North American Road Trip Part 3 - Natural Wonders of The Adirondack Park & The Niagara Falls Reg
- curvychristina
- Oct 30, 2013
- 10 min read
Having driven around Stowe and Vermont in the convertible Mustang for a week, we loved having such an iconic car as our "wheels". On the next leg of our road trip we were leaving Stowe, and driving across New York State to Buffalo, where sadly we would have to give back the hire car and cross the border into Canada in a limosuine with a hired driver, to spend a few days in Niagara Falls.
The journey from Stowe to Buffalo normally takes around 7 - 8 hours. We were attempting to travel over 400 miles in just one day - we estimated our time of arrival in Niagara Falls to be about 8pm but we hadn't factored in the weather changing. The route would take us through the beautiful Lakes, Mountains and villages situated in and around the Adirondack National Park before heading west on Interstate 90 until we got to the Buffalo Airport turn off.
The first part of the journey was magical. Once we passed into New York State and hit the Adirondack National Park, the Lakes peeped out from between the trees every few miles, and the wildlife could be seen and heard everywhere. A few Eagles were spotted flying or nesting in the trees and we stopped off for a few quick breaks at spots of natural beauty, so we could stretch our legs and enjoy the view.
WATCH OUR SHORT ROAD TRIP VIDEO BELOW
We stopped off for lunch at a diner / cafe in a very small town, where we also topped up with water and snacks for the rest of the journey. As we made our way West and hit the main interstate 90 we saw the weather gradually change. When we had set out in the morning, the sun had been shinning, and we had put the soft top down to get the full benefit of our beautiful surroundings. Now it was cold, windy and the grey skies were coming in thick and fast. About 2 hours from Buffalo, just as it was begining to get dark the heavens opened and the torrential rain began bucketing it down. In such a powerful car, and with my travel buddy still a novice at driving on American Highways, we had a very perilous and frightening experience. At some points the rain was so heavy that we could not even see the car infront of us. We stayed behind the huge trucks for most of this time, as their lights were the only thing we could see to follow. With six lanes of traffic on the road with us in the same treacherous driving conditions, we stayed firmly in the slower outside lanes despite having a high performance car with a powerful engine.
Eventually, after what seemed a very long day we arrived in Buffalo and gave up the Mustang at the airport. We then had to find our Executive Limo driver who was driving us across the US / Canadian Border to our hotel at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. It took us a good while in the bad weather to cross the border at the Rainbow Bridge and we finally reached Niagara Falls at just gone 11pm at night!
We were totally exhuased, tired and very hungry when we checked into our hotel but just one glimspe of The Majestic Niagara Falls from our window made all the stress of the journey go away.
Niagara Falls
I had been to Niagara Falls once before. The first time that I stood on the Canadian side and experienced the hypnotic pull of the water, and the tremendous roar that you hear along with the mist and the spray, I was rendered speechless and cried at such powerful, natural beauty. The falls are one of the most awe inspiring natural wonders I have ever seen. Coming back a second time, I felt just the same about them & they hadn't lost any of the first time "Wow Factor".
WATCH OUR VIDEO OF NIAGARA FALLS & NIAGARA ON THE LAKE
Recommended Hotels & Restaurants in Niagara Falls
Radisson - Fallsview Hotel
Carefully designed for your comfort, the Radisson Fallsview Hotel features 212 hotel rooms and suites and an array of premium amenities like complimentary Wi-Fi, two on-site restaurants, a bar, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a heated indoor pool. Additional conveniences at the Radisson include valet parking, a full business centre, two meeting rooms, concierge services and even a seasonal gift shop where you can pick up souvenirs. The hotel's prime location makes dining in Niagara Falls simple! The on-site Tony Roma's serves mouthwatering ribs and other favourites for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while the adjacent Outback Steakhouse serves a variety of steaks and fresh seafood dishes. Tony Roma's also offers many items that can be delivered directly to your room.
We had a spacious suite with views of The Falls and a whirlpool Bath & certainly enjoyed the generoud portions of food served at Tony Roma's!
The Marriott Fallsview Niagara Falls Hotel & Spa enjoys the enviable distinction as being the closest hotel to Niagara Falls. As the area's premiere AAA Four Diamond, five-star luxury hotel in Niagara Falls, this Marriott Niagara Falls Hotel overlooks the majestic waterfalls and is located just minutes away from a variety of exciting attractions and casinos.
