand it and they can make a big deal of how the fur might be protected (illegal) and they have to check. My suggestion is to do as I ALWAYS do any more. Just place your coat in the back seat. place it in such a way that it looks like you threw it there and the fur is mostly covered by accident. Don't make it look like you are hiding it. Just "happen" to have most of the fur covered. I've NEVER been slowed down at customs when I did that. But I did get slowed slightly a couple of times when I did not do it. If you travel by air, just carry the coat the same way when you go through customs. Fur mostly covered but not completely.

 

W

[ReFur]

If I had anything of value while crossing a border, I would register it in your home Country. That way when you return there is no question of where an when it was purchased.

 

If it is a fur like Lynx or Seal I would leave it home.

 

Linda

[Joe]

I agree with what WF and Linda said -- but since you're a woman, 9 out of 10 customs agents won't bat an eyelid. If you're reasonably well-dressed enough to pull off a fur, you will be fine. If the fur could look out of place to whoever is working at the time you cross the border...well..

 

I had a horrendous time coming back from Canada by car five years ago. I brought about 10 fur coats up and back with me; on my way up, in the driver's seat I was wearing my full-length coyote coat, a cashmere sweater, designer jeans and boots. All my other furs were in hanging luggage in the trunk of my car. I gave the border man my passport and he waved me through with no problem.

 

On the way back, I was asked to open my trunk by the border man. There was hand luggage in the back seat. I also had hanging bags in the trunk. I was much more comfortably dressed this time, i.e. a zippered sweatshirt, sweatpants and a wool cap. I was detained in the border office to the side of the USA entrance "toll booth"...for over two hours. I was asked to follow a border agent into the office while my car was emptied by another border agent. All my belongings were brought into the office without anybody asking my consent. I dared not object because I had seen leaked post-9/11 surveillance video of people being tasered for asking questions to border agents.

 

I was asked repeatedly to fill out a form detailing every single item I purchased in Canada. I did so, accurately. And then a different customs agent appeared and produced an identical form and asked me to fill it out. This was repeated twice more. I maintained my patience and composure after being denied an answer as to why I was being detained. Finally, after several go-rounds in the border office with the forms, a grey-haired customs agent appeared and asked my permission to open and search my luggage. After being read a list of consequences-for-not-agreeing that I later learned were false, I decided my best method would be to explain in detail the entire history of every single one of my possessions...where I purchased it, how much I paid and a brief anecdote about each item. The entire time, I stared directly into the customs agents' eyes, thinking "I can't wait to see the look on your faces when you realize you're violating my rights...".

 

When we got to the furs, I put on one of the coats after one of the customs agents said "they fit you?": "this coat is one of my favorites...I purchased it on eBay on January 17, 2004 for four hundred twenty-seven dollars and fifty-two cents...". I was amused by the customs agents' comments: "four twenty-seven? I gotta get on ebay!"..."my wife thinks it costs five grand!"..."

 

So I previously thought that border zones are black holes of humor. I was amused by the whole encounter (better amused than angry, I guess...). The most hilarious moment happened when I was laying out the contents of my laptop bag accompanied by a one-phrase description. It went something like this.

 

Me: Nail clipper...

Cop: This isn't an airport.

Me: Rosary.

Cop: You Catholic?

Me: Roman.

Cop: Polanski.

Me: um, Lip shmutz.

Cop: *chuckle*

Me (displaying photo): Girlfriend.

Cop: (looking at the fur bags) Actually, I'm married....trying to sell her one of those coats, are you?

Me: *pause* Actually, this is a picture of *my* girlfriend.

Cop (embarassed): Oh.

Me: ...

Cop: OK, I think we've seen enough...let's pack it up, get out of here. Go home. You're not breaking the law.

Me: So did you get that warrant for searching my car yet?

Cop: We searched it while you were filling out forms.

Me: I kind of figured. How about a hand carrying these bags?

Cop: (motions border agents to help me). Ok. Have a nice life.

 

 

I guess I annoyed them into letting me go. The moral of the story is, if you think you're going to look suspicious, get some kind of papers on your furs from the incoming border office after you enter Canada...you can ask a customs agent to sign some kind of eyewitness paper saying you brought them in from the USA.

 

And when crossing border, remember: don't be a 29-year old bearded man who smells like cannabis and drives an Audi emblazoned with bumper stickers.

 

But other than that you should be fine. Have fun in Niagara Falls!

[JGalanos]

if you think you're going to look suspicious, get some kind of papers on your furs from the incoming border office after you enter Canada...you can ask a customs agent to sign some kind of eyewitness paper saying you brought them in from the USA.

 

Sounds like a case of bad karma.

 

I've driven across the border twice ... Once with real furs (ranch mink jacket, fisher coat) and once with faux fur (faux fur parka) and never had any problems. The first time I crossed I mentioned to the agent that I had furs with me and asked if I needed to document them. He told me no, as long as they were for my personal use. When I re-crossed the border the agent waved me through after asking what I had purchased while in Canada (which fortunately was under the $$ threshold).

[Worker 11811]

I'd be willing to bet if the coat is made from a "normal" looking fur they are unlikely to question it. However, if it's exotic looking it might pull up a red flag.

 

Just off the top of my head, I'd say mink, sable, fox and similar furs will pass right through but anything with spots will likely raise an eyebrow unless the customs agent knows his fur. Lynx would be the first thing that comes to mind.

 

If you're going north across the border, if somebody asks you about the fur, I bet you could say "Canadian Lynx" and, because you said "Canadian" they'd calm down. Going south across the border, I don't know if that tactic would work because they'd ask you where you bought it.

 

I don't know... Just thinking...

[ReFur]

I have had several problems with customs agents. Especially when I lived in the Middle East. So, know I just take the time to do preventative paperwork. It is not worth being upset. ...and, I travel with few valuables. Just isn't worth it from a border issue or from a theft and safety issue.

 

Linda

[Worker 11811]

I was referring to crossing the US-Canadian border.

 

I've never had any trouble going between the US and Canada.

Had a few tense moments while traveling in Europe but, luckily, there were no declarable items involved.

 

I just can't imagine what customs officers would be like in the Middle East!

[JGalanos]

I brought about 10 fur coats up and back with me

 

Furgot to ask ... Just how long were you planning on staying???

[JGalanos]

Is the weather at that time of the year fur-friendly? Would you take a full length coat or a jacket/stroller?

 

My bottom line (based upon my very limited experience): Taking an ankle length fur could be a mistake ... Not taking a favorite fur jacket or stroller would be a mistake.

[MrC1946]

Go with a jacket and a 3/4 length. That should both cover the weather conditions and be appropriate for most venues there.

Dine in Victoria Park. The food's OK but the view is spactacular.

[Joe]

Re: JG ...a hair under two weeks. I went to a Canadiens game in Montreal (in my full length coyote!), look at the McGill architecture students' design work (sans fur), some skiing in Quebec and my usual photography extravaganza.

 

Re: furbabe - have a great beginning of fur season!

 

Re: Linda - where did you live in the Middle East?

[Furbabe]

To JGalanos:

I will only be there for approximately four days. I'd like to thank everyone who commented, and if there are others who wish to offer advice please continue to do so.

[JGalanos]

a hair under two weeks.

 

Couldn't resist razzin' ya. 10 coats (crossing the border no less!) sounds like a lot. But I must temper this with the knowledge that I managed to cycle through 5 furs myself (shops, theater, museums, restaurants, etc.) over a (very frigid) long weekend in Minneapolis last year.