Month: August 2023

Melbourne, Florida, a GREAT Place to Visit Along the Space Coast of Florida

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Travels

Melbourne is known as the “economic engine” of Brevard County and is regarded as one of the area’s most bustling cities.–Garden Communities FL Blog

Space Coast 🚀

When you think of Florida’s space coast, Cape Canaveral is often the first town to come to mind, and why not?  With its Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral is rich with space history and full of attractions.  However, Florida’s space coast is a 72 mile long coast full of charming, family-friendly beach towns, including Melbourne, Florida.

Melbourne Beach🏝️

My husband, John, and I had the opportunity to visit Melbourne during late July in order to spend some time with my dad and step-mom, Pam.  Melbourne, Florida is approximately one hour east of the infamous Orlando, Florida, it is approximately 90 miles south of Daytona, and it is a mere 25 miles from the space king, Cape Canaveral. Although Dad and Pam technically live in Palm Bay, John and I stayed in an adorable AirBnB in Melbourne in order to be within walking distance to the ocean. This was our second visit to this walkable, historic beach town, and it won’t be our last! 

Of course, our main purpose for visiting Melbourne was to spend time with family; however, John and I both agree that it is definitely a town we recommend for anyone to visit–even if you don’t have family living in the nearby vicinity.  In addition to its close proximity to the Kennedy Space Center and beautiful beaches, there are numerous other reasons to visit the Melbourne area.  Furthermore, it has an interesting history to boot. 

But first, a Bit of History 📘

It is believed that Paleoindians were the first to enter and inhabit the area that is now considered Melbourne during the final glacial episodes. Time-travel forward thousands of years later, and one sees that the town was officially formed in 1867 by former slaves. One of the more colorful settlers include freedman Captain Peter Wright, known as the “sailing postman,” who sailed to and from the various riverside towns around the Melbourne area delivering mail. 

At first, the area was known as Crane Creek.  However, the name was later changed to Melbourne.  This name change was a nod at another early settler who also served as the first postmaster.  His name was Cornthwaite John Hector, and he had spent most of his life in Melbourne, Australia, before moving to Florida.  Therefore, Melbourne was ultimately chosen to honor Hector’s life.

Melbourne, Present Day 😎

Presently, Melbourne boasts a population of 86,678 residents, with its largest demographic being millennials. It is situated on the barrier island that separates the Indian River Lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean.  In fact, it is accessed by the Melbourne Causeway which crosses over the Indian River Lagoon. Despite being surrounded by all that water, Melbourne, and the surrounding area of Brevard County, is one location in Florida that is not prone to sinkholes.  Now that’s reassuring information to residents and tourists alike!

Did someone say Beach? 🏖️

Due to the fact that Melbourne is ideally located, there are many attractions for visitors to experience while staying. One obvious attraction is the beach.  In fact, there are numerous beautiful, less populated beaches throughout Brevard County and the space coast, but many consider Melbourne beaches to be some of the best.  Plus, Melbourne offers plenty of public parking, making it easy to access the beach if staying a little farther from the coast. 

Juan Ponce De León Landing is a popular choice among local residents for its surf fishing, paddle boarding, and surfing. This 25+ acre recreational beach park offers visitors plenty of parking, public restrooms, as well as two beach crossovers.  It also has a pavilion, which can be reserved for special occasions and events.  

Melbourne Beach Pier is located in Ryckman Park on Indian River in the historic section of Melbourne. The pier was built in 1889 and is an ideal location for an evening stroll, photography, or simply relaxing as you watch a spectacular sunset over the river after a day at the beach. This pier and park are considered a U.S. National Register of Historic places.  This same area also houses the community center, town hall, and several gazebos for unwinding.

For those who are fans of baseball, Space Coast Stadium is also located in Melbourne.  It is home to the Brevard County Manatees, a Class A Advanced Affiliate to the Atlanta Braves. Moreover, it is also the spring training home for MLB’s Washington Nationals.

If wildlife viewing is your thing, you might consider booking with Camp Holly Airboat Rides.  These airboat rides take visitors along the St. John River for a 40-minute wildlife viewing tour.  They also offer nighttime rides for those interested in viewing alligators up close.

Another popular local attraction is the Brevard Zoo. Built in 1994, the zoo serves as a conservation center where people can visit and learn about animals and the importance of preserving them as well as their natural habitat/environment. The zoo is home to over 900 animals, including 195 species from all over the world. It offers a center for sea turtle rehabilitation, and it is also involved in efforts to restore mangroves and native oyster beds to ensure cleaner waters and more stable shorelines.

