In the wee early hours of May 22, we packed the kiddies in the van and began our 7 hour journey to Niagara Falls. The kids slept most of the way, and Carol was able to doze a little.
We arrived at Niagara Reservation State Park around 9AM. After stretching our legs a bit, we walked around Goat Island, taking in the sights. We explored the Three Sisters Islands .
Then it was on to the Falls. Canadian
Falls (aka Horseshoe Falls), Bridal Veil
Falls, and the American Falls
were all spectacular. We did the Cave of the
Winds tour, donning raincoats and cloth
slippers. After a quick car ride up to Old Fort
Niagara in Youngstown, which is right on Lake
Ontario, and "Historic" Lewiston, it was
on to Canada!
Our accomodations for the trip were at Michael's Inn by the Falls (named so that you knew it was "by the Falls"). The hotel offered spectacular views of the Falls. Our room had a spectacular view of the parking lot!
After a stroll through Clifton Hill (a tourist trap area with such gems as Dracula's Castle, Louis Tussaud's Waxworks, and Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum) and a great dinner at Planet Hollywood, it was back to the hotel for some much needed sleep.
The next day allowed us to see the Falls from every
possible angle one might imagine. We saw them above
(from the Skylon Tower observation
deck), below and behind (from Table
Rock House Journey Behind the Falls), and even
virtually (at the Niagara Falls Imax
Theatre). Later, we even saw them in the
dark! Ooooh, aaaah!
Our adventure continued the next day, with a ride on the Maid of the Mist boat (another angle to see the Falls - in front of!), followed by a trip down river to the Floral Clock, the Butterfly Conservatory at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, and a hair-raising trip on the Niagara Spanish Aero Car.
We ended our Canadian visit with a trip to the duty-free
store at the border to stock up on some great Canadian
beer. Finally, after an 8 hour car ride, we were back
home once more.
