Romantic paradise
Written: Sep 19 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: nature flexing its muscles, laser light show at the falls at night
Cons: typical high prices prevalent at most tourist locales
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| krashlite2's Full Review: Niagara Falls |
Review Topic: Sights & Attractions
I have never been impressed with nature. I've seen the white sandy beaches of Barbados, the rugged peaks and valleys of Colorado and have even ventured into the Everglades in Florida and I still thought that the man-made Epcot Centre next to DisneyWorld is the coolest place around.
But to see cascades of millions of gallons of water gush forth over a steep horseshoe shaped cliff left me awestruck. The water starts off slowly enough, rather like a river with a sharp current but nothing too fearful. But, there is a point you can clearly see when standing on the Canadian side, where it seems as if the ground was suddenly taken off the water's feet and it just drops. I saw a rainbow on the water and I felt "rain" a full five hundred yards away even though the weather forecast said 95% chance of sunshine but wait, that wasnt rain, it was a mist caused by the force of the explosion as the water strikes the surface below. I could feel my heart pounding as I looked down and saw all that water pounding onto the rocks beneath. What really took me by surprise was the volume of water. This is what sets it apart from any other waterfall in existence.
It all started with a trip with my friends and I across the border from Buffalo and into Canada after visiting the "Wedding Veil", the American section of the Falls, and being duly unimpressed. While I felt "richer" due to the exchange rate (US$1 = Can$1.5), that soon changed when we walked into Casino Niagara. Point of Advice: Never gamble at tourist hotbeds! It also changed when I checked out the prices of some of the local hotels. Most decent ones were over US$200/night but I ended up staying at a Bed/Breakfast house less than a mile from the Falls for $80/night. There are quite a few of these along a stretch of the main road that runs alongside the Falls and the river that flows from it. This turned out to be one of my best decisions since although you don't get the amenities a hotel provides such as a pool, jacuzzi etc, you do get a clean, neatly furnished large room with cable TV, a delightful breakfast and very helpful hosts who pretty much planned the whole trip at our asking.
Our first venture was to Niagara-On-The-Lake. By the way, get a car when you visit because the public transport is too slow and unless you don't mind the exercise and sunburn from a lot of walking, a car is pretty convenient especially when visiting Niagara-On-The-Lake. This is a quaint little town that really reminds me of England. I was told that when the U.S. began its push for independence, many people loyal to the British migrated here. The town is immaculately clean and most of its buildings take me back to how people must have lived during Colonial times. Obviously all the touristy stuff such as key chains, clothes etc were overpriced, but being in the "mood" I got a couple T-shirts. There was however a neat little candle shop that sold homemade candles with intricate little designs and made them in front of you. You also MUST try the icecream and the fudge sold here. It has a rich creamy taste to it that I highly recommend. Canada is world renowned for its Maple fudge and I did not leave disappointed.
Next, we tackled the Falls itself (well not literally). There's a couple activities that you must do when you visit the Falls. The first is the "Maid of the Mist" boat ride (around US$5) that takes you right below the Falls. The next one is the "Journey beneath the Falls" (around US$5) which takes you through tunnels constructed underneath the Falls. You are provided a souvenior raincoat when visiting both places so you don't get soaked. This was the favorite part of my Niagara Falls experience since it brings you literally within an arm's reach of touching the Falls itself so that you are literally looking directly up at a torrent of water flowing above you. A rush of adrenaline poured into me as I imagined what it would be like to touch the water but I wisely refrained.
Away from the Falls is an Aero-Car ride (around US$ 10) which takes you via cable car around the falls (but not over it ... I wish!) but after experiencing the Maid of the Mist and the Journey Beneath the Falls, this was a bit of an anti-climax. In hindsight, I would recommend doing the Aero-Car first before the others.
There is also a Butterfly Conservatory, a theatre showing interesting plays, a Flower-Clock Park and a botanical gardens within walking distance of the Falls that altogether set the mood and contribute to Niagara Falls reputation as the "Honeymoon Capital of the World". There's some cool stuff for the kids as well such as the Ripley's Believe it or Not, the IMAX theatre which airs 3D movies, lots of game arcade locations and a medium sized theme park.
Finally, the Laser Lights show at the Falls at night is truly amazing, and rather than spend half a page attempting to describe its splendor, I'll just let you imagine it until you get the opportunity to visit as well! The perfect time to visit would be a 3-day weekend in the middle of summer according to the locals here although room and board etc would be more expensive. I visited in May.
**Special Note to the Guys** Take her for a walk along the Falls in the evening, when the sun is setting, the Laser Lights are beginning to show, and you can feel the cool breeze from the Falls ripple across your skin. At around 7-8pm, the strip of land around the Falls is surprisingly not very busy and all in all sets the tone for a very romantic experience. If you've had the misfortune of being in the bad books of your loved one, an evening at Niagara Falls should be the perfect antidote!
Recommended:
Yes
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krashlite2
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Location: Tampa, FL
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 64 members
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