Niagara Falls - a very special day trip
In June 1997, my husband was invited to present a paper at a conference in Toronto, Canada. "Sparky" was nine months old and we decided that as my husband's travelling expenses would be paid, it was too good an opportunity to miss, as we may never get the chance again.
We had considered making Canada our honeymoon destination, but an unforeseen occurrence as we planned the wedding (I became pregnant - blush!) meant that long distance travel was probably best avoided, so we opted for France instead.
However, we were thrilled when we got the chance to go to Toronto because we knew we would then be able to make our dream day trip to Niagara Falls.
Lens pic © aj2008
Travelling Long Haul with a baby in tow
Tip: Book night flights!
Sparky was crawling but not walking so she was not too much of a handful and we travelled with a large buggy so it was easy for her to nap if she wanted to when we were out and about.
We were allowed to keep the buggy with us after we checked in and an attendant took it from us to put in the hold when we got to the door of the plane. Flying from Heathrow meant there were no steps and the buggy was waiting for us when we stepped off the plane in Toronto.
Jet Lag at the Royal York Hotel
© aj2008
The Royal York Hotel
Our base in Toronto
Royal York Hotel, viewed from the Inner Harbour, Toronto
© aj2008
According to its website The Royal York officially opened on June 11, 1929 and at the time was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth. However, it has since been dwarfed by the buildings that have grown up around it. The hotel had 28 floors, 1,048 rooms - each with radios, private showers and bathtubs
The public rooms covered 1.5 acres and included a 12-bed hospital, 12,000-book library and ten ornate passenger elevators. There was a Concert Hall with a full stage and an enormous pipe organ that weighed 50 tons, and had 300 miles of copper wire. There was a glass-enclosed roof garden, the largest hotel kitchen in Canada, a 66-ft long switchboard manned by 35 telephone operators, its own bank and a golf course.
Although the hotel was very grand, the atmosphere inside was of friendly hospitality. The staff adored Sparky and I like to think that the service would have been just as excellent even if she had not been with us! If I'd been given $10 every time someone said: "Gee, she is just sooo cuuuute" the trip would not have cost us a penny.
Fodor's publish excellent Travel Guides
This Toronto and Niagara Falls Guide is one of the best I have seen
Fodor's Toronto 2009: With Niagara Falls & the Niagara Wine Region (Fodor's Gold Guides)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009)
Product description from Amazon:
Fodor's helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you're at the helm, Fodor's offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It's like having a friend in Toronto!
Fodor's Toronto features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime. If it's not worth your time, it's not in this book. Fodor's discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor's Choice designations, ensure that you'll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places in Toronto.
Experience Toronto like a local! Fodor's Toronto includes choices for every traveler, from shopping tours and eclectic film festivals to hockey games and Lake Ontario getaways, and much more!
The indispensable, customized trip planning tools include Top Reasons to Go, Word of Mouth advice from other travelers and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.
Out and about in Toronto
Places to visit in Toronto
Toronto skyline
Reproduction of this photo is licensed under
Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 License
Granted by Flickr user 51824383@N00
We got out and about all over the place, including a visit to the Toronto Zoo, a boat trip to the Toronto Island Park, CN Tower, the Skydome and the most memorable day out of all: Niagara Falls.
The CN Tower, Toronto
© aj2008
View from Toronto Inner Harbour
© aj2008
View from Toronto Island Park across the Inner Harbour
© aj2008
Niagara Falls Travel Guides & Amazing Stories
Fodor's Toronto 2009: With Niagara Falls & the Niagara Wine Region (Fodor's Gold Guides)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009)
Exploring Niagara: The Complete Guide to Niagara Falls and Vicinity
Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 12/24/2009)
Rand Mcnally Niagara Falls: Street Map
Amazon Price: $7.71 (as of 12/24/2009)
Western New York: An Explorer's Guide: From Niagara Falls and Southern Ontario to the Western Edge of the Finger Lakes, Second Edition (Explorer's Guides)
Amazon Price: $16.36 (as of 12/24/2009)
Niagara Daredevils: Thrills and Spills over Niagara Falls (Amazing Stories)
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 12/24/2009)
A day trip to Niagara Falls
An easy journey from Toronto to Niagara
The journey to The Falls was broken by a short stop off at the very picturesque town of Niagara on the Lake. The town is in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region of the southern part of the province of Ontario. It is located across the Niagara river from Youngstown, New York, USA. Many of the first inhabitants were Loyalist refugees who fled the United States during and immediately after the American Revolution wanting to remain loyal to Britain.
