Niagara Falls, Ontario

Niagara Falls is a short two hour drive from Letchworth State Park.  If you like looking at acre after acre of corn fields, you'll enjoy the ride.  Our hotel was within walking distance of the Falls.  First stop was brunch and we headed to Perkins.  We ordered from the senior menu and spent more on eggs and a sandwich than we would have at the Outback back home.

Armed with our Adventure Pass we were on our way.  First stop was the Maid of the Mist, which is a large boat without any seats.  Each passenger was given a blue poncho, the consistency of a dry cleaning bag.  The view of the American sides of the falls was fantastic.  But as you got to the Canadian side, the only view was mist.  We were glad to have our skimpy ponchos as the water came from every direction.

We made the 15 minute walk to Table Rock to see the Journey Behind the Falls.  After donning another bag-like covering we carefully stepped through the tunnels down below the falls.  The view of the falls was like looking at your shower turned on full-blast.  All we could see was lots of water falling in front of us.  We went back to our room to get ready for dinner at Skylon Tower.

The Skylon Tower is 775 feet high.  There are exterior, glass-enclosed elevators so you get a fantastic view on your way to and fro.  The restaurant revolved so we could view the city and eight miles in all directions.  I think this was the highlight of my vacation.

The next morning we went back to the Table Top area to see the movie Niagara's Fury.  We were handed a yellow poncho on the way in.  (poncho for a movie?)  The preshow was on a 360 screen and depicted the forming of the Falls and the surrounding area.  We were ushered into another room where the floor was steel and you could see water underneath.  The room was cold and dark and it began to snow and rain and mist.  The floor tilted and water was sprayed.  Hubby and I were near the front and we were glad we had put on our ponchos and just as glad to get out of there as we were freezing and wet.
-
The weather had turned cold and rainy so we went to the casino near out hotel for lunch and a little diversion.  For $12.00 we ate at the buffet and we gave ourselves a $25.00 limit in the casino.  I can't think of anything less entertaining than sitting in front of a slot machine pushing a button watching your money disappear.  But, hubby did win $10.00, which we later put towards dinner at same casino- $17.00 all you-can-eat.

Niagara Falls was on my bucket list.  Now that I have been there, I have no desire to go back.  While the Falls are amazing, the surrounding area is very touristy with places such as Galaxy Golf, Fear Factory, Ghost Blasters, Movieland, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Mystery Maze and the Fun House.  I did learn to that casinos offer the best food at reasonable prices.