Visiting Niagara Falls has been on our bucket list and experiencing it as a family was fantastic. When we arrived at the falls and got our first glimpse of them, Bill gasped. It was as impressive a sight as he hoped it would be.
We started on the Canadian side and got a full view of the cascading falls. We had arrived early in the day before the crowds so we were able to walk leisurely and absorb the magnitude of the sight. The park and gardens that line the falls were manicured immaculately; in fact, everything about the Canadian perspective was well maintained. Think Disney.
We walked the promenade and at one end, we discovered the boys could take a zipline running parallel to the falls. Sign them up we did.
The zip itself lasted over a minute. It was really long! When it was over, we wandered around the area near the Falls and rode the Niagara Falls Sky Wheel, grabbed a cup of coffee from Tim Hortons (because everyone raves about it and there is one on every corner), and then returned to the car to find a restaurant for lunch. Johnny Rocco’s fit the bill for a relaxing Italian meal on the patio.
Crossing into New York was much faster and much easier than into Windsor was. It wasn’t until we were talking with the border patrol agent being asked to declare any food and purchases that I realized we still had apples. The border patrol agent said citrus was an issue and waved us on. Whew! I had visions of being trucked off for a full inspection and delayed hours.
What we saw of the falls from the United States side was quite different, but not necessarily better than the Canadian view. From New York, we heard and saw the water rushing over the edge. We sensed its power and its force. It was breathtaking in a different way. Additionally, the park scene was what an iconic American scene for a Sunday afternoon. Lots and lots of families were picnicking in the park on blankets; people were playing games and listening to music. Street vendors were selling their wares and food trucks were prevalent. The vibe was more like a marketplace. I would definitely recommend both perspectives to anyone making a trip to the Falls.
Our visit on the New York side brief but worthwhile. Just about 2 pm we hopped in the car. We had about another four hours of driving for our Memorial Day destination and another early start to our day planned.
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