This bird-of-paradise plant symbolizes the bit of paradise one can find in Melbourne, Florida.

Melbourne offers several historic sites including the Historic Rossetter House Museum and Gardens which is available for tour, but can also be reserved for private parties.  Additionally, there are several hotels in the area that are considered historic, including the Hotel Melby, in the Historic Downtown section.  The town is also home to Florida Institute of Technology, a school of engineering that started with a .37 cent donation in, but it is also known for its diverse and stunning botanical gardens open to the public for leisurely strolls.

Do ghosts haunt these shores?

Dem Bones, Ghosts, and a bit of Fame . . .

Other random bits of Melbourne, Florida information and trivia include the fact that it is situated on a bone bed of fossils 10,000 to 20,000 years old that includes mammoths, camels, and mastodons to name a few.  While staying in Melbourne, you can also visit a haunted business, Hell ‘n Blazes Brewery, which is said to be haunted by the building’s original owner from over 100 years ago.  Furthermore, Melbourne has its own airport that once served as a military base.  Finally, one final piece of Melbourne trivia includes two celebrities once calling it home. Jim Morrison, of The Doors, and American Author and filmmaker, Zora Neale Hurston both, at one time or another, lived in the area.

No trip to the Space Coast of Florida would be complete without a visit to the original and historic Ron Jon’s Surf Shop!

We’ll Be Back ☀️

Melbourne, Florida is rich with opportunities for golfing, walking, biking, shopping, dining, history, and art viewing in addition to its numerous, colorful points of interest.  It is a vibrant, inviting, and accessible town in which  John and I truly enjoyed spending our time.  There were so many dining options, and we had a one block walk to direct access to the beach.  Best of all, personally speaking, we were able to spend time with family with Melbourne as a lovely backdrop. We highly recommend this quaint town of seaside paradise and hope to travel back soon.  Perhaps, we will see you there!

Until then, I wish you safe and happy travel adventures.

P.S. Special thanks to Dad and Pam for the stunning pictures from Melbourne Pier at sunset!   

Downtown Melbourne from Melbourne Beach Pier
Downtown Melbourne from Melbourne Beach Pier

Grapefruit Smoothie: Refreshingly, tasty nutrition on the go

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Recipes

“In 1993, Texas chose the red grapefruit as its state fruit. The red grapefruit was chosen because it was the first fruit ‘invented’ in Texas, and grapefruit trees have built more revenue than any other fruit tree in Texas!”–Wintersweetz.com 

Photo by Laker on Pexels.com

The forbidden Fruit🏝️

I was absolutely surprised to learn that the grapefruit was once named the “forbidden fruit” in the mid-1700s by a reverend searching for the identity of the original tree of good and evil from the Garden of Eden in the Caribbean Sea.  Years later, that same “forbidden fruit” tree was brought to Texas by Spanish missionaries in the late 1800s and given to local farmers in the southern area of the state.  Little did those Texas missionaries know that the Rio Grande Valley possessed fertile soil and subtropical weather, creating ideal growing conditions for grapefruits. Now, Texas is the third largest citrus producer in the United States, and it is especially known for its red varieties of grapefruits, such as Rio Star and Ruby Sweet. 

Personally, ruby red grapefruit is one of my favorite fruits.  I especially appreciate its sweet tangy flavor.  Red grapefruit seems to bring my tastebuds to life with its clean, refreshing, and light taste.  

It is that sweet tart taste that adds extra zing when combined with other flavor profiles in recipes.  For example, spread ricotta cheese over toast, add a few slices of ruby red grapefruit, then drizzle a bit of honey over that, and you’ve got a light refreshing summer breakfast.  Toss slices of grapefruit, along with walnuts, goat cheese and a few slices of roasted beets, into a salad of leafy greens with a light vinaigrette, and you’ve got a tasty lunch or light dinner. You can even make delicious light desserts and baked goods with grapefruit, such as grapefruit buttermilk muffins, grapefruit bars, or even chocolate covered grapefruit slices!  

Photo by Nicola Barts on Pexels.com

Smooth Nutrition 🍍🍌🥝

Then again, grapefruit can be added to smoothie recipes for an instant burst of flavor AND nutrition.  I created the recipe I am sharing with you today during the weeks following neck surgery this past spring.  Despite the fact I am fully recovered, this is one smoothie recipe that I still frequently make.  

