Niagara Falls

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The Niagara Falls are not far from Toronto, so it would be a crime not to go. We hired a car, which worked out a lot cheaper than a coach tour and also meant that we didn’t need to be ready at the crack of dawn. As we learned from Australia last year (see The Slow Pace of The Mature Peoples' Tour), the information on these tours is fantastic, but it doesn't quite make up for the rounds of hotel pick-ups and waiting for all the pensioners to amble back in their own good time.

We'd been warned that the Niagara Falls town was a bit of a tourist trap and should be avoided, but nothing could have prepared us for the tacky Blackpool meets Las Vegas nightmare that opened up before us. It had to be seen to be believed that such a place could grow up beside one of the natural wonders of the world. But then why would we want to see some boring waterfalls when there are the quality of exhibits on offer in Rippley’s Believe It or Not?

If you go to Niagara Falls, the Maid on the Mist boat is absolutely compulsory. Everyone probably knows what this is, but just in case, it’s a boat the cruises right into the mist at the base of the Canadian Falls - the larger of the two falls. These are otherwise known as the Horseshoe Falls - due to their shape obviously. The other is known, quite unsurprisingly, as the American Falls.

Anyway the Maid on the Mist passed the American Falls and then fought against the current to approach as close as it could to the Canadian Falls as 54 million litres per minutes plunged in front of us. It was like an “eye of the storm" in that we got soaked approaching and leaving the falls, but once we got close it was relatively dry. I have no idea why.

We also wanted to go on the walk behind the falls. This was very disappointing as we’d expected to actually walk along behind the falls. What we actually got was two tunnels - or portals - the ends of which came out behind the water. And contrary to the PR, the water doesn’t block out the day light. What made this a bit more worth while was the viewing platform beside the falls. You were able to stand quite close to the base of the falls, again getting drenched by the spray.

After a walk along the top we headed off for a nearby town called Niagara on The Lake, which had been recommended as an alternative to that fiasco beside the falls. This was a lovely little town with a beach on the lake and lots of restaurants to eat in.

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Photos

The Canadian Falls
The Maid of the Mist approaching the Canadian Falls

The Canadian Falls
The Maid of the Mist approaching the Canadian Falls

Maid of the Mist
The Maid of the Mist approaching the Canadian Falls

Canadian Falls Close-up
The Canadian Falls from the base viewing platform

The American Falls
The Maid of the Mist approaching the American Falls

Cliffton Street
The tacky Niagara Resort

Inuit Symbol
An Inuit symbol near Lake Ontario