2018 Exploring New York - Stop 2 - Niagara Falls

Our second stop found us in the Niagara Falls KOA located in Lewiston, NY. While it was not the closest to the Canadian border, it was affordable, clean, had good washers and dryers (that I needed to make serious use of) and an owner who went above and beyond to make my stay productive and pleasant.

While exploring the US side of the Falls, we were shocked by the sheer number of foreign travelers. I know that sounds like a strange comment - after all, we were at one of the biggest tourist destinations in North America, but there were SO MANY more here than I've ever seen anywhere else, including Walt Disney World. 

I determined on this trip, that while it took nature millions of years to create Niagara Falls, it took mankind only about 100 years to turn it into a tacky tourist trap. 

If only it was THIS GOOD.

The US side was very run-down. The roads were in terrible condition and Niagara Falls Park provided dirty restrooms and a horrible 'pay-to-ride' "hop on trolley" that had people crammed to "standing room only." The putrid smell of body odor on a hot and humid day had us opting to walk instead of ride. 

I found it sad that on both sides there was no way to access the falls without having to participate in a paid group tour. I was expecting to experience a serene moment hiking down to the Falls, but that didn't happen on either side. I don't mean to come across as cheap, but I was looking for an intimate encounter, not something resembling a flash mob scene. The Canadian side was full of neon lights for Ripley's Believe it or Not (yup...I couldn't believe it), wax museum, motorized car track, Ferris Wheel, t-shirt shops, and loads of fast food restaurants. It all just seemed out of place to me.

The act of "Border Crossing" was interesting. On one day, we waited over an hour on line, and the very next day we breezed right through. It didn't really matter the time of day, it mattered only by the Border Guard occupying the booth on the line you chose. It was very similar to a supermarket check-out line...We always choose the wrong line! I do hope there is a lot of discrete metal detecting and covert surveillance going on at the crossings, because it seemed way too easy to cross. Interestingly, even though we were not carrying any contraband, it was a bit nerve-racking having to answer the simplest of questions. 

On the third day up in Niagara we experienced heavy rains and it was "THE DAY" that I needed to book Fast Passes for an upcoming Disney Trip. This neck of the woods, like the last, had terrible cell service so I was a little worried that I would need to drive somewhere early in the morning to find a location where I could find cell signal to book the passes, but the KOA owner, after I explained my dilemma, very generously offered to provide me with the password to her personal Internet. I'll be giving kudos in that campground review.

As it turned out, since I was working on the front porch of the KOA in the torrential rain at 7:30 AM, there was a strong signal that allowed me to get the job done. Everyone else, including George and Lucy, seemed to have slept late. It took me four hours to get the job completed, but in less than 40 days, Disney, here we come! 

Small Talk Winery - a young vineyard - comfortable and casual.

The rest of that day and most of the next found us in Niagara on the Lake in Ontario - a town noted for its great Rieslings and Ice Wines. It was a wine-lovers haven. My designated driver was very generous and patient while we made stop after stop and I explored and tasted to my heart's content.  I added a few more bottles to my collection of "wines from the north." I was impressed with most of the wines I tasted. You won't find any heavy-oaked Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, but they were interesting and tasty. As I look back now, it seems like the wineries all blended together, but some stick out more than others, like Small Talk Winery.

Acres and acres of vines. Rancourt was bigger and a tad more formal. 

Strewn provided a very nice tasting. I was offered tastes of two additional wines, which was not a common occurrence.

Months ago, I had booked reservations for dinner at The Skylon Tower's revolving dining room in Ontario. It was an experience I would recommend to anyone wanting the most spectacular view of both the US and Canadian Falls. The acoustics were awful and the hostesses disorganized, but the meal - despite the din of clattering dishes, tinkling silverware and clinking of glassware - was delicious enough to distract from those negatives. 

Skylon Tower, US and Canadian Falls-bottom right, lit up at dusk.

Lobster Dinner with a killer view.

Canadian Falls top right, US center.

A trip up to Niagara Falls had been on my bucket list for years. Perhaps the hype, expectations and anticipation were to blame for my "less-than-stellar" experience.  The Falls are magnificent. The commercialism is disappointing. My "Deep Thought" sums up my feelings.

Next blog - Stop #3 - my favorite of the entire journey! Letchworth State Park.

Deep thought for the day:  Big expectations often lead to small gratifications. ~vc