During my recovery process, I was hyper-fixated on the nutritional content of the foods to enhance healing, but I was having difficulty swallowing.  Smoothies, therefore, became a go-to source of nutrition, and this recipe is uber-refreshing and jam-packed vitamin, mineral, and fiber content.  Specifically, it combine the goodness of grapefruit, which is packed with vitamin C and fiber, with strawberries and one of three fruits–frozen pineapple, banana, or kiwi–depending upon what I have on hand at home.  

One half of a grapefruit contains six grams of fiber and the total daily amount of vitamin C needed by our bodies. The grapefruit gets tossed into a blender with strawberries, which are also high in vitamin C and fiber as well as antioxidants, magnesium and phosphorus.  Then, I take my pick of pineapple, banana, or kiwi, and pitch one of those into the blender. No matter which of the three of those fruits I choose, they are all full of potassium, fiber, and a whole slew of vitamins and minerals. 

Light and refreshing, grapefruit smoothies are perfect for nutrition on the go!

Blend and Go nutrition🥛

Sometimes, for a touch of sweetness, I add in a medjool date, a bit of maple syrup, or pomegranate juice as well as a bit of ginger for its antiinflammatory properties. Depending upon what I am eating that day, I may also add vanilla protein powder, which gives the smoothie a creamy, zesty-sweet taste.  Once all desired ingredients are in the blender, I give it a whirl for about one minute and divide between wide-mouth mason jars or smoothie containers.  And in less than five minutes, I have two refreshing, nutritionally dense smoothies.  Perfect for on-the-go nutrition or a quick, healthy snack.

While grapefruit was once known as the “forbidden fruit,” there is nothing forbidden or evil about it!  Grapefruit is budget friendly, full of tangy zest, and nutritional goodness for your body.  I hope you’ll give this recipe a try!  You just might be surprised!

Zesty sweet, budget-friendly goodness, bursting with flavor AND nutrition, in less than five minutes!

Grapefruit Smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen riced cauliflower 

1 large ruby red grapefruit, peeled (with some pith remaining), quartered 

1 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen

1 cup pineapple, fresh or frozen (or 1 banana or 2 kiwi)

1 medjool date (or 1 teaspoon maple syrup or ¼ cup pomegranate juice) for added sweetness 

¼  teaspoon ginger powder, if desired 

2 cups water (or other favorite liquid)

Optional: 1-2 servings favorite protein powder

Combine ingredients in a high powered blender, adding water last.

Blend for one minute.

Divide between two large smoothie containers or jars.

Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; shake well before drinking.

Can also be frozen for up to 3 months, set in the refrigerator overnight to thaw ahead of time.

How Gratitude Can Help Us Face Adversity with a bit more Grace

by stephsimply, posted in Simple Observations and Musings

“Gratitude is the antidote to fear.  When we focus on what we are grateful for, fear loses its grip on us.”–Michael J. Fox

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Curse those unexpected events 🤬

I can’t help but feel the irony that my most recent piece of writing centered on the topic of unexpected, terrible events that seem to break our lives’ direction, only to find myself once more experiencing another one of those frustrating events. Perhaps, Divine Providence feels I still haven’t learned enough.  Then again, maybe it is all part of life’s continuous process of change and learning.  Regardless, I am once more a humbled student of life.

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My husband, John, and I, had just completed our first day of professional development for the 2023-2024 school year in Charleston, WV.  It had been a long day, and we still needed to go vote in the Ohio special election before heading home.  Facing over an hour’s drive to get to the polling location, which was not our normal precinct due to this unusual nature of this election, John and I navigated congested Charleston roads, making our way towards Interstate 64.  

We stopped at a red light on WV 119 with three cars in front of us.  John had just commented on the amount of traffic when, BANG! CRUNCH! SCREECH! Only seconds passed, and as the shock of suddenly being whipped quickly forward and backward began, several thoughts flashed through my head in staccato fashion.

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You know from the sound, it can’t be good 🚦

What is happening? What was that sound? Is John ok? Did we just get hit?  We just got our car fully repaired from a February incident when a spooked deer collided into the rear bumper and passenger side door.  This. Can’t. Be. Happening.

“Are you okay?” My husband asked as the reality of his voice slapped my thoughts back to my surroundings.  

I was okay. He was okay.  We were both buckled, and seemingly uninjured.  First point of gratitude.

