Our plans for our third day on our road trip were centered around Niagara Falls and then eventually heading over the border to Canada.
Day Three:
- Niagara Falls State Park
- Maid of the Mist/Observation Tower
- Picnic Lunch
- Aquarium of Niagara
- Discovery Gorge
- The Cave of the Winds
-Cross US/Canadian Border via Rainbow Bridge
- Canadian Side of Niagara Falls
- Dinner
- Skywheel
- Drive to hotel in Scarborough, ON
Almost perfect family photo overlooking the American Falls.
Leah ready for the Maid of the Mist
While I went to the front of the boat with Gabriel (and our stroller),
Leah & Louis went with Matt up to the upper deck.
I don't know what others feel about the Maid of the Mist boat ride but I think it was well worth it. It isn't very long but you get incredibly close to Niagara Falls and if you are on the bottom by the front or the sides of the boat? You will get a lot more than a 'mist', you will be soaked. You feel the force of the falls right on your face. It was great. Wasn't able to get a single shot due to the mist being so thick and wet. Here are some of the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.
Afterward we headed back to the car and grabbed our picnic lunch. Leah and Matt changed out of their sneakers which were soaked on the Maid of the Mist. We had our lunch, along with the many yellow jackets in the park, aggressive little buggers.
Our next stop was the Aquarium of Niagara. We walked through the town rather than taking the trolley. Why? Because I screwed up and had forgotten the trolley took you to Discovery Gorge & you could walk over the bridge to the aquarium. Oops. It was hot out so it wasn't the nicest walk but we made it.
The Aquarium of Niagara is small but it has plenty to keep the kids entertained.
We headed back to the state park via the pedestrian bridge to the Discovery Gorge Center. Unfortunately most of the surrounding area is closed for renovations but the center itself was open. Leah and Matt went to check out the movie they have about Niagara Falls and a simulated elevator ride that discussed how the gorges were made.
We took the trolley over to the Cave of the Winds. The Cave of the Winds gives you the opportunity to walk right by the Bridal Veil Falls. You can walk up the platforms up to the Hurricane deck where you get up close to the falls and soaked. Leah went up with Matt while Louis and Gabriel and I headed back outside the cave to wait for them.
Once done at the cave we went down to look at the Horseshoe Falls.
It was time to make way for the US/Canadian border. We packed up the car and off we went. There was a bit of a wait but after getting the third degree from the Canadian Border Agent we were in.
We went over to see the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and as everyone had already told us? There were a much better view. We grabbed some dinner by the Falls. The kids couldn't wait to run off to see them.
The view shortly before sunset was beautiful.
Louis had seen the Skywheel from the US side of the border and we had promised him we'd go on it. We were tired, our feet hurt but we went anyway. I went on with the kids. Leah was apprehensive at first but once we took off and she saw the few her nerves settled.
We walked back to our car alongside the Falls and they were lit up for the night. Breathtaking. It cooled down and the air was just perfect for a walk. The area was packed with other tourists enjoying the evening. Leah grabbed some ice cream and enjoyed it with Louis on the walk back the car.
Perfect end of the day...except we still had to make the drive to Scarborough...hours away. We made it in one piece, the kids slept most of the way and we were all happy to be upgraded to a large room with lots of space. We went right to sleep.
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