After a full day and a half exploring Lockport and receiving a TON of suggestions from friends and people we’ve come across here in the area, we decided it was time to drive across the border. That meant we had to back track to Niagara Falls and cross the Rainbow Bridge into Canada. What we had heard was absolutely true, and we knew it would be. We had no sooner crossed the bridge (which took about 10-12 minutes in line and going through customs) and what we saw was how the Canadians had made a park like setting for miles along the Niagara River.
There were extra wide sidewalks complimented with beautiful landscaping covering the full length of the Niagara Falls view corridor.
Parking for all the cars was handled by huge parking lots a mile or two further down the road and for $10 we had a parking spot and a great round trip tram ride directly to the best view locations they have to offer. Fortunately the only thing we had to worry about was whether or not we had enough drinking water with us… Weather was great, crowds light and courteous, and we got an early enough start so that we could see all we wanted with ease. I was hoping that the wind was going to blow the spray down and away from the falls but unfortunately it stayed just as it did a couple of days ago, right in the way for one of those grand pictures.
Taking the tram back to our car we continued up the Canadian side of the Niagara River. About half way to Lake Ontario we stopped by to look over the “Whirlpools” of Niagara.
It’s at a bend in the river and offers to those with a spirit of excitement the opportunity to ride one of those very high powered flat bottomed boats that will take you flying over the rapids and pools. It looked like something we would love to do but timing is everything and we didn’t have enough left for the day. Instead we continued our way to a little town located were the Niagara River empty’s out into Lake Ontario. It’s called Niagara On The Lake and is one of the most picturesque towns we’ve seen in a long time.
This small community was soooo busy that we couldn’t even find a place to park our car. Cars filled all the parking lots and every inch of legal parking along the streets.
Oh well, the ride through town a couple of times made the drive up the coast worthwhile. We knew the day would have to come to a close and we knew we would then have to go back over the bridge to the good ole U.S.A… The problem was TIME, the time it takes to go through the LLLOOOOONNNNNGGGG line at the border. Going back to the U.S. does take a lot more time than entering Canada but there was no other way.