There’s no Choice But surrender 😩

Sometimes there’s nothing to do but surrender.

I could go on, but many of us have been there–that sickening moment when you have no choice but to surrender to the bad event that is happening and let go of any future thoughts and planning.  There is nothing to do, but remain present in the moment at hand.  It sounds simple, but it is incredibly difficult.  My mind kept racing to future events, such as the evening ahead, the impact this would have on the coming days and weeks as well as the amount of time and money that would be lost as a result of this incident. 

However, none of those racing thoughts would help me at that moment. Instead, I had to focus on the needs of the moment.  Call 911. Check on the person who hit us.  Call insurance.  Retrieve our registration and insurance information.   

Gratitude in the midst of chaos ✨

Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

In the midst of the din of traffic and my galloping thoughts, I began assessing and readjusting to reality as a moment of clarity occurred.  We were at the bottom of a hill.  There had been three cars ahead of us at that red light.  If the person who hit us had been speeding down that hill, the impact, and the numbers affected, would have been so much worse.  Second point of gratitude.

The person who hit us appeared uninjured, but they were confused.  This person honestly spoke to John and I as well as the police officers at the scene.  They did not remember hitting us. Specifically, they did not know if they had, “fallen asleep or zoned out or what.”  They were profusely confused and also sorry.  This person could have lied, but they did not.  Third point of gratefulness.

Traffic, along this corridor of multiple lanes and exit lanes, was heavy throughout the time our two cars (the person who hit us and ours) were pulled off to the side of the road.  The August sun beat down on the blacktop; and yet, it was an unusually cool day for the time of year.  While no one stopped to offer help, neither did any vehicles collide into our cars, despite the fact that the berm, onto which we were pulled over, was narrow. Fourth and fifth points of gratitude. 

Emotional Rescue 🚑

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Don’t get me wrong.  I wasn’t a saint at that moment, cheerily ticking off happy, grateful thoughts like petals of a daisy–not by a long shot!  I wanted to cry, or even scream at the heavens, “Why us, again?”  My emotions were vying to rise to the surface, but I managed to keep them in-check. 

 But, really, those emotions were nothing but fear.  Fear of the impact on John. Fear of the unknown costs. Fear of the unknown impact on my body as I recently had surgery.  Fear of losing our family car once again. Fear of the change this would cause. Even the fear of inconveniencing others to pick us up and help us get home since our car was no longer driveable.  

Grace and Gratitude 🙏

Photo by Liu Moon on Pexels.com

However, the grace of the moment was that gratitude kept nagging me like a persistent toddler pulling on the hem of my shirt.  It could have been so much worse.  So many other people could have been impacted by this.  We were safe and alive, how could I not be grateful?

My car was broken, but not my body.  My car was taken away on a flatbed tow truck, but neither John, nor the person who hit us, or me, had to be taken away on the flatbed gurney of an ambulance.  The police officers who attended to the scene were professional, courteous, and efficient.  Indeed, one officer shared that our accident was their sixth car accident of the day on that stretch of road. Miraculously, not one person had been hurt in any of those fender benders. More points of gratitude.

I was able to text my daughter, Maddie, who is now a co-worker, and happened to have carpooled with a couple of other teachers to the same professional development as John and me. The three of them were able to turn around and safely pick us up.  Once at Maddie’s apartment, she was able to drive John and me directly to the polling center before it closed, and then take us home, where we have two other old vehicles that we can use in a pinch.  More points of gratitude.

Gratitude is a practice 😊

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The rest of the day, and the days that followed, were not, nor will not, be all rainbows, kittens, and puppies.  I still struggle with change.  However, this real life experience offered a reminder that bad days will happen, life can change in an instant, change is ever present, and it is an illusion to think we are in control.  But we can choose to practice gratitude.  Practicing gratitude can help us put bad days into perspective, appreciate what we already have, quell our fears, and remind us that even though we cannot control events in our lives, we can control our attitude and find things for which to feel grateful. 

Like the broken pieces of a chocolate bar

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Simple Observations and Musings

“ It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.”–Judith Voirst

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“It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day” 😥

Years ago, when I taught Kindergarten students, I used to read to them a book entitled, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” by Judith Viorst.  It is the story of a boy, Alexander, who is really having a lousy day.  He wakes up with gum in his hair, slips on his skateboard, is corrected by his teacher at school, discovers he is only someone’s third best friend, and has no dessert in his lunch–to name only a few of the bad events of Alexander’s day.  As Alexander’s day worsens, he quips, “I think I’ll move to Australia.”

