Day 36 Niagara Fall Tour

Not being sure on the time the cable car (read tram) would arrive or how long in morning traffic it would take to reach the city we were at the cable car stop around 7.10am. We did not have to wait long and the trip was not too delayed with morning traffic so we arrived in the city around 7.30am.

We walked the block up to Dundas Square where the bus would pick us at 8.20am. We went for a walk around the surrounding streets looking for an ATM should we need cash to pay for the tour rather than debit card. Gradually the area became busier with people. Lots of young students were milling around the area. We discovered there were University lecture rooms in one of the buildings facing the square. The same building had a Cineplex, Starbucks what more could uni students want in one place (a bar!!).

The tour bus arrived. We chose BG tours as they take smaller groups, 20 people in our tour. It also had favourable reviews on Tripadvisor. Although our guide was friendly he was not what we had experienced on other tours as far as commentary.

We picked up a couple on the very outskirts of Toronto and that was when the driver/guide introduced himself and told us of some of the sights we had passed back in Toronto. (not very helpful at this point).

Our first stop was at the small airport where people could take a plane or helicopter flight over the falls and surrounding area. We had 4 people do this so while they enjoyed their 30-minute flight we were taken to a nearby lock on the canal that runs from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It was very interesting. The were 8 locks to move a ship between the lakes with a height difference of approx. 100m.

Next was to a winery for a sampling of local wines. We were given one white and one red to taste. We were then given the opportunity should we like to try Ice Wine. This is wine made from grapes that have been left on the vine to freeze. They are handpicked during the night in December/January when they have had temperatures of -8°C for three consecutive days. Each grape yields one drop of juice so the cost of ice wine is rather expensive. It is a dessert wine as it is rather sweet and has a thicker consistency.

Next stop was the pretty town of Niagara on the Lake. We had 45 minutes to explore this small town. This gave us enough time to walk down one side of the main street and back up the other whilst taking photos. Vince did check out the prices of houses for sale in a real estate office. Basic house around one and half million dollars. A bigger fancier house comes in around nine million dollars. Needless to say we did not put in any offers. We could have spent considerably more time here as there are a lot of flower gardens in the main street.

Onto the whirlpool. This is an area just below Niagara Falls. Here the river flows then turns 90 causing a swirling of the water. It is said that if something is dropped over the falls it will show up here three days later. It is first sucked down to the bottom then gradually the water movement brings it to the surface. This is where they usually find the bodies of those unsuccessful people who have attempted to go over the falls.

Arriving at the Falls our driver collected the tickets for the cruise on Hornblower (USA boat is the Maiden of the Mist). We then headed down to the boat where we were given our red rain ponchos (if leaving from the USA side you are given blue). First you sail passed Bridal Falls which is down from Niagara on the US side. Then the boat heads into the turbulence and the spray created from the water coming over Niagara. The boat holds this positon for several minutes allowing photos and getting everyone wet.

It is well organised. There are 2 boats on each countries side. As one leaves from the Canadian side the other Canadian boat turns back from the its position in front of the falls. At the same time the first USA boat is heading into the falls and the second USA boats is taking on its passengers.

Once back at the wharf we headed up to the commercial area of the township. Close to the river's edge are lovely parks and garden beds. Head a little further up the hill and you come upon what can only be described as a tacky township. A cheap and nasty copy of Las Vegas. They claim the USA side is worse.

Having bought a coffee (prices were typical of tourist spot - highly inflated) we headed back to the river banks and walked up to the edge of the falls. You can still feel the mist though you do not get soaked as on the river. It is incredible the amount of water that flows over the falls constantly.

The Canadian side is the better viewing side as you can see both Bridal and Niagara Falls from any position along edge. On the other side you can only see one of the falls at a time. As a result, there is a lot of traffic coming from the USA side.

After 3 hours at Niagara Falls we returned to the bus and we headed back to Toronto and then back to the apartment, arriving around 7.30pm.