Tag: Great Lakes

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.

Visit Mackinaw City, Michigan: It’s worth the drive

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Travels

“Discover Mackinaw City, gateway to the Upper Peninsula, it is one of the top-of-the-list places to see in Michigan.”–Pure Michigan website

Pristine Michigan shoreland

The Mitten State: America’s High Five✋

  It’s our neighbor, geographically speaking, and yet, as so often happens with neighbors, I have only had passing encounters with it, nodding as I passed by.  That is, until this year.  Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a small bit of time in the only state divided into two peninsulas, and I hope this positive encounter will lead to more return visits.

 I am talking about Michigan.  With its lower peninsula shaped like a left-hand oven mitt, and its upper peninsula shaped like a child’s rendering of a bird flying over water, Michigan is full of natural wonder.  With over 3,288 linear miles of coastline, according to Michigan.gov, the state considers itself steward to the nation’s longest freshwater coastline.  This is due in large part to the fact that Michigan is surrounded by four of the five great lakes, and I was able to catch a small glimpse of its aquatic glory on a recent trip with my husband, John.

Mackinac Bridge

Mackinaw City, MI: Crossroads to the Great Lakes⛴️

Driving from southern Ohio, north towards Toledo, OH, and continuing all the way to the top of Michigan’s mitt, as it were, we arrived in Mackinaw City just south of the Mackinac Bridge.  This stunning suspension bridge, the longest in the western hemisphere, connects the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan.  It spans the Straits of Mackinac, the five mile channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan.  In fact, from the hotel window in which John and I stayed, Hamilton Inn, we could see Lake Huron, the Mackinac Bridge, and nearby Mackinac Island, a Michigan icon.  

Mackinaw City offers an abundance cozy spots for visitors. Many of which offer lakeside views.

No wonder, according to Mackinaw Visitors Bureau, the average vacation stay in Mackinaw City has lengthened over recent years.  It is not only the perfect jumping-off point due to its convenient location to major attractions, but also because Mackinaw City is home to three National Historic sites, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, three passenger boat lines to Mackinac Island, an abundance of local shopping and eateries, as well as numerous hotels, bed and breakfasts, and resorts.  Plus, the town itself is walkable and tourist friendly.

Photo by Irina Iriser on Pexels.com

Lilac Love💜

One unique feature of Mackinaw City, we observed when we arrived for an overnight stay in mid-June, were the scores of lilac bushes lining its walks.  As it turned out, we happened to arrive during the popular Mackinac Island Lilac Festival, an annual ten-day event that celebrates the bush’s unique local history and offers a wide array of activities. On the morning of our departure, John and I went for a walk through town, and we encountered large groups of people making their way towards the ferries ready to take them to Mackinac Island to enjoy the last weekend of the lilac celebration.  Meanwhile, John and I continued our early morning trek, enjoying the fragrant lilacs, as we headed towards Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

Town Trekking🚶🏽‍♀️

Following the walking directions given to us by an app on our phone, John and I began to encounter signposts with historical information along with a QR code.  We were inadvertently following part of the Mackinaw City Historic Pathway, a three mile loop through town that celebrates the town’s unique role as a crossroad of the Great Lakes. This self-guided tour with its audio guidance via cell phone includes 46 historical/informative kiosks, six historical wood carvings by Jerry Prior, and includes additional audio that can be used when visiting the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum, Headlands International Dark Park, McGulpin Point Lighthouse, and Heritage Village.  Due to time constraints, however, we were not able to explore the full pathway, but we definitely have hopes of returning one day to complete the entire route.

Light the Way💡

We did follow the historic pathway long enough to take in the sights of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. Beginning its operation in 1889, this lighthouse served as a guiding beacon, safely helping ships navigate the treacherous waters and fog of the Straits of Mackinac for 67 years. Of note, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse had only four head keepers during its years of operation.  Unfortunately, we weren’t able to spend much time at this well-kept site of history; however, we hope to return in order to visit the inside of the lighthouse keeper’s quarters, take in the two movies–Shipwrecks of the Straits and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Tower Tour, visit the Shipwreck museum, take a tour of the tower, and perhaps catch a demonstration of the Fog Signal Whistle led by a costumed interpreter. 

Old Mackinac Point Light Lighthouse overlooking Lake Huron.

Did someone say Pizza?🍕

While staying in Mackinaw City, we had time for one meal out, and there were certainly several worthy choices for dining options.  We decided to give Nonna Lisa’s Italian Ristorante a try. All of the restaurant’s tables, chairs, as well as its bar, were handcrafted from hardwoods and accented with juniper, creating a woodsy/rustic atmosphere. Nonna Lisa’s menu offered a plentitude of pasta dishes, wood-fired pizzas, full-service espresso bar, and classic Italian flavored sodas.  John and I experienced friendly service and good food.  It is certainly worth checking out when visiting this pleasant town.

Nonna Lisa’s one-of-a-kind, hand-carved furniture, friendly service, and good food is the just place to unwind after a day of exploring the “Tip of the Mitt”.

Is That A Katy Perry Song I Hear?🎆

Strolling the shop lined streets after dinner, we were told that Mackinaw City offers a spectacular fireworks display every Friday and Sunday night over Lake Huron that begins at dusk.  Since we happened to be staying in town on a Friday night, we were able to observe the colorful explosives from the comfort of our hotel room.  According to the town’s website, the fireworks will continue every Friday and Sunday (they began at the end of May) through the end of September.

Friday night fireworks over Lake Michigan in Mackinaw City

Places to Go and People to see🏙️

Hindsight, as the saying goes, is a wonderful thing.  Therefore, looking back on our short stay-over in Mackinaw City, I now wish that John and I would have allowed for more time to explore this scenic and historical area.  This unique area has a wide-array of offerings, appealing to many interests.  Sites we would consider visiting on a future trip include  Colonial Michilimackinac, Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum, Headlands International Dark Park, McGulpin Point Lighthouse, perhaps take Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruise, and we would definitely take the ferry over to visit Mackinac Island. 

For those traveling by boat, the Straits State Harbor is Clean Marina certified, and it is considered the greenest, most eco-friendly harbor using the power of eight wind turbines to generate a significant portion of the harbor’s electricity.

It’s a Shore Thing🌊

Regardless, I am so grateful to have visited this extraordinary and fascinating part of Michigan and the Great Lakes.  The shores of the lake in Mackinaw City were pristine–where Lake Huron seemed much more like an ocean than a lake–the town and its walks were well-kept, and its people were warm and welcoming.  Mackinaw City truly is, as their website claimed, the perfect jumping off point!  If you’re ever in the neighborhood, I encourage you to stop by this charming town for a visit!

Here’s to safe and happy travels! 

A few more images from Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

A few more images from Nonna Lisa’s featuring a gluten-free veggie pizza, a classic pepperoni and sausage pizza, and a side salad with creamy house-made dressing.