For my young students, the book provided a springboard for rich conversations centering around two concepts. First, students shared/compared their own bad day experiences. Through the process of hearing each other’s bad day examples, they discovered and affirmed that everyone has bad days. Secondly, it allowed students the opportunities to discuss strategies for handling, or at the very least, surviving terrible days.

This is not what you expect to see your chocolate bar when you slip the foil wrapper open.

Broken pieces💔

I am sometimes reminded of this story when I am having one of those “terrible, horrible” days.  This was the case, in fact, on an evening of a very long and disheartening day. By the time I arrived at home, I couldn’t wait to console myself with a few pieces of dark chocolate from a bar I kept squirreled away in a kitchen cabinet.  

The bar is typically divided into six rows of five pieces each.  I typically break off a row and put the rest of the bar away.  Then, I snap one piece off at a time, savoring each piece, allowing it to slowly melt in my mouth before moving on to the next.  It is a silly ritualistic habit, but one in which I take great comfort, especially at the end of a tough day.

Only on this particular evening, I slid my finger down the back side of the wrapper to remove the adhesive, folded back the paper and inner foil, only to discover that my beloved bar was shattered.  It was not symmetrically broken along the lines produced by the manufacturer.  Instead, the bar was broken in a random spider web of lines that could never be put back together–certainly not into the neat symmetrical rows to which my methodical habit was accustomed. 

I stood there for a stunned minute or two wondering if I could even eat such a mess, much less enjoy it. How would I know how much to eat?  What if I ate more (or less) than I normally would? Did I even want to eat it if I couldn’t break it into perfect little pieces?  I know, it sounds so silly and irrational, but at that moment, things were not going as I had hoped and expected.  Even my chocolate bar could not be relied upon on this day! Maybe, like Alexander, I should move to Australia!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Going for Broke🚦

After debating my dilemma, I took a leap of faith and decided to, ahem, go for broke! I grabbed a paper towel, folded it in half, and gently placed upon it a few oddly shaped pieces, all the while feeling conflicted if I still had the “right” amount.  Pushing the rest of the pieces together enough to refold the paper and foil, I stowed the remaining chocolate bar away for another time.  Then, I sat down with my herbal tea, sighed, and placed one of those broken, unsymmetrical pieces of chocolate in my mouth.

Much to my surprise, an alarm did not sound.  The couch, upon which I sat, did not collapse. A sinkhole did not open within my family room and send me, and the room’s furniture, spiraling down a black hole towards an alternate universe.  The world, in fact, kept spinning on its axis. Most surprising of all, the chocolate still tasted heavenly!

While this is all good dramatized fun, sometimes “no good very bad days” are not so silly. Life’s pieces can sometimes get broken like my chocolate bar with breaks that don’t seem to make any sense. These events feel like seismic jagged lines that you know from the onset will never be put back together. We rail against the unhappy change, resisting and pulling as if engaged in our own personal tug-of-war with life.  Often, we create so much strain, we physically, mentally, and/or emotionally hurt to the point of breaking ourselves.  We simply can’t see beyond the broken pieces.

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Nudged in a new direction🔄

These are the times that force us to look at life with new eyes. We are nudged, not so gently, to rely upon our faith and listen to that inner voice urging us on. Life is still before us.  Only now,  it is now arranged differently than we had hoped and expected, but life remains nonetheless.

It is only when we release our grip and accept there is nothing to do–the pieces are broken and will not be reassembled.  This acceptance doesn’t mean we are powerless, it simply means we are moving forward, in faith, in a newly arranged direction that isn’t as straight as we had hoped, but travel-worthy nonetheless.  Gradually, one step, or one piece, at a time, we begin to see the pieces of life can still be assembled.

 It doesn’t happen overnight, but over time, a new way of being emerges that somehow begins to make a new kind of sense, one that had not been imagined, but can work. When the tug-of-war-with life rope is dropped and acceptance moves in, we begin to see that somehow the collection of the broken pieces can still taste sweet, perhaps not the same, but still sweet.  It is then that our hearts begin to mend, we find newfound strength in our new life-shape–even if we were to move to Australia.

