That's a lot of water!

Since we were going to be in southern Ontario I decreed that it was time to revisit Niagara Falls. I know it isn't the biggest, tallest, or most powerful cataract in the world, but it is one of them, it’s ours, and it is very accessible. Jim got a deal at The Oakes, which bragged about Falls views. (Our room needed some updating but the location more than made up for it) Ever the skeptic I figured that meant we would have to stand on a chair and peer out a corner of the window to see anything, sort of like “ocean glimpses” in Victoria real estate ads.  Our trusty GPS took us directly to the hotel after its usual 20 minute search for satellites when we change locations (you can almost hear it thinking, “where the heck are we now, I thought she liked Saint John”). As we pulled into the parking lot I could see the mist; it really is a Falls view location, one of about 3 that are built directly above Horseshoe Falls!

the view from our room

We got checked in and then I literally dragged Jim out and down to the river walkway and, really, it is spectacular. Really, really. So worth the trip. Of course there are lots of tourists, it’s a tourist magnet, but everyone is in the same frame of mesmerized mind.

it is right there - not in the distance

Horseshoe Falls

evening light

constant rainbow

Happy camper!

To complement the natural draw there are decent restaurants and family theme activities and, yes, the ubiquitous casino. We opted to “do” the Maid of the Mist excursion to the base of Horseshoe Falls, got thoroughly wet, and loved it!

The blue capes were uncontrollable in the wind!

 Our plan was to go to a couple of wineries before leaving the Niagara area, but we wandered into Niagara-on-the-Lake instead, I’d never been, and we ran out of time for tasting. Without the natural phenomenon of the Falls, NotL has built another tourist mecca with a cute town centre and a relatively famous theatre festival. There were at least as many tourists but they were more into shopping than nature.

Niagara on the Lake

We need to come back to the Niagara area for a few days, some year, because there is much to see and do relating to Canadian history, like the Brock monument, and a few wineries to sample.