The inclement weather kept most visitors away for.viewing any part of Niagara Falls. On the way…read moreout of the park we stopped to see the Upper Rapids. It was very impressive to view the strength of the water rushing towards Niagara Falls. It was also cold and we were prepared with our hooded jackets and wintery clothes. Even the Canadian geese did not seem bothered by the weather. Free parking lot.

There would be no Niagara Falls without the Niagara River. Seems self evident, but still worth a…read moremoment of thought. What is often overlooked is that four of the five Great Lakes (Superior, Huron, Michigan and Erie all drain to the east, meaning that all the water flowing west to east ultimately travels through the Niagara River, over the Falls and into Lake Ontario before moving into the St. Lawrence River on the way to the Atlantic Ocean. That is a whole lot of water, and it explains while the only 36 mile long river carries more water, sediment and dissolved minerals than any other watercourse its size on Earth. That its course is north is explained by looking at a map of the Lakes. The eastern end of Lake Erie is actually southeast of the western end of Lake Ontario, and the channel connecting them (Niagara River) must navigate almost due north to link these huge fresh water bodies together. There is only a 9 foot decline from Erie to the head of the Falls, but this gravitational pull is enough rush that watercourse to the edge of the three falls in rapids that spill over the dolomite capstones and crash down the final 190 feet to account for the final verticality between the two lakes. Below this precipitous drop the River becomes a gorge as it races the narrow banks past a hydroelectric dam siphoning off power to generate electricity for more than 1 million people living on both sides of the border, yet leaving sufficient volume to continue to fill Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence beyond. In earlier times, a portion of the War of 1812 was fought in and around this area for control of these assets and for the Americans, to finally evict Great Britain from North America. Although the overall war was won by the United States, the piece that occurred in and around Canada and these borderlands, was actually lost, which is why England remained in Canada; and Canada, a part of the British Empire, and thereafter, the Commonwealth, for nearly a century thereafter. All is peaceful today, and the Niagara River and Falls can be enjoyed on both sides of the border created by the River, although from this perspective, Canada has the better views.

These are like monuments, but they aren't, the twin water intakes, run by NYPA, route water from…read morethe Upper Niagara River into tunnels under the city of Niagara Falls and into the Lewiston power project. There, the water spins 13 turbines to generate electricity. You can learn all about it at the NYPA Lewiston Power Project facility; it's quite interesting. Across the river, Niagara Falls Canada has a similar set up.

The water intake towers hold the equipment that adjusts how much water flows over Niagara Falls…read more Beneath the towers are the valves that open and close the intake pipes which divert water from this point, a few miles upstream of the falls, through massive underground pipelines to the New York Power Authority's hydroelectric project, 4.5 miles downstream. These intakes are capable of stopping the water flow over the Falls as well. There is a agreement with Canada (located on the other side of the falls) that requires at least half the normal flow over the falls is maintained, at least during the daytime of the tourist season, but at night and during the winter months, the flow may be reduced to a quarter.

This was one of the most exciting "discoveries" we've made since we arrived here in Canada (we…read morearrived here January 2016). Driving back to the GTA from Niagara, we were enjoying the beautiful blue waters of Lake Ontario. I spotted a small lighthouse that I wanted to take pictures of. My hubby being a good sport got off the highway and patiently waited while I played the tourist. As we drove toward Jordan Harbor to get back on the highway, my hubby spots the wreckage so we drive closer to investigate. Visions of pirates, the Titanic, and Gilligan's Island flooded my brain; I was just tickled at the thought of what the possible history might be of this abandoned ship. We took photos and on the way home I googled this oddity. Here's the link http://www.niagaragreenbelt.com/listings/70-monuments/900-grande-hermine-.html Great stop if you're in the area.

Very cool place to see - glad Canada still has this here and have not removed it at all.read more

Free with fantastic views of the falls, down river and across to Canada…read more We came here after being ripped off for a view at the lower falls down the way. This was far superior at no cost, redeeming my reputation with family.

The Prospect Point Observation Tower (also known as Niagara Falls Observation Tower) is a great…read moreway to admire the full grandeur of the falls from Niagara Falls, NY. Although it is set a short distance away from the edge of the falls, it is close enough to the falls to occasionally enjoy a refreshing spray. From here, you can get a clear view of all three falls, including American Falls, as well as the mesmerizing rapids. The boarding area for the Maid of the Mist tours is located at the base of the tower, accessed by a high-speed elevator from the observation deck. The base of the tower also provides access to the Crow's Nest, a smaller observation area located much closer to the falls. You do not need to go on a Maid of the Mist tour to go to the lower level, but there is a small fee for the deck and elevator.

Good quick pitstop (about 5-10 minutes) on the way back from Niagara Falls. It's an old stone…read morechimney, with some signage about the history of the chimney and some surrounding green space. There's a small parking lot with spots for a few cars.