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Niagara Falls does not disappoint

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Travels

“In 2022, According to Niagara Falls Tourism Association, Niagara Falls, Ontario, hosts approximately 13 million visitors per year, and according to New York State Parks, Niagara Falls State Park in New York received over 9 million visitors putting the total combined international visitor count at over 22 million visitors for Niagara Falls.”—Falls guide

A view to remember from our hotel room.

Welcome to the World’s Greatest Livestream ⛲️

As a child, my parents had a large reference book about great wonders of the world.  I have a vague recollection of sitting with that tome covering my lap and gazing at stunning photographs of Niagara Falls. It was those images, along with a few others, that were romping around in my mind as we drove towards Niagara Falls, Canada, on our return trip home from a week-long stay in Canada.  Seeing the falls in person, however, proved to be an entirely different experience.

It was the evening energy, vibrating off the streets when we first entered the streets of Niagara Falls, Canada, that caught me by surprise.  Bumper to bumper traffic. Horns honking. Hoards of people milling about.  The flashing lights and signage. This was a tourist attraction for sure, but an attraction for people all over the world.  That was the thing. A sea of colorful people surrounded us; a wide variety of religious attire and accouterments; a profusion of languages; the heady miasma of cigarette, cigar, pipe, and marijana; stroller, wheelchairs, bicycles, mopeds; laughter, baby cries, shouting, talking–it was all there mixed up like one collective humanity stew. 

Up on the 18th floor–we dropped our luggage and walked straight to the window.  Before our eyes, in the air conditioned hush of our room, was the most awe-inspiring view I had ever before seen.  All three falls.  The American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls flowed with a torrent of water that seemed nothing short of miraculous to me!

More views from our hotel. ⬆️

Niagara Gorge 🌊

Specifically, according to the Niagara Falls, Canada, website, it is the height and water flow that make the falls so breathtakingly beautiful. Horseshoe Falls, for example, is 180 feet tall (57m) and during the peak tourist hours, over 6 million cubic feet of water is falling over its crestline EVERY minute. These ancient creations are estimated to be over 12,000 years old and formed gradually over time, starting first as a river flowing over the Niagara escarpment (cliffs).  Eventually, the water wore back the rock, forming what is known today as the Niagara Gorge–the deep river basin at the bottom of the falls.  In fact, the falls are continuing to wear back the rock approximately one foot per year.

Niagara Gorge in foreground with double rainbows. Left to right: Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge. American Falls, Bridal Veil

Given we only had two nights, we had to make the most of our time.  We ambled along the full length of the upper walkway along Niagara Falls. Starting at the Love-Lock bridge across from Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls, John and I followed the walk’s full length until we were across from the American Falls, frequently pausing to take in the views of all three falls.

We chose not to add a 🔓 as there already seemed to be plenty! 😂
View from our first walk alongside the falls
Another view from that first stroll alongside the falls.

These gorgeous beauties lined the walks along Niagara Falls.

Food and Such 🌮 🥞

Afterwards, we walked to a locally owned, vibrant, upbeat eatery, Taco and Tequila. Once seated with frosty beverages and oh-so-tasty fresh food, we loosely planned for our upcoming one-and-only full day of Niagara adventure.

Taco and Tequila did not disappoint–so, so good!

After dinner, we enjoyed a nightcap across from Bridal Veil Falls.

Next morning, John and I were ready to go full-tilt tourist mode.  Therefore, our first stop was breakfast at an IHOP known for its panoramic view of the falls.  It did not disappoint; we felt as if we could reach out and touch the water.  Then, our, ahem, livestream adventure continued flowing!

Dining at IHOP with unbelievable views!

After breakfast, we head over towards the star of the show!

Going Down!⬇️

Crossing the Love-Lock bridge once more, we purchased two-way tickets for the Niagara Falls Incline Railway.  This falls’ view, year-round, climate-controlled ride, gave us easy access to all of the park’s attractions. The incline railway took us down to Bridge of Flowers pedestrian bridge, allowing us to walk across to the Table Rock Center , a perfect jumping off point for all things Niagara.

View from the Niagara Falls Incline Railway.

And still another view from the Incline Railway

Table Rock Welcome Center 🤓

Table Rock Center is spacious, welcoming, and full of dining and shopping opportunities for those who can’t walk away from souvenirs.  It also serves as an information and ticket center for various Niagara Parks attractions.  Plus, it housed the first attraction we wished to experience–Journey Behind the Falls.

