I also recommend Niagara-on-the-Lake. Depending on where you stay, it could be a quick 10 minute drive from the Falls. It's really beautiful...see for yourself:
https://www.niagaraonthelake.com/

Niagara on the Lake. We stayed at the Best Western and it was very nice (not like Best Westerns in the US) but this was 2018.

Lewiston is a nice town and very close to the falls.
The Mosey in Williamsville is ok.
The Richardson in Buffalo or anywhere in the Elmwood Village area.
Roycroft Inn or the Hampton Inn in East Aurora (it’s in a walkable cute downtown so it doesn’t feel like a standard Hampton Inn).

Anonymous wrote:Niagara on the Lake, on the Canadian side, is charming.

Yes really pretty plus wineries.

Anonymous wrote:I too have heard that Niagara on the Lake is nice.

But I stayed on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls recently and thought it was not the horrible tacky place everyone has said. I had a hotel room that had a direct view of the falls. It was nice. And staying right there on the falls made everything very easy to see and do.

Yes I agree, it’s really just one stretch that is cheesy (Clifton Hill) and that’s a few kilometers away from the Falls. There is one casino bit overall, it isn’t a partying gambling ambience on the Canadian side.

If you’re only staying a day or so, just stay at a hotel with view of the Falls on the Canadian side.
If you’re staying for longer, Niagara on the Lake is lovely. You would need a car or use taxi/uber to get to the actual falls.

Anonymous wrote:There’s so much to do in Buffalo! Their main art museum is incredible. Also a Frank
Lloyd wright house. Good restaurants and parks.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Niagara on the Lake, on the Canadian side, is charming.

+1

I too have heard that Niagara on the Lake is nice.

But I stayed on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls recently and thought it was not the horrible tacky place everyone has said. I had a hotel room that had a direct view of the falls. It was nice. And staying right there on the falls made everything very easy to see and do.

Anonymous wrote:Niagara on the Lake, on the Canadian side, is charming.

This would be perfect for you OP!

The best part of going to Niagara Falls is the cheesiness of the Canadian side!

But seriously, Buffalo is a great town.

Niagara on the Lake, on the Canadian side, is charming.

We thought Lewiston was a cute town near Niagara.

There’s so much to do in Buffalo! Their main art museum is incredible. Also a Frank
Lloyd wright house. Good restaurants and parks.

Stay on the Canadian side. That's the nice side.

My 80 year old mother wants to see Niagara Falls, and I’d like to take her there this June but from what I’ve read we do not want to stay in Niagara as it sounds like Atlantic City minus the ocean.

Are there any nice towns where we could spend the weekend, within an hours drive?