Niagara on the Lake
Pic reproduced under GNU FreeDocumentation License
with kind permission of Zwergelstern
Have you been to Niagara Falls?
Satellite Map of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The falls are made up of three waterfalls
Horseshoe Falls
viewed from the Marriot Hotel
This image has been released into the public domain
by its author, Mperel at the English Wikipedia project.
This applies worldwide.
The Niagara Falls were formed at the end of the last ice age when the glaciers receded and water from the newly-formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment to the Atlantic Ocean.
While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. On average almost almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m³) of water falls over the crest line every minute but in high flow it can be as much six million cubic feet (168,000 m³). It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.
A question about Niagara Falls - asked on YouTube!
"Do you know if it's true that Niagra Falls gets TURNED OFF at night!?!?
I was just curios if you knew because my Dad said it did."
Hmmm........!
Drama at Niagara Falls
This video is incredible!
Apparently the man was in debt...
On the edge of death, literally. Niagara Falls
curated content from YouTube
Horseshoe Falls
The largest waterfall at Niagara Falls
The horse-shoe shaped crest gave this section of the Niagara Falls its name. The crest is 671 meters (2,200 ft) wide. At the center of the Horseshoe Falls the water is about 3 meters (10 ft) deep. It passes over the crest at a speed of about 32 km/h (20 mph). The falls is 53 meters (173 ft) high, and faces north. The depth of the river at the base of the falls is actually higher than the falls itself, estimated at 56 metres (184 ft).
Approximately 90% of the water of the Niagara River flows over Horseshoe Falls, while the other 10% flows over the American Falls.
Horseshoe Falls
© aj2008
The American Falls
Smaller than The Horseshoe Falls but still spectacular!
The Maid in the Mist heading downriver
towards Rainbow Bridge and The American Falls
© aj2008
The height of the American Falls ranges between 70 to 110 feet (21-34 m from the top of the Falls to top of the rock pile, which is called a talus. The height of the Falls from the top of the Falls to the river is 188 feet (57 m).
Numerous rock falls over the past 150 years have shaped the falls into a W and there is a huge mound of rock at the base.
The American Falls
viewed from the Maid in the Mist
© aj2008
The Bridal Veil Falls
The smallest waterfall at Niagara Falls
The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls
This photo was taken from the Canadian side of the river
and shows the much smaller Bridal Veil Falls,
just to the right of the American Falls.
© aj2008
The Bridal Veil Falls is 56 feet (17 m) wide at the crest. The total drop is 181 feet (55 m). In the past the waterfall has been known as Luna Falls and Iris Falls.
Today's weather at Niagara Falls
Current weather conditions in Niagara Falls, Canada
Local Pollen Reports
-3°C (Feels like -9°C)
Last update: 12/24/09 11:23 PM Local Time
Humidity: 85%Visibility: 16.1 km
Dew Point: -5°C
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 1025.7mm steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 19km/h From: Airport Conditions
The Maid of the Mist
One of the most famous boats in the world!
Maid of the Mist, approaching the Horseshoe Falls
Niagara Falls
© aj2008
The website has a video of "The Maid of the Mist Experience" and it also has a Webcam.
You can get very close to both the Horshoe Falls and the American Falls on The Maid of the Mist, every day from April to October. Check the website for confirmation of times.
On board the Maid of the Mist
close to the American Falls
© aj2008
A trip on the Maid of the Mist
An essential part of a day trip to Niagara Falls
"Maid of the Mist" - Niagara Falls
Voyage aboard the "Maid of the Mist" at Niagara Falls.
curated content from YouTube
Niagara Falls Timeline
Some VIP passengers on the Maid of the Mist
1803: Jerome Buonaparte (younger brother of Napoleon) and his new wife are rumoured to be the first honeymoon couple to stay at Niagara Falls
1860: The Maid in the mist has a very distinguished passenger, The Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VI
1901: Theodore Roosevelt, later the 26th President of the USA
1991: Princess Diana and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry
The Maid of the Mist
getting very close to Horseshoe Falls
This image has been released into the public domain by its
author, Reisender at the wikipedia project.
