Niagara Falls

We took a trip to Niagara Falls this week for a few days. It was a fun trip for us and one we are glad we did. Todd hasn't been since he was very young (and doesn't remember it). Anna went 6 years ago with her sisters and dad, but they just spent one day there. Our original plan was to camp, but as the time got closer we changed our mind due to the fact that it was supposed to be so hot during the day. It was going to be upper 80's to low 90's with 80% humidity, and no relief at night. We decided that would be too hard for sleeping and no chance of the girls getting naps during the day. So, we got a hotel on the Canadian side and spent 2 nights there instead.
Niagara Falls is very pretty, and also very touristy we decided. The streets on the Canadian side are full of large hotels, casinos, and tourist traps. We felt like we were visiting a combo between Las Vegas and Disneyland. Once you get to the view of the falls it is all very pretty though and worth it.
Our trip had varying weather- from a torrential downpour while we drove through Canada, to blistering muggy heat the next day, to more rain the day after. Luckily our one full day there was the only day it didn't rain.



Our trip included a stop at "Journey Under the Falls" where you take and elevator down to some tunnels that are under the Horseshoe Falls and get a close up view of them. They give you some sweet yellow ponchos to wear so you don't get too wet. You can even take them home as a souvenir if you want to. Here are two photos of us with the yellow ponchos. Jayda loved having hers on.





Later the same day we also took a trip to the Butterfly Conservatory. They have literally thousands of butterflies flying around the room and landing on you while you walk. You are not supposed to touch them, but if they land on you it is ok. It was amazing how many varieties there were and how close to you they would fly and land. Addison was pretty tired and took a little nap before we went inside, I couldn't resist taking a picture of her sleeping in the backpack.





A nice group shot of us overlooking the American Falls.


No trip to Niagara would be complete without a trip on the Maid of the Mist boat ride. Jayda kept seeing the boats go up and back for 2 days and kept begging to "go on the boat". We finally took the trip and it was very wet and fun. We put a poncho over Addison in the backpack (making sure she could still breathe)- and we got a lot of comments and some strange looks. We all enjoyed it and Jayda thought it was pretty cool to wear poncho and get rained on by the waterfall.




After a 2 hour line to cross the border back into the US, we went to see the American side of the falls. Much less touristy and much more State Park nature reserve feeling on the US side. You can get much closer to the top of the falls, but get less of an overall view.


On our way home we decided to take the "scenic" route and stay in the US. Anna wanted more adventure (not sure it worked out that way) so we drove and stayed a night in Erie, PA., then the next day we stopped in Cleveland at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. It was fun to see, but not sure if worth the extra "adventure" time of driving with tired kids.