To the Falls

American Falls at Dusk

Niagara Falls-the images it conjures! Maybe not as tall as Iguacu. Maybe not as wide as Victoria. Nevertheless, Niagara is one of the world's great waterfalls and is a must-see. This was our second family trip to Niagara Falls. The first had been in 2000, when we stayed mainly on the New York side and made a few forays into Canada. The Canadian side appeared to have a greater variety to offer and more to do.  So, this time, we planned to use Niagara Falls, Ontario, as our base. We drove up from Nothern Virginia in two days, spending a night on the road in Binghamton, NY.  We arrived in the Niagara area on Monday afternoon, headed directly across Rainbow Bridge, and quickly cleared Canadian customs.

Canadian Falls at Dusk

Eager to begin exploring, we walked out of the hotel and headed for Clifton Hill. Known as "The street of Fun at the Falls," it's home to theme restaurants like Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood, fun attractions like Ripley's, Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum and the Legends of Rock Wax Museum, clubs, and amusement and game venues like the Great Canadian Midway. Yes, it can tacky, but fun, too. We went to Clifton Hill nearly every evening to dine or enjoy the amusements after a busy day of sightseeing.

The falls view begins at the foot of Clifton Hill at Rainbow Bridge. A long embankment runs along the cliff from Rainbow Bridge though Queen Victoria Park to Table Rock Point and offers many spectacualar views of both the American and Horseshoe Falls. It's a pleasant (if crowded) walk any time of day. The falls are illuminated on selected evenings.