Visitors to the Marriot's Terrapin Grille will experience gourmet cuisine and a breathtaking view of the falls; a luxurious and unique combination. Ron Kneabone, resident chef at Marriott Niagara Falls Hotel and the Terrapin Grille, prides himself on using the freshest local ingredients and his creations are nothing shy of spectacular. Each mouth-watering menu item reflects the regional harvests of Niagara, its quality seasonal selections, and is complimented by the finest Niagara wines. Diners will be delighted with the Terrapin Grille and their a la carte menu, hot buffet breakfast, sumptuous lunch options, savoury dinner menu and decadent dessert listings. The culinary experience is further enhanced in the evening, when the illuminated waterfalls serve as a backdrop and result in the perfect ambiance.
I have stayed at both hotels and can recommend either as very good - although the Marriot nudges ahead slightly as the views of the Falls are uninterupted from both room and restaurant which serves really great food.
Brasa Brazillian Steakhouse - Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse follows a centuries old tradition of cooking meat over an open fire. Brasa showcases the flavors and cultural flair of Brazil. There are unlimited portions of meat carved table side. You can choose from 12 succulent cuts of meat with over 70 hot and cold buffet menu items. Afterwards try your luck at the Fallsview Casiino, directly connected by a glass enclosed walkway.
Windows by Jamie Kennedy -This restaurant breaks new ground by championing the rich local bounty available right in it’s own backyard. A recipient of the prestigious CAA/AAA Four-Diamond Award , Windows presents a menu inspired by Niagara’s beautiful farmland, skilled artisans, and renowned vineyards. At long last, visitors and locals alike can savour the local culinary abundance in the midst of the exciting surroundings of the Falls Avenue Resort. No chef in Canada is more respected for his devotion to local, seasonal, sustainable gastronomy, and his relentless pursuit to define and celebrate Canada’s unique regional culinary character. Jamie Kennedy has been at the forefront of Canada’s farm-to-table, slow food, and local food movements. In this journey, he has helped to nurture and strengthen the community of like-minded producers, chefs, and consumers, and moreover he has inspired others to join him in following this, philosophy. Chef Kennedy brings this passion and experience to the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel, where on the 14th floor, diners enjoy not only the finest in local cuisine, but one of the world’s most spectacular views. Windows has a seasonally-based, evolving menu featuring the richness of the region, accompanied by the region’s most extensive wine list.
The Rainbow Room - Situated directly across from Niagara Falls is the most spectacular Fallsview fine dining restaurant. The Rainbow Room is located within the Crowne Plaza Hotel and features the culinary insight and passion of renowned Chef Massimo Capra, as well as a history steeped in elegance and excellence. The Rainbow Room presents an inspired menu which showcases a bounty of fresh local ingredients, paired with riches from Niagara’s award winning wineries. In addition, the Rainbow Room’s reputation for exceptional fine dining service, and breathtaking panoramic views of the majestic Falls result in making The Rainbow Room by Massimo Capra a great Niagara Falls dining experience.
Skylon Tower - Niagara Falls dining is quite literally taken to the top at this world-famous Revolving Dining Room. There is award-winning continental cuisine served 775 feet above the Falls. For lunch or dinner the menu is rivaled only by the spectacular view. Relax and enjoy your food as you revolve silently 360 degrees once each hour. Dine by night and you’ll discover the magic of the Falls illuminations, dazzling city lights below and seasonal Falls fireworks. Early dinner specials are available at 4:30 and 5:00 pm daily. Admission to the Ride-to-the-Top and Indoor/Outdoor Observation Decks are FREE when dining.
THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN THE NIAGARA FALLS REGION OF CANADA
The Falls are THE major attraction in Niagara. From largest to smallest, the three waterfalls in Niagara are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe Falls lie on the Canadian side and the American Falls on the American side, separated by Goat Island. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the other waterfalls by Luna Island. The best view of all 3 of the Falls is from the Canadian side.
Niagara Falls is located in the Niagara Region which is a peninsula is also famous for it's fruit farms, rolling hills and many wineries. Niagara is not the tallest of waterfalls (it ranks a lowly 50th) but in terms of sheer volume, there's nothing like it – more than a million bathtubs of water plummet downward every second. By day or night, regardless of season, the falls never fail to awe: 12 million visitors annually can't be wrong. Even in winter, when the flow is partially hidden and the edges freeze solid, the watery extravaganza is undiminished. Very occasionally the falls stop altogether.
