Niagara Falls
To celebrate the first big heat wave in Canada this year (yes, get over it — I’m Canadian. Half of the year, I complain about the cold, and I complain about the heat the rest of time. We call it the windchill/ humidex complaint here), we decided to drive to Niagara Falls thought the USA.
Last time I was there was 2005 but it was in early April and it was still cold (see… told you!) and it just wasn’t the same. This time, we drove across the State of New York and arrived in Niagara Falls on the US side. The park by the fall was open and we got very close to the Americans Falls.
The first big waterfalls I saw, a few years ago, were the Iguazu Falls, at the border of Argentina and Brazil. I had been told not to expect too much from Niagara after that but I still find the place amazing. Sure the waterfalls aren’t lost in the jungle but there’s the noise, the constant powerful water flow, the huge drop… I love it!
The first thing you can’t help noticing is the mist. It’s just amazing… water everywhere and on part of the promenade (mostly on the Canadian side), people are almost soaked. The mist hides part of the Canadian Niagara skyline when standing on the US side, as you can see below.
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These are the American Falls. They drop about 21 meters and are wider than the Canadian falls (323 meters).
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There is a huge difference between Niagara in the US and Niagara in Canada. The US side, except for the park near the fall, is pretty shady. The once prosperous town seems now abandoned Most buildings spot broken windows and a lot are vacant, locals wander around and businesses are closed or bankrupted. On The other side, Niagara Ontario is like a mini-Vegas with its casinos, five-starts hotels, pricey restaurants, colorful neon billboards and advertisements minutes from the falls.
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At sunset, the falls take this deep blue color… just beautiful.
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We took a ride in the new Skywheel to take pictures from the top. At past 11pm, the night was just starting in Niagara Falls… People were already queuing at the local bars and discos, kids were playing video-games in the numerous arcades and the rest of us was just wandering between Ripley’s and IMAX theatres.
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Related articles:
- Niagara Falls In The Winter
- Niagara Falls, Ontario
- Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Our Southern Neighbours
- Cataratas Do Iguaçu (Brazil Side)
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@Lori — Something different than Texas, isn’t it?
@expatraveler — We can exchange houses if you want, I’d love to visit BC!
@shionge — I didn’t take the Maid Of Mist because it was too packed. I went behind the falls last time though. I’d love to see the falls mi-winter, with all the ice and snow…
@Celine — Waterfalls are very soothing to me… I love them. I have yet to take the Maid of Mist, next time maybe!
@Ulquiorra — But it’s easy to go on the Canadian side, minutes away. The American falls are quite good actually and you get a view view of the Horseshoe. Just the town is a bit shady.
@barbara — The town itself is a tourist trap but I have seen worse… and at least, you can escape to the falls. I love them!
@Rayanne Langdon — Glad to see I’m not the only one to think the weather here is crazy! Somehow, it makes me feel better
@Cori — I’m going to Montreal this summer to see Radiohead, never been there for a concert, we will see
I understand what you mean about the response to fear… did the same to em when walking in the glass ceiling on top of the CN Tower in TO!
@Froggywoogie — You’re missing the water noise, that’s why
@Aiglee — No problem, we will meet next time! It was kind of a last minute thing!
@johnada — We were very lucky, I think it was the first nice we this year. It got really hot in Toronto on Sunday though!
@SilverNeurotic — The show was awesome, I’ll post pictures! Niagara Fall’s skyline is unforgettable… in good and bad.
@bluefish — “The honeymoon capital of the world”! A bit too tacky for me but it’s nice for a WE. Lovely food blog you have by the way!
@Shantanu — Ooops, sorry about the comment thing… I changed theme last week and spent a few days tweaking the result!
@durano lawayan — I see your point and I see why some disagree on your comment.
Niagara Falls is a bit weird because it’s so… mini Vegas. Great for tourists because it caters to everybody and it’s kind of a party town. Wouldn’t live there though… I guess it’s just different.
@Shantanu — I only went behind the falls in 2005, I have yet to take the Maid ferry!
@Max Coutinho — Nah, Europeans just like to complain about mild weather
Waterfalls are very soothing, aren’t they? I’m a water person ad I could spend hours looking at them!
@James — I totally understand both his and your comment. I loved Iguazy as I said in my post because the falls are just lost in the jungle. Niagara is a different atmosphere… not always my kind but it’s pretty unique in a weird kind of way and fun for a couple of days. I visited Montmorency a few years ago (middle of the winter though…) and it’s different, I agree.
@Linguist-in-Waiting — I understand your point. I guess Niagara Falls has been marketed for a long time and I wasn’t surprised the first time I went there. Was I disappointed? No, because I could still see the wonder and enjoy it. I don’t have to go to the casinos etc. I basically turn a blind eye. I felt the same way in Paris with Montmartre… nice place but a tourist trap and I was sad to see it this way.
I loved my trip to Niagara falls and the pictures here reminded me how beautiful the falls are. Unfortunately when I went to Niagara, it was in December and it was freezing! *cough* Not the waters… but I was freezing because it was so cold! *lol*
Angeles last great read…Road trip
So which side is better as far as view goes, everything else aside?
.-= Outrigger´s last blog ..Outrigger Vacation Club Welcomes You To Colorado Ski Season =-.
I’d say the Canadian side is much better (and I’m not being patriotic!).
The US side is a bit dodgy, plus you are missing a good close-up of the horseshoes fall.