Niagara Falls

Less than two weeks after returning from Niarobi we are off to Niagara Falls for the weekend. WINS Finance Manager is getting married in Hamilton this weekend and several members of the team decided to make the trip to share in his celebration. 

First stop, Niagara Falls.  We checked into the Sheraton Hotel and decided we would see if it was possible to get a falls side view. Just so happens with all the traveling we have done over the years that Randy is registered as a "Starwood Preferred Guest", and as luck would have it we got a complementary upgrade with a perfect view of the falls.  

Our room was gorgeous, not only overlooking the falls, but it also included a nice sitting area with a fireplace and a great view of the amusement park area.  I wish we were staying a few extra nights here as there is so much to do!

The first night was dinner at the HardRock Cafe, a walk around town and a hour in the Casino. Might have stayed longer but I had lost my daily allotment.  

Friday morning with our passports in our hands we walked over the bridge to explore the falls from the American side. What a difference in the two cities!  Niagara Falls, Ontario is filled with hotels, restaurants, activities for young and old and a huge waterslide, in addition to viewpoints of the three falls. Niagara Falls, New York appears to be a dying city except for the large natural park area around the falls. They have great observations decks protruding out over the falls and walking paths through the park including a route to Goat Island, but it is very uncommercialized. I am thinking that most people visiting for more than a day are visiting the Canadian side. 

Finding a place for a drink after walking around for a couple of hours was a little difficult and the restaurants they did have appeared to be closed. Finally we came across TGIF and rested our weary feet while consuming a drink or two.  Then it was time to head back over the bridge and through Canadian customs.  Fortunately the wait coming back into Canada was much shorter ( 10 minutes at most) than when we entered the States (1/2 hour or more) as it was starting to rain. 

Of course we had to stop at the Hersey's store before going back to our hotel. A chocolate milkshake and several bags of candy and we were ready for a rest.  

Tonight we would have dinner at the "Windows, by Jamie Kennedy".  We were in for a treat. A view of the falls and exceptional food was enjoyed by all.