Be warned though - Niagara Falls might not be quiet what you expect: Apart from the actual natural beauty of the waterfalls, the town itself can smetimes feel like a tacky outdated amusement park. It has been a saucy honeymoon destination ever since Napoléon's brother brought his bride here – tags like 'For newlyweds and nearly deads' and 'Viagra Falls' are quite apt. A crass morass of casinos, sleazy motels, tourist traps and strip joints line Clifton Hill and the Lundy's Lane area – just like a Little Las Vegas or Blackpool! Love it or loathe it, there's nowhere quite like it.
Maid of the Mist Boat Tour - See the Falls from this historic boat The Maid of The Mist which is also Wheelchair friendly. Just watch the video below to see exactly what you'll get for $20.....
Niagara Helicopter Tour - If you don't fancy seeing the falls by boat, why not take an exciting arial journey over them by Helicopter. Watch the video below to see exactly what you'll get if you decide to take a Niagara Helicopter tour.
Journey Behind the Falls - If you don't fancy a boat trip or a Helicopter Ride, How about going behind the actual Falls? The sound is still like thunder; the sight is just as awe-inspiring as from above! Take a journey deep below and behind the heart of Niagara, and stand in the mist where the mighty Horseshoe Falls tumbles from 13 storeys above! At Journey Behind the Falls, you'll experience the awesome spectacle of one-fifth of the world’s fresh water crashing down to the basin below. During summer daylight hours, over 2,800 cubic meters of water thunders over the brink every second, traveling 65 kilometers per hour! You'll find Journey Behind the Falls at the brink of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, in the Table Rock Welcome Centre. Take an elevator down 45 metres (150 ft.) through bedrock to tunnels leading to the Cataract Portal and Great Falls Portal, one-third of the way behind the massive sheet of water. Walk on to the Upper and Lower Observation Decks at the very foot of the Falls.
The Niagara Butterfly Conservatory - This magical attraction features over 2,000 colourful tropical butterflies floating freely among lush, exotic blossoms and greenery. Paths wind through the rainforest setting, past a pond and waterfall and the Emergence window, where butterflies leave their pupae and prepare to take their first flight! The self-guided walking tour of the Butterfly Conservatory begins with a short, informative video presentation that is close captioned for the hearing impaired. The Butterfly Conservatory is located on the grounds of the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, 10 minutes north of the Falls. Over 2,000 butterflies, made up of 45 different species, call this beautiful space home. Explore 180 metres of pathways winding through a lush, tropical environment.
Canada One Shopping Outlet - A short taxi or car ride will take you from the Falls area to the Canada One Shopping Outlet where you can pick up discount bargains from some of the biggest brand name shops around - Adidas, Escada, OshKosh, Guess, Nike, Michael Korrs, Reebok, Tommy Hillfiger and Levi's stores are all here.
Niagara-On-The-Lake - If the Niagara Falls area seems a little tacky and touristy to you, then you can continue further into Ontario Canada and take a drive, just as we did, on Niagara Parkway to Niagara-On-The-Lake.
Stroll back through history and enjoy world class theatre, fine dining, shopping, estate wineries, farm markets and historical sites. Niagara-on-the-Lake, often called the loveliest town in Ontario, has a long and distinguished history. Site of the old Neutral Indian village of Onghiara, it was settled at the close of the American Revolution by Loyalists coming to Upper Canada, many of whom had been members of the much feared Butler's Rangers based during the American Revolution at Fort Niagara, then under British control. Today over two hundred years after its founding, Niagara-on-the-Lake has many attractions and historic sites - Fort George and the Historical Society Museum, the Shaw Festival with its three theatres, the marina, the heritage business district for shopping, golf courses, parks, beautiful farmland, agricultural markets and the world famous Niagara wineries. The town attracts thousands of visitors who stroll the old streets, some even stay a day or two longer to enjoy the comforts of some charming bed and breakfast places or to, dine in the many varied restaurants.
WATCH THE RESORT TV PROGRAMME SHOWING ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE AT NIAGRA ON THE LAKE
Comments