June 4-5, 2024 – Niagara Falls, NY

Tuesday morning, we drove to Niagara Falls, NY.  We drove most of the 100 miles on side roads.  It was a little slower than traveling on the interstate, but we saw a lot of rural New York.  The area we drove through was forested and hilly with many farms and small towns.  We enjoyed the slower pace and change of scenery until we got to the Buffalo area where we were once again on the interstate.  We are staying at AA Royal Motel & Campground in North Tonawanda, NY which is about 20 minutes from Niagara Falls.  This is small campground behind the Motel and not fancy, but we have grass and a tree for shade and full hook-ups, so we are happy.

We booked a tour of the American side of the falls with Over the Falls Tours on Wednesday morning.  Our tour guide, Dawn, picked us up at the campground and, after picking up more passengers we entered Niagara Falls State Park.   Niagara Falls State Park, established in 1885 is the oldest state park in America.  The park is over 400 acres along the Niagara River and Niagara Gorge and includes many areas to view the falls.  The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed Central Park in New York City.  Our first stop was at Prospect Point where we have a view of the Rainbow Bridge which crosses the river into Canada.

We rode the Maid of the Mist, an all-electric double-decker boat that takes you close to the falls.

The views from the top deck were breathtaking.  We could see all three falls – American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe.

We are heading into the mist created by Horsehoe Falls on the Canadian side.

We were provided with rain ponchos, and we did get wet – not only from the waterfalls but it was also raining, and it was windy.  The observation tower in the upper left is where we are going when we get off the boat.

A view of the American and Bridal Veil Falls on the way back from Horsehoe Falls.  We had a great but somewhat wet ride.  The falls are magnificent, and pictures do not do them justice.

Our tour guide, Dawn, took this great picture of our boat (can you see us on the backside of the upper deck?) with Canada in the background.

After our ride on the Maid of the Mist we went on the American Observation Tower and the views were beautiful.  We can see all three falls – American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe.  Horseshoe Falls and the buildings on the right side are in Canada.

A view of the top of American and Bridal Veil Falls with Horseshoe Falls and Canada in the background.

On our way to Whirlpool State Park, Dawn told us about some of the people who went over the falls.  The first person to survive a trip over the falls was Annie Edison Taylor.  She was in her 60’s and went over in a barrel and walked away with only bruises.  Another person who did not survive was Robert Overcracker.  In 1995 he rode a jet ski over the falls with a parachute on his back.  As he went over the falls, he jumped off the jet ski, but his parachute failed to open.  His body was never recovered but his jet ski was and is displayed in a downtown store window. There is also a picture of him as he jumped off the jet ski.

At Whirlpool State Park we walked along the Niagara River Gorge to the Whirlpool Rapids.  The narrow width of the gorge, the rapid descent of the river (52 feet in less than one mile) and the volume of water all contribute to the 22-mph speed of the water at the Whirlpool Rapids.  Thirty-five feet deep, the Class VI rapids are unnavigable and considered among the most dangerous in the world. The rapids and whirlpool at the bottom were beautiful.

This aero car, built in 1913 is suspended on six interlocking steel cables and travels between two points on the Candian side of the gorge.  We think we might want to take this ride when we are on the Canadian side of the river next week.

After our visit to Whirlpool State Park, we went to DiCamillo Bakery for lunch.  This has been a family-owned bakery for over 100 years.  We had a delicious lunch and great cookies.