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| Overlooking Niagara Falls...Maid of the Mist boat in the mist! |
Day 3- Touring Niagara Falls Region, Niagara Falls, NY
A highly anticipated day of touring the incredible geography
of the Niagara Falls, NY area began with an unusual observation at breakfast.
The hotel provides a hot breakfast in the lobby, a common practice of late.
Some places have a hot buffet, others Belgian waffle maker, and today included
something new to me…an AUTOMATIC pancake maker…You push a button, pancake
batter drops onto a concealed griddle/conveyor belt, and a fresh pancake drops
off at the end of the conveyor belt. What will they think of next?
Today
brings a visit to one of the geographic gems of American geography: Niagara
Falls. The falls are an international curiosity as the town of Niagara Falls,
NY teems with visitors from around
the globe. Being from Chicago, I am used living within a diverse community.
However, the area around Niagara Falls is a veritable tableau of human
geography. Asia, Europe, South America, Central America, North America were all
well-represented among the visitors. It was great to observe the various styles
and personal tastes individuals selected to come visit The Falls. The world was
here to see The Falls today and we were in for a treat…
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| Walking the trail next to The Rapids |
Perfect
blue sky summer weather, 83 degrees upon arrival, and a half-mile walk along
the Niagara River towards Niagara Falls State Park and the colossal namesake
falls. The rapids swirl with energy and a blur of foamy white as the river
heads to its picturesque precipice. As an observer you simply marvel at the
power. The power of nature, the power of a seemingly infinite source of water
for this spectacle, and the power of simplicity…we’re all gawking at a fast
moving river that leads to a waterfall.
Of course, it’s one of the greatest falls in North American (if not the
world…).
No
visit to Niagara Falls would be complete without a ride on the Maid of the
Mist. These excursion boats run twenty minute rides up the river right to the
base of the falls. This boat ride is a thrill of a lifetime and it gives you an
in-your-face introduction to the falls. The company gives you a poncho as
you’re guaranteed to get wet from all of the mist generated by the falls
crashing into the gorge and river. The boat dutifully chugs down the river and
loiters at the base of Horseshoe Falls for several minutes. During those
minutes you are beholden to nature’s picturesque fury…Cameras are clicking,
people are staring, and the falls are the star of the show. Tourists are
whooping and cheering at the inundation of water. Few people do anything but
stare in awe…I was right in the middle of everything soaking up the
scene…Tremendous!
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| Series of pictures aboard the Maid of the Mist |
After
a ride on the Maid of the Mist it was time for a simple picnic lunch…When
you’re on the go, eating becomes fairly simple…buy a sandwich and have a
picnic! It was great to sits hundreds of feet from the falls, listen to their
roar, and truly appreciate the scene. Niagara Falls is a must-see
experience…Make plans to come here one day…You won’t regret the effort.
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| Picnic lunch in Niagara Falls State Park |
The
afternoon featured a visit to a historic legend in the region: Old Fort
Niagara. Old Fort Niagara, situated at the mouth of the Niagara River, was an
ominous welcome sign to any ship that entered from Lake Ontario during the
fort’s three hundred year history. France, Great Britain, and today the United
States all claimed the fort. It’s a special place with great architecture.
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| Touring Old Fort Niagara |
Hand-hewn
lumber, rough-cut corner stones, and cobble stone paths greet you when you
arrive. Located on a 300-acre site, the fort is laid out with military
efficiency but offers many visual treats to those who look beyond the
perfunctory uses of the fort’s buildings. Masonry and woodworking details
remind you that buildings the fort’s age represent an era of handcraftsmanship
that gave way to the mass produced construction materials and buildings in our Home
Depot dominated world. At times the trade-off doesn’t seem fair…Buildings like
Old Fort Niagara are part of what make our country’s history quite rich…Tomorrow a reflection on Old Fort Niagara!
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| Cannon emplacements and a view of the grounds and Lake Ontario |
Dinner
was quite pleasant…a picnic by the shores of Lake Ontario. Off in the distance,
Toronto emerged from the haze in the sun-setting sky. Earlier today, I went
back to Leon’s Bistro, easily the best choice in the area, for carry-out. I did
a rare repeat: I ordered a slice of pizza and a steak hoagie. The pizza was for
dinner and the sandwich did double-duty as an afternoon snack and an Olympics watching
snack later this evening. Delicious.
It
was a very busy, but wonderful day…I enjoyed spending time by the shores of
Lake Ontario…again impressed with nature’s ability to capture our hearts and our
imagination. There were some people scattered here at there along the shore, not
surprising as humans have an intrinsic connection to water. Anyone who knows me
knows that is true of me plus the fact that I have an intrinsic connection to
pizza.
Ahhh…the
best of both worlds...~Mr. K.
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| Ideal end to a wonderful day...Thanks for joining me! |
