Falling in Love With Niagara Falls All Over Again
By Marilyn Loeser
 When
I had three children in tow, I planned family vacations where everyone would
take home a memory suited to their own interests.
Now, as empty-nesters, my husband and I often re-visit the
same destinations to explore them not as parents, but as adults.
Niagara Falls certainly fits into this designation —
perfect for families as well as adults traveling sans children.
 The core attractions are, of course, the American and
Canadian Falls. The Canadian Horseshoe Falls plunges 170 feet into the Maid of
the Mist Pool. The American Falls makes a plunge ranging from 70 to 110 feet to
the rock at the base of the falls.
 You
can see them from New York or Canada: under them, behind them, over them. You
can stop by, see the falls and be on your way, or tarry a few days and take in
the many natural and manmade attractions in the cities of Niagara Falls, NY, and
Niagara Falls, Ontario as well as the many historic attractions and tiny
communities filled with antique shops and fine restaurants just outside the
cities.
American Falls
The American Falls look spectacular at night from the
Canadian side. Lit with combinations of ever-changing color, it’s a must-see
during your visit.
 But
before the sun sets, make sure you visit the American Falls, starting at Niagara
Falls State Park. The park features a restaurant, snack bars, gift shops, picnic
tables, grills, hiking and nature trails.
The park includes Goat Island which offers access to Cave
of the Winds, Three Sisters Islands, Terrapin Point and Luna Island. You’ll also
find excellent views of the both the American Falls and Upper Rapids.
I’ve been to Niagara Falls twice before. This time, my
husband and I decided to stay a few days and visit as many Fall-related
attractions as we could. Our adventure began at the Cave of the Winds.
 Putting
on the provided bright yellow slickers and sandals, we were instructed to take
an elevator down 175 feet to the base of Bridal Veil Falls. Our tour guide
provided our group with safety rules, explained a little about the American
Falls and led us toward the base of the falls.
 Walking
along a series of wooden stairs and decks, the force of the water is remarkable.
Standing on Hurricane Deck, we were only a few feet from the pounding waters.
After meeting the falls officially, we hopped on a tour
trolley and took is to the closest stop to a relatively new attraction — Flight
of Angels.
 In
2001, the Great American Balloon Company began operations of the newest
attraction at Niagara Falls, a balloon ride.
 Boarding
the donut-shaped gondola, we ascended 400 feet into the summer sky for a
spectacular open-air view of the Niagara River Gorge, American and Horseshoe
Falls and the two cities flanking the river.
 The
balloon experience is totally different from anything else offered in the area
and one I would highly recommend.
The base for the Flight of Angels Balloon Ride is located
at 310 Rainbow Boulevard.
 The
most famous attraction, by far, is the Maid of the Mist. If you have time for
only one attraction, this is it.
The scenic boat tour of the American and Canadian Falls is
a spectacular half-hour ride and begins on both the American and Canadian sides.
On the American side, the boat tour begins at the base of
the Observation Tower elevator at Prospect Point in the state park. On the
Canadian side it’s at the north end of Queen Victoria Park, close to the Rainbow
Bridge and Oakes Garden Theatre at the foot of the Clifton Hill tourist area.
  This
way of getting to know the falls up close and personal has its beginnings in the
rowboat ferry service crossing the Niagara River in the early 1800s. In 1846,
the first Maid of the Mist steamboat operation began with coal-fired, wooden
boat and has been in operation ever since.
Today’s “maids” are steel, diesel-powered ships capable of
carrying 300 to 600 passengers per trip.
 Cruising
past the American Falls, you feel the mist and are awed by the spectacle, but
when the ship nears the Horseshoe Falls, you’ll be glad you were handed a
souvenir raincoat when you paid your admission.
Horseshoe or Canadian Falls
Visitors to Niagara Falls can enjoy the thunder of the
waters from a completely different perspective by visiting Journey Behind The
Falls located in the Table Rock House Plaza beside the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.
 The
observation platform at the base of the falls is reached by elevators and a
network of tunnels. Other tunnels provide a close-up view of the Falls.
 Or perhaps you’d like to see the falls from above. Mark and
I chose The Skylon Tower to overlook the falls after dark when the multi-colored
lights reflect on the natural wonder.
Skylon is the tallest tower in Niagara Falls at 520 feet.
An indoor observation deck offers a panoramic view of the entire region.
 Downriver
from the Canadian Falls is the Whirlpool and the best way to see it is from high
overhead aboard the Niagara Whirlpool Aero Car.
A Spanish engineer, Leonardo Torres Quevedo, designed and
built the Aero Car that accommodates 40 passengers. It has been operating since
1916.
From this seemingly precarious vantage point, riders can
see the rapids, the Whirlpool, the Gorge and the hydro-electric plants down the
river as the aerial car travels between two different points on the Canadian
shore of the Niagara River and over the whirlpool.
The round trip is just 3,600 feet and takes about 10
minutes, but the memories of the glorious view and the thrill of hanging above
the whirlpool will last a lifetime.
If you go:
Niagara Falls is an area you can visit over and over again,
taking in the same sites and exploring new ones. With or without children, this
is an excellent vacation destination.
For information on attractions and accommodations on the
American side, check the website
www.niagara-usa.com.
For information about attractions and accommodations on the
Canadian side, check the website
www.niagarafallstourism.com.
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