A lot of people had recommended Niagara Falls, so we figured we'd check it out while we were in the area. I'll be honest. Not the greatest location. You have to drive for hours to get there, almost to Canada. If they ever open another one, I suggest they make it closer to Cleveland, where we live. We would go more if it was closer.
The day we went was cool and cloudy. It's not their fault what the weather was, but because it's outside, you're at the mercy of the weather. If they ever open a second falls near Cleveland like I hope, maybe it could be indoors? I bet more people would go.
It's not at all clear what you're supposed to do when you get there. Just stand there and look at it? Heads up: There is no manager on site. You kind of have to figure it out on your own. Some people stood there and took photos. We bought tickets for a boat called Maid of the Mist. It's the only way to get close to the falls. I think? (This is where a manager would help.) The lines for Maid of the Mist are long. It took about 45 minutes from when we bought our tickets to get on the boat. They gave us a poncho (which you can keep – hey, free poncho.)
The boat took us pretty close to the falls. The view was breathtaking, challenging my perceptions of life and nature, where a single drop of water can calmly float along for miles and then combine with trillions of others to free-fall into space and crash in a cacophony of glory, the one joining the many to do the impossible and transform from a single drop of anonymous water into one that is seen and heard for miles. What might we learn from this spectacle? What other awe-inspiring metaphors does nature have on offer? The falls hold the potential to make one feel small, until you realize that it is only because of mankind's ingenuity that we can view the falls from scenic overlook decks or board boats that expertly navigate the waters in a manner that allows for the epiphany that it is man who is towering and great, not Niagara Falls, which, let's be honest, is just water going over a cliff. I did not like that my shoes got really wet.
My wife and I have gone to Niagara Falls twice in the past 12 months. The Canadian side is much, much better than the US side. My Canadian friends say it’s “Canada’s Las Vegas” and that is a somewhat appropriate comparison, especially if one goes further inland from the falls itself. Since we live in the Toledo area, we drove on the Canadian side which is preferable to I-90 as well.