Niagara Falls

We had a great debate if we should experience Independence Day in Boston or take advantage of the long weekend and get out of town...well, get out of town won and we decided to head to Niagara Falls.  It's about a 6 hour drive for us, so not too bad, but not something you want to do in a regular weekend.

Anyway, we ended up having to camp the first night because we planned the trip a little last minute and pretty much every hotel was booked, except a few in Canada, and I don't have a passport so we couldn't stay there.  Normally, I love camping.  But to me, camping is in the mountains or backpacking in Southern Utah or possibly on a beach.  Just camping in a big field with a few trees surrounded by other tents and RVs is not camping.  That is sleeping outside.  Sigh.  It worked for one night though and we had somewhere to sleep that wasn't our car.

Anyway, we drove in to Niagara right around the time it was gettting busy for that night's fireworks show.  We decided to skip the show and get a late dinner instead.  After dinner, we met up with our friends Lance and Heather (we know them from USU, Lance and John are fraternity brothers), who just happened to have traveled to Niagara Falls from Cleveland that weekend (we did not plan our trips together).  We got some ice cream and were able to catch up with them and it was really fun seeing some familiar faces!

Us with the Browns

The next day we decided to take the "Maid of the Mist" boat ride.  It was pretty busy that weekend (we knew it would be) and it was hot.  We had a pretty long wait, but it was worth it.  The boat takes you from the American side, past American and Bridal Veil Falls and then over to Horseshoe Falls, and hangs out in the mist of the falls for a couple of minutes so you can get totally soaked and then you head back.  Just a side note, for those that may be like I was and know nothing about Niagara Falls: there are 3 water falls, the American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls that collectively make up Niagara Falls.  I never realized that, I just thought it was one big waterfall.  Horseshoe Falls is the one I remember seeing on tv or in movies.

American Falls

Rainbow Bridge

John and his sweet poncho

American and Bridal Veil Falls

Us on the boat

Approaching Horseshoe Falls 

Horseshoe Falls, up close and personal

some serious mist!

Horseshoe Falls

Anyway, we spent some time at the bottom of American Falls and then we waited in the forever long line to ride the elevator back up.  It was bad.  People were fainting in the heat.  I think everyone was okay, but there seriously has to be a better way to manage the crowds and/or people should just be patient and wait in line and not try to push and shove and cut in line.  We survived, but after that we were pretty much done for the day and went to our hotel to nap and enjoy the AC. :-)

Best shot I was able to get of all 3 falls

The next day we were able to fit in a little more.  We were more well-rested and more prepared for the heat and the crowds.  Our next long wait was for the "Cave of the Winds" experience.  I'm not really sure why they call it a Cave, because there is not cave, but it was still pretty cool.  There are a series of decks at different levels at the bottom of Bridal Veil falls.  You go all the way down to the river and then work your way up toward the falls.  The top deck is called Hurricane Deck and it was really a cool experience!  They give you ponchos to wear, but your lower half gets soaked.  I could stand face first into the water because it was too strong, but John loved it.  It really was cool to be that close to the water and feel how powerful the falls really are.

The top deck is "Hurricane Deck"

this was as far up as I wanted to take pictures, then I put my camera away :-)

Next we enjoyed lunch at the Top of the Falls Restaurant, which really was a pretty view of the top of Horseshoe Falls.  We went down to the viewing area after and we met a couple that was visiting from Utah!  The cool thing is they had lived in Massachusetts for 2 years early in their marriage and then went back to Utah but were back visiting New England.  So that could be us in 45 years!

View from the restaurant

Top of Horseshoe Falls

We stayed in town for the fireworks show that night, which was really cool.  We sat along the river at the American Rapids and watched the fireworks.  The real show was on our way back to the hotel (20 min down the highway) because there were several "shows" to watch the whole way there.

Overall it was a fun weekend and I'm glad we could spend the time together.  I normally think of the 4th as a time for big get-togethers, so this was a different thing for us, but still a lot of fun!