New York Trip Day 1 - Niagara Falls

On June 4th, we left for Buffalo, New York. We stayed at a hotel in downtown Buffalo and used that as a home base for the next 4 days. Our first destination was Niagara Falls. When Danny and I visited Niagara Falls with Alyssa 18 years ago, we just walked to the falls on the American side and spent a little bit of time looking at them. So with this visit, we wanted to do it right. we parked near this super store and discovered inside that they were selling tours to see the falls. The tour included the boat that goes under the falls, a visit to an observation deck above the falls, a bus ride to Goat Island, a visit to the Cave of Wonders that includes a pathway below the American Falls, the freedom to explore goat island, and admission to the daredevil museum. We also got a tour guide during the beginning of the tour that told us a number of stories about the falls and people who have attempted to go over the falls.

Before the tour started, we had about 30 minutes, so we walked down to the falls to have a look.

The Maid of the Mist tour was better than we expected. We did not anticipate the amount of water that would be pouring on to us from the falls as the boat approached Horseshoe Falls (the Canadian Falls). 

We learned that the American Falls have rocks at the base so anyone that has gone over this one has not survived. 

Horseshoe Falls was even impressive from above. This is the view of them from Goat Island.

The Cave of Wonders was so cool. It takes you on a walkway that puts you at the base of Bridalveil Falls. Water from the falls spills over onto the wooden walkway in some places. The most brave can climb up to the Hurricane deck and stand below the falls. We got soaked even with our ponchos, but it was totally worth it to stand on that deck.

Our favorite observation area was on Goat Island. There was a bridge over Bridalveil Falls and a little platform you can stand on in between the American Falls and the Bridalveil Falls. 

It also gave us a view from above of the Hurricane Deck that we had just come from.

We were pretty worn out and hungry after all of this exploring, but we made a quick stop at the daredevil museum to read up on some of the stories of people who went over horseshoe falls and to see their pictures and barrels.

Our favorite story was about a little boy who was only 7 years old. He was fishing with a family friend and his sister on the Niagara River when their boat capsized. The man didn't survive, and his sister was pulled from the river right before going over. The little boy ended up going over with just a lifejacket and his swimming suit on. He survived and was pulled abord the Maid of the Mist. 

After the daredevil museum, we went to a wings restaurant to try some famous buffalo wings. The other food was just meh, but the wings were amazing!!

We headed back to the hotel and the boys somehow had energy to swim still. We noticed this day that Ashley and Camden had developed a full body rash from the swimmers itch. So we had to get them some anti itch cream that evening. We slept well that night,