Saturday, May 13, 2017

Niagara falls


Tuesday May 2nd, 2017

Today a greatly anticipated trip to Niagara Falls!! – A check off the bucket list! Tyler has a hockey tournament in Toronto, CA, so we decided to do a family vacation, with a sidebar to Niagara!
We traveled separately, Peter and us to Buffalo (different carriers) and the O’Keefe’s to Toronto with meeting on the Canadian side of the Falls.  We stayed at the Hilton – with spectacular views – we each had a suite… very convenient.


I always thought that the Falls were considered one of the natural wonders of the world… they’re not.  Victoria Falls in Africa are, but they are as far as I’m concerned!!  Niagara is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border of Canada and the US, the province of Ontario and NY.
The 3 falls consist of the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.  The Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the ice age and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean.  Though not high, the Falls are very wide.  More than 6 million cubic feet of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow!!

From an engineering standpoint, the Falls is famed as a valuable source of hydroelectric power.

Arriving late, we were all thrilled to view the falls, lit up, from our hotel rooms.  We were determined to get an early start and do it all!! 

We had purchased Adventure Passes – we started at the Spanish Aero Cable Car – a gondola that traversed the northern end of Niagara Gorge, providing unforgettable views of the raging waters below.  This area is called the Niagara Whirlpool, which is formed at the end of the rapids where the gorge turns abruptly counterclockwise and the river escapes through the narrowest channel in the gorge.
 
In an attempt to see everything, we took the bus further North to the Floral Clock.  It is a landmark, built in 1950.  The clock’s floral face is one of the largest in the world.  The face changes twice yearly and tells the time with precision.  It should be noted that Dan remembers his picture being taken here with his brother when they were kids – so the tradition lives on with numerous shots of the kids.

Off to the Hornblower Niagara Cruise – a trip into the awesome power of the thundering, roaring falls!  It was great!  Slickers were distributed to all, and Ava was our family official photographer. 



A quick lunch and off to ZIP-LINE!!!  Check – another bucket list item!!  The harness was such, that I’m not sure this was a typical zip line experience.  But it was GREAT!!!!  The zip lines face the American Canadian Horseshoe Falls.  Riders dangle from a precarious 2,200 feet, at speeds of 40 mph, along the edge of the gorge to the Falls observation landing.  It was awesome!!  The kids did great too!
                                    
 
Time was waning, and it seems the sidewalks are pulled in at 5.  We had yet to do the SKYLON TOWER and Journey Behind the Falls.  With a promise to the kids for “tomorrow” we returned to the hotel to get ready for dinner at the Watermark.  Located on the 33rd floor, the restaurant offered yet MORE spectacular views of both Canadian and US Falls.  Dinner was great, by the way!

Thursday dawned gray and cloudy, but the Skylon awaits!  We went before breakfast, glided smoothly to the top observation desk, aboard the exterior glass-enclosed “Yellow Bug Elevators” in just 52 seconds.  At every vantage point there was a placard describing what you were seeing.  Very interesting…
 
 
Down and out ready for breakfast then onto the Journey!  Journey is located in the Table Rock Centre beside the Canadian Falls.  It consists of an observation platform and series of tunnels near the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls.  Access is reached by elevators from the street level.  Two tunnels extend 151 feet behind the waterfall and allow visitors to view water cascading in front of the open cave entrances.  Slickers were distributed here as well.  The tunnels were lined with great photos of a historical nature.

I found the whole experience fabulous.  Now off to Toronto and the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Thursday May 4th

Rain for the whole drive, but the reward was to stand in awe of the STANLEY CUP.  Guess you have to like hockey!  Checked into hotel (near airport) and got ready for the tournament!

Oh unfortunate occurrence!  Tyler got slammed in the first 8 minutes he played.  He was put on concussion watch and couldn’t play.  Though that was sad and aggravating, I was very impressed with the ability of the team.  It was amazing to see those little guys skate, pivot and turn on a dime!  After making it to the semi-finals, the Gladiators finished in 3rd.  I assured Tyler that I would go see him play at home in Syosset.

 

 

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