Restored and Relocated 3x [Niagara Falls NY]…read more I know it isn't much when you look at it... an old brick chimney, but when I read the history behind it I found it interesting. At first we couldn't find the chimney. The directions from Yelp took us to a different place. We finally found it when hubby saw photos posted on Yelp and it had the lake in the background. There were two interpretive signs next to it... one of them explained why the chimney had been moved 3 times in the past! The sign said that the chimney was moved when it was "threatened by development." The Old Stone Chimney is a historical landmark. The effort to preserve it is more than 250 years old. There is a small parking area nearby and also benches by the chimney to relax. No picnic tables nearby but you can probably throw a blanket on the grassy area and have a picnic by the lake. Review #3021

The Martin House was a really cool visit during my day trip to Buffalo and the Niagara Region with…read morefamily. The building (interiors and architecture) was gorgeous and impressive, especially its history and restoration. There is a small quiet cafe between info center and the gift shop (the stables). We did the shorter guided tour. The tour is about the main home. It starts in the info center and ends in the stables (where the gift shop is). There is a longer tour that includes the other buildings on the property. During the tour, you aren't able to take photos of the interior spaces. You are able to explore the grounds and take photos without being in a tour. The tour was really informative. The volunteer guides knew what they were talking about. It was more information than what I have learnt in college.

What an absolute treat to visit the Martin House!…read more The Martin House, formally known as the Darwin D. Martin House, is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest architectural works and a defining example of his Prairie School style. Located in Buffalo, it was designed for businessman Darwin D. Martin and his family, and built between 1903 and 1905. This is a massive residential estate, which Wright considered it one of his finest creations. Some of its most distinctive features include the following. The house emphasizes long horizontal lines, broad overhanging eaves and low-pitched roofs mirroring the Midwestern landscape. And rather than dividing the home into many enclosed rooms, Wright created interior spaces connected by wide openings and carefully arranged sightlines. This was a radical departure from the Victorian homes of the time and that are notable popular in the neighborhood surrounding the property. Quick note: You are required to have a tour to visit the home interiors, but you don't need a tour to enjoy the welcome center and the grounds, including the long walkway connecting buildings. The pergola is one of my favorite features. And it is such a joy that it has a replica of the Winged Nike (The Nike of Samothrace, located in Paris at the Louvre, which is a beautiful sight!). It is placed on a 3-foot-high concrete plinth, prominently visible from a 180-foot view starting at the front door of the main house. A dreamscape, really. I was enthralled. But it is not the original, unfortunately. A fiberglass resin replica was installed in 2007. The estate includes the main house, the Barton House (for Martin's sister and brother-in-law), a conservatory, a pergola, the carriage house and the gardener's cottage. These structures were connected both physically and visually, so the entire estate looks and feels very cohesive. A favorite -- the art glass windows. Apparently, there are something like 400 or so art glass windows. Wright referred to them as "light screens" because they filtered light while preserving views and privacy. Wright embraced the idea of "total design." He designed not only the buildings but also much of its furniture, lighting, decorative glass, fireplaces and other interior details. This means that pretty much every element worked together as a unified whole -- striking! In addition to the daily public tours, the events calendar is usually full. There are summer evening events, lectures, nights dedicated to kids, plant decorating events, musical performances and more. Although the property fell into severe disrepair during the mid-20th century, a decades-long restoration completed in 2019 reconstructed missing buildings and restored many original architectural details. Today, the Martin House is a National Historic Landmark and is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved and most important examples of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie architecture. I highly, highly recommend a visit -- plan for at least an hour, two if you can swing it.

Road trip side step…read more On my way to my final destination I made a stop in the Buffalo area to see some things before I could check into my hotel. I have been in search of some Presidential sites recently and came across this while browsing for things to do before I left for my vacation. If you happen to stop by the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site they kind of point you in this direction. If not done on purpose, it's in a passing manner. There you will understand my Teddy had his swearing in ceremony because of what happened near this site. In this beautiful, planned out community you will stumble upon a median in the road that holds mostly trees and a variety of plants. Every so often it is dotted with rocks. This rock was purposefully put here. This community once held the Pan-American Expo, an expansive exposition of the countries from the Americas. With the expo there were many makeshift buildings built that could easily be torn down once the expo reached completion. The building that this stones represents, in a manner, was the Temple of Music. Just outside the temple, President McKinley would be shot by a man and ultimately pass away due to the gunshot. This stone is meant to be a monument or maybe a placard to remind you of what once happened in this area. It is well maintained and as other reviews have stated, usually flanked by small American flags. Some housekeeping here. Be mindful of the area, this is a neighborhood and you are visiting. Do not block a driveway. It is a road, be aware of your surroundings and traffic. Do not trample the area. Lastly, make it quick, there isn't much else to see here.

It may seem morbid, but it is history. The Pan American Exposition was build to be leveled…read moreafterwards, so nothing (save one building, I believe) remains. So, this rock is the only thing to remind the USA of McKinley's assassination and the only president to be inaugurated outside of DC. If you're looking for the full tour, add a stop to Delaware and W. Ferry, which is where McKinley died (there's just a sign there). And then go to the Roosevelt Museum/National Park. It's work the small price of admission and is a small, yet well done museum (perhaps a bit too patriotic, but that's to be expected I suppose).

I have crossed this bridge by foot and by car and it is a great experience both ways!…read moreCrossing by foot is really fun. Even as an adult it is fun to step over the official border line and joke about being in two places at once. You also get some incredibly amazing views. You will need your passport and still do need to go through customs (for some reason some people think that you walk you won't have to). Driving can often have waits, but they seem to not be as bad as some of the other bridges are. Probably because this is more of a tourist bridge than commuter (since the others attach directly to the highways). If you are traveling to Canada and want some great falls views, this is a great bridge.

Rainbow Bridge is a scenic and historic crossing between the Falls on both sides…read more It's a big, beautiful bridge! It does its job!