Niagara Falls...anyone been?

“Dare and I are taking a road trip next weekend, driving up to see the much-extolled Niagara falls.

Legend has it that the negative ions, generated by the falling water, create an aphrodisiac effect.

Any TTers have any experiences there, they'd like to share? hehehe

We'll be on the NY side Fri and Sat, moving over to Canadian side for Sunday night...drive home Monday. Should be a fun time...

We'll be sure to take pics. :o)”

“My parents took us as kids years ago. Do take a ride on the maid of the mist. It's a boat that goes right near the waterfalls!!! View them at night, very pretty...romantic!!”

“It's fabulous. I went with my girlfriend a few years ago, and we loved just standing at the rail and watching. Could do that for hours. Also an interesting tour behind the falls, through a cave. Check that out.”

“It's been a year and a half since I was there, and I loved the place. I was on a family vacation, visiting with friends in Naples New York, and the only regret that I have is not taking my tripod with me. It is the one place that I went that I figured had been photographed so many times, so "What is the point?". I've been sorry ever since, and plan to go back someday and spend a day shooting the place from all angles, with no kids, no friends, and no distractions. So what IS my point? Take a camera, take a tripod, and leave with some great images to show. The only photo I got that was worth looking at still isn't anything to brag about. It's not much, but here it is

Spend the bulk of your time on the Canadian side if you can. It's much cleaner and more money has been spent on making it appealing to visitors. DO ride the Maid of the Mist, and DO take all the tours that are available, down through the tunnels etc. Who knows WHEN you'll be back? I grew up in Utah, and I have NEVER seen that much water in my life. More water falls over that precipice in a days time than even exists in the whole state of Utah. The sheer power of it is overwhelming.”

“Oh, one more piece of advice: Take the widest lens with you that you have. If you have to borrow one, do it. A 28mm on a 35mm camera still didn't do it for me. I would recommend getting a 14mm or something close to it, just so that you can capture the entire falls on one frame. Or better yet, Hasselblads 35mm true panoramic camera perhaps? (Okay, who can afford one of of THOSE?) But anyway, go as wide as you can. And take a rain coat, no matter WHAT the skies look like.”

“Yeeee haaaaaaa”

“You GOTTA hit the trail on the US side that takes you down to the gorge downstream between the falls and the hydro-electric plant, I believe it is near the "whirlpool" area. The gradient of that portion of the river is so steep that the whitewater frigging insane and ILLEGAL to raft, etc. because it's too dangerous...and when you're there you'll know what I mean. The relief between the top and bottom of the trail that takes you down to the waterlevel is so steep that is weeds out the weak. Lots of rock climbing there and if your into minerals there's some collecting that can be done.

And while there...you have to hit the Falls Museaum and check out the intregueing Falls history.

Lots of black squirrels that'll eat out of your hand...so bring some nibblets.

Have fun!!!”

“wow, guys, kisses for the great feedback. I am psyched! >:D

Hobbit, I am sorry to disappoint, but I will probably only have a digital with me. I'm still verrrrrry amateurish with the Olympus 35 mm anyway. Your picture is fantastic though!

Thanks!”

“I was there many years ago as a kid. The thing I remember the most is the Dungeon of Horrors at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Hey, I was a pre-adolescent boy. The falls were cool, but a torture chamber? Shiznits!”

“Take the walk down from the American side. It's really incredible.

If you walk the bridge to Canada make sure you have good ID. One time I made the trip and they punched my driver's license into the computer when I was coming back!”

“Passports are NEVER a bad idea whenever leaving the country. Even when they aren't required they still make a pretty good form of ID.”

“Was there several times when I was in college. The amount of water going over the falls is amazing, but not as much as could go over them. The history and geology of the falls is quite rich.

Nothing to report in the "positive ion" or romance department.”

“I went there when I was younger, I was more impressed with being in a foriegn country than the falls themselves. I think I might appreciate them a bit more now though. Have a good trip!”

“The US side is beautiful, the Canadian side is spectacular. They've got about a million lights to light up the river and the falls at night. If you want to read a good book to set the "visiting Buffalo" mood try "City of Light" by Lauren Behler. And while your at it thank the falls for providing a valuable service to backpackers everywhere. It's because of the total over commercialization of Niagra that our forefathers decided it was important to set aside National Parks to preserve our natural landscape. (Anybody been to Yosemite Valley lately? hmmmmmmm...)”

“The view from the Canadian side is great but dont't miss the view from Goat Island on the US side. You can walk right up to the rapids. I think the bridge to drive to Goat Island is under construction (it may be finished by now) but being hikers and all it should be no problem. They have a shuttle too I think. Try to time your trip over the bridge to off-peak times. I haven't been there since before September but I would think crossing is more time consuming than it used to be. The Cave of the winds are good on both sides, however, some of the outer walkways may still be closed for the winter. The same goes for the Observation tower and The Maid of the Mist. I thnk I remember that they open sometime in May. There are some great museum things and resturants on both sides. The geological museum on the US side is small and quick but informative. I liked the resturant on the Canadian side that overlooks the Horseshoe falls but there are many more. As for the aphrodisiac effect, maybe some research neds to be done.”

“Maid of the Mist is a waste of time and money. The boat doesn't come within 100 yards of the falls. Take the 'behind the scenes' tour instead. It's much more interesting on the backside of the falls. It's kind of like an IMAX theater view. Lots of fun!
You're gonna get wet, so dress appropriately.”

“We did the falls last July. Go visit Toronto while your in the area. It's a cool city.”

“And don't forget to hit the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museaum when on the Canadian side.”

“The southern terminus of the Bruce Trail is in the Niagara Falls area. It heads north for hundreds of miles along the Niagara Escarpment to Georgian Bay.”

“I have been over niagra falls stuffed in a bear canister. OUCH!”

“Make sure to take a "walk" in Niagara Glen. It's a area in the gorge on the Can. side. It's very nice- but take your hiking boots, especially if it is wet. You get to climb down about 6-7 stories open- grate metal staircase to river level. Lots of BIG rocks here(with fossils) that have fallen off of the escarpment, and trails all over. From here, we walked along the river's edge around to the whirlpool beach, then up a long staircase through the woods that the kids called the Cinderella Staircase. That was the only tough part for my short legs-neverending stairs that are about twice the hight of normal stairs. Next time we'll turn around and hike back the way we came. The area is pretty quiet compared to the rest of the action, and I think it was free. We bought a map but never used it. This is my new favorite place at the falls. There is also a butterfly garden on the Canadian side. I agree that the area on the American side with all the bridges, and where you can walk right up to the the river-Goat Island?- is very nice too.”

“great info here. Thanks!
Lurky, I'll check out that link.”

“I was there once when I was 16, but only for a little while on the American side. It was still pretty wonderful.”

“Make sure you take some Tevas for crossing to the Canadian side.”