The visual splendour of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 12/24/2009)
Niagara Falls:Raging Rapids
Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 12/24/2009)
Nature Wonders NIAGARA FALLS U.S.A. / Canada
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/24/2009)
GreatViews of Niagara Falls
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 12/24/2009)
Niagara - A History of the Falls (History Channel)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009)
Niagara Falls in Winter
Winter Niagara Falls
curated content from YouTube
Travel to Niagara Falls via Toronto
Stay at the Royal York Hotel
Toronto is an ideal base for a family holiday!
A reminder of the links to further info about Toronto and Niagara Falls
- Toronto Hotels: The Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Canada
- Experience an exceptional landmark Toronto hotel. With a convenient downtown location, gracious service and lavish amenities The Royal York hotel in Toronto is the ideal destination. Plan your stay at the official website of The Fairmont Royal York.
- Toronto Zoo
- The Toronto Zoo is Canada's premier zoo known for its interactive education and conservation activities. As a unique wildlife experience, we inspire people to live in ways that promote the well being of the natural world.
- CN Tower
- More info on the CN Tower
- The Skydome (Rogers Centre)
- More info on the Skydome
- Niagara Falls Tourism Official Website
- Official source for Niagara Falls Attractions, Dining, entertainment and Niagara Accommodations.
- Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Niagara-on-the-Lake - more pics and info
- Official Maid of the Mist Website
- Official Maid of the Mist website about the boat ride that gives you a close-up experience of Niagara Falls.
- Niagara Falls Live
- Live webcam of Niagara Falls
- Commonwealth Secretariat - Home
- The Coomonwealth - An association of 53 independent states consulting and co-operating in the common interests of their peoples and in the promotion of international understanding.
- Toronto Island Park
- More infp about Toronto Island Park
My only regret about our day trip to Niagara Falls . . . .
. . . . is that Sparky was too young to remember it
Toronto is a great city to visit - and that is a huge recommendation from this country loving girl. The public transport is brilliant (and cheap) and the people could not be more helpful and friendly.
Would I go back? You bet!
Rainbow at Niagara Falls
© aj2008
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Have you been to Niagara Falls?
What was it like?
Share your stories here and if you really liked the lens, please tweet it - thank you.
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Reply
- MiaBellezza MiaBellezza Oct 30, 2009 @ 7:47 am
- I have been to Niagara Falls about 6 times and it is indeed awesome! Thanks for dropping by.
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Reply
- hlkljgk hlkljgk Jul 21, 2009 @ 9:40 am
- that rescue video is insane
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Reply
- seashell2 seashell2 Jul 11, 2009 @ 7:13 pm
- Beautiful lens! Never been to Niagara Falls but my sister and family have so I've seen lots of great photos!
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Reply
- Tiddledeewinks Tiddledeewinks Jul 7, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
- I went years ago with my family as a 12 year old on our way to Utah. That much water is scary to me!
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Reply
- CreativeArtist CreativeArtist Jul 1, 2009 @ 10:29 am
- Sounds like an interesting place. Love to go.
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AJ is Always Juggling
and she frequently drops the balls!
AJ is very proud and humble to be a Squidoo Angel
I am also very proud to have been awarded lens of the day for
Auditory Processing Disorder TWICE!
And then I got it for Twelve ways to have a green & ethical Christmas!
Lensmaster aj2008 has been a member since July 10 2008, has rated 3,318 lenses, favorited 820, and has created 71 lenses from scratch. AJ donates their royalties to Save the Children. This member's top-ranked page is "Bullying At Primary School". See all my lenses
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Sources and credits
Factual information about Niagara Falls was sourced from these sites
- Horseshoe Falls
- Horseshoe Falls from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- American Falls
- American Falls from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Niagara Falls
- Niagara Falls from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Niagara-on-the-Lake from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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