re: Niagara Falls

I think you'd get a better use of your time in Buffalo vs the falls. Do the falls for an afternoon and night and get a hotel on the Canadian side for the best view. I think the Sheraton or Marriott Falls View are the nicest ones but hopefully someone comes and can chime in as I only did daytrips

If you need a hotel in Buffalo, Marriott harbor center is awesome. Very close to all the downtown bars, there's a hofbraus Haus if you want to get rowdy