POWERFUL!
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We travel internationally far more often than we travel within the States, but a visit to Niagara Falls should undoubtedly be on everyone's U.S. bucket list. So, of course, while vacationing in Syracuse, we had to make the drive west to experience this spectacular wonder, one of the "Seven Natural Wonders of North America."
Many years ago, I had seen the falls from the Canadian side, but this trip offered an entirely different perspective from the New York vantage point.
There are three waterfalls in total, separated by landmasses: Horseshoe Falls, the largest of the three; American Falls, the second largest; and Bridal Veil Falls, the smallest. While Niagara Falls doesn't rank among the world's tallest waterfalls, in fact, it doesn't make the top 500. It is the sheer width, immense volume, and astonishing flow rate that make it so impressive. The seemingly endless torrent of water comes from the Great Lakes, with four of the five, Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie, ultimately feeding the Niagara River.
There is a large visitor parking lot where you pay a fee, but once inside Niagara Falls State Park, you're free to explore on foot. There are several paid tours and attractions, but we opted to simply follow the "Attractions & Trails" map and make our way through the park at our own pace.
We started at Stop #2, Terrapin Point, for an up-close view of the massive Horseshoe Falls. Standing there, surrounded by the thunderous roar and tremendous force of the rushing water, was awe-inspiring.
Following the map, we continued along the paved walkway all the way to the end, where we discovered a quieter trail with noticeably fewer crowds. It was wonderfully peaceful, watching and listening to the gentle stream of water which was a striking contrast to the thunderous falls just moments before. The trail eventually looped us back around to the main pathway.
For lunch, we stopped at The Top of the Falls Restaurant. I ordered the Blue Niagara Splash cocktail, and we shared a chicken wrap and salad. The food was basic diner fare, but it did the job and satisfied our need for a quick bite before heading out.
If you're up for witnessing something truly spectacular, put Niagara Falls on your list. At our leisurely pace, we spent a little over two hours exploring the park. Since we needed to be back in Syracuse by late afternoon, we left before seeing the falls illuminated at night.
For that, it gives us one more reason to return.
