Touring - DC to Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls?

I had other plans for the summer, but this is becoming plan B. First long tour.

I think I'm doing the C&O to the Allegheny Trail to Pgh. then trying to get to ROUTE 5 (from the bike PA website) but I'm a little iffy on getting from Erie (Presque Isle) to Niagara. The DOT NY page is not very helpful. Common sense would suggest that there is a scenic park like deal that runs along lake Erie to the falls but I'm sure that's far too easy. Does anybody have any advice?

You would follow the lakeshore which is route 5. It is a signed bike route in NY. Adventure cycling's northern tier route follows the same road. I by-passed Buffalo so I can't help you downtown but I am told there is a bike path along the river there.

Route 5 along the lake. The bike route follows it off and on. Very pretty.

This map will help get you through Buffalo to Niagra.
http://www.gbnrtc.org/Pdf/Maps/Bike%20Map%202004%20Bflo_NFallsSideA.pdf
and http://www.gbnrtc.org/Pdf/Maps/Bike%20Map%202004%20ErieNiaSideB.pdf

Recommend staying on the river trail, or use the cut across Grand Island.

If you have time for a detour, there is a bicycle museum in Orchard Park, southeast of Buffalo, on route 20 (or alt 20). Museum is small and a bit tacky but they have some amazing antique bicycles there and the people who run it are fun to talk to.
http://www.pedalinghistory.com/

awesome. I was thinking about cutting over at the peace bridge, but would grand island be a more pleasant ride?

This should help for riding on the Canadian side.

http://www.cycleniagara.com/

You can piece together a route from the Fort Erie Loop and the Niagara Falls Loops

Cross the Peace Bridge at Buffalo and ride the Canadian side all the way to Niagara on the Lake in Ontario. Those Canadians are such a civilized people