Niagara Falls

Took the day off from traveling to visit the falls in the city of Niagara Falls, NY.
Our guide informed us the falls are named Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. The 2 cities of Niagara Falls NY USA and ON Canada are where the falls are actually located. We donned these spiffy blue rain coats before boarding the Maid of the Mist, one of many boats by the same name, and got up close and personal with tons of water. We did get wet!

 American Falls is actually the taller of the 2 at 185 ft, but the base is very rocky. Horseshoe Falls is much wider and doesn't have the rocks at the bottom and Canada is on the other side.

 I had my camera underneath my raincoat hear hence the blue tint, and the sound was amazing.                                              

 American Falls from the base of Horseshoe Falls.  The observation tower to the left of the falls houses the elevators that take visitors 200 ft down to river level to board the boat.

 The view from the top was spectacular,  and beginning next week the tower will be open until 9 PM so the falls can be viewed at night

Don't look down if you're squeamish!

 Our next stop was Cave of the Winds, now Bridal Veil Falls. The scaffolding is put up every April and dismantled every November, the winters are so brutal. Here we received water sandals and bright yellow rain gear with a plastic bag to hold our shoes. Alvin didn't tackle the 400 + steps, but I braved it up the second highest level, just below the Hurricane deck. IA faint rainbow is barely visible in the picture on the right. The wind, the water, and the sound was absolutely breathtaking!

 Horseshoe Falls from the top and
with mist rising high above the surface.







Hundreds, if not thousands, of Ring-billed Gull nest on the rocks along the  edge and they already have chicks in the nest.

The last stop of the day was Whirlpool Park and the lower rapids where the Niagara River makes a 90 degree turn on the way to Lake Ontario.
The water is moving so fast in the narrow gorge a gigantic eddy is formed. The park here is very serene, kept "natural" under the Olmsted law. Manicured lawns and trees, shrubs, and blooming tulips. Chestnut trees in bloom perfumed the air. Very different from the touristy falls areas.

I'm so glad we took the time and especially happy that we managed to do all this during the "off" season.