Table Rock Welcome Center at Niagara Falls, Canada

Journey behind the Falls 💦

In order to get behind the falls, we queued up with hundreds of other visitors for our turn to ride an elevator 125 feet below in order to traverse through dimly lit dank tunnels that are over 130 years old.  We peered through a portal as Horseshoe Falls’ powerful profusion of water raced past, filling the bedrock around us with a thrumming sound that could not only be heard, but also felt.  Little did we know was only the beginning of the numerous sensory experiences the day had in store for us.

Yellow ponchos make us silly, as we spy through the portal behind the falls.

Take a look through the portal with us!

Moving away from the underground viewing portal and towards the upper deck, the sound of rushing water grew in its intensity.  We felt it before we saw it. The closer we moved, the faster our hearts beat.  Then, as if stepping behind the greatest of all water faucets, our ears were filled with the thunderous sound of water cascading down.  You could feel the falls’ potency vibrating throughout.  It was extraordinarily incredible.  Stepping down to the lower deck, we felt, saw, and heard the falls’ breathtaking force.

From the lower deck, taking in the combined force of Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls.
From the lower deck, American Falls were to our left as a rainbow began forming over the water.
Feel the power of Horseshoe Falls.
Short, but up-close clip of Horseshoe Falls
This clip to gives you a feel of the falls and the tourist energy of the lower deck of Horseshoe Falls.

Hornblower Cruise 🚢

An or so later, we headed out to the sunshiney walk, we made our way through the milieu of tourists ambling along walks, pausing for pictures, and reclining in the grassy lawns lining the Niagara walks.  After a long, but fantastically scenic, walk, we purchased tickets and lined up once more, this time for a ride on Hornblower Niagara Cruise.  (The U.S. has its version, Maid of the Mist.) What an adventure! 

And away we go . . . 🛳️

Our voyage to the falls lasted approximately 20 minutes, but our memories will last a lifetime. Our up close and personal views of Niagara Gorge, American Falls,                    and Bridal Veil Falls were astounding, filled with a continuous surround-sound of various degrees of intensity and volume as the boat thrashed about the water. However, it was the face-to-face encounter with the prodigious, pounding waters of Horseshoe Falls that left us vibrating from head to toe with its sheer volume of power.  By the end, we were soaked, and left feeling grateful for such an immersive, unforgettable experience.

American Falls from the deck of the Hornblower.
Heading towards Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls.

View from the deck of the Hornblower Cruise.

Parting view of American Falls.
Feel the cool rush of Horseshoe Falls.
See what it’s like to cruise in the gorge below Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls.
How awesome are Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls.

niagara’s Fury 💧

Once on solid ground, John and I retraced our footpath back to the beautiful, historic Table Rock Center where we started our day.  We decided we should go see one more tourist attraction– Niagara’s Fury.  

This 4D motion theater, in which visitors must don ponchos and hold onto bars, envelops viewers in the geological history of Niagara Falls.  Inside the theater, the temperature drops, the floor trembles, snow falls, rain falls in sync with what is occurring on the room-surrounding screen.  It is a family friendly attraction, but adults will enjoy it too.  This feature is highly entertaining, but also educates viewers about the formation of Niagara’s great fossil waters.

Time to put on blue ponchos from this immersive 4-D attraction

We wrapped up our day by taking our return trip on Niagara Falls Incline Railway. Once again, I sat upfront, like a child, drinking in the riveting view of the falls.

Inspired Turtle Thoughts 🐢

Over a quiet dinner at a restaurant called Turtle Jack’s, John and I reflected on the magic of the trip.   Having seen both Lake Huron and Lake Michigan on our extended trip north, and driven by run-off waters for Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, it made the following fact more meaningful: four of the five Great Lakes (Huron, Michigan, Superior, Erie) flow into the Niagara River.  Meanwhile, the Niagara River then empties into Lake Ontario. All told, the water of the five great lakes makes up one-fifth of the world’s freshwater supply, and we had the privilege of observing its vastness. 

Full of thoughts and food by the evening . . .

Memories remain 🧠

In the end, Niagara Falls was worth the price of admission.  I wish we could have stayed longer, as both the Canadian side and the American side had many more scenic attractions.  Maybe one day, we will return.  In the meantime, if you have never made the trip to Niagara Falls, I highly encourage you to take it.  You will not regret it!

Fireworks over Niagara Falls as viewed from our hotel room.


Live actions view of fireworks over the falls, colorfully lit in honor of Pride Month, that occurred on our last night at Niagara.

More live action views of Niagara fireworks over falls.