Niagara Falls, Ontario to Lansing, Michigan

Water, water, everywhere, which brings with it the threat of hypothermia.
We voyage on the Maid of the Mist, (which has been in operation since 1846), out into the Niagara basin. A hint of what is to come are the dark blue rain ponchos issued to each passenger. The boat putt-putts past American Falls and we feel some of its spray; then the boat heads to Horseshoe Falls and turns directly into the face of the waterfall and holds there....forever. The tour guide, speaking over the PA system, intones, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Niagara Falls." Indeed. Being in such close proximity to this tremendous force of nature was very awe inspiring, BUT, also like standing in a cold, unrelenting shower.

Our second adventure is the Journey Behind the Falls. This time it's a bright yellow poncho. We are taken by elevator down the equivalent of 14 stories and then allowed to wander long concrete corridors that open to viewing platforms deep in the gorge, below the falls. The ponchos are a necessity, but standing in the splash zone is an option this time. The striking feature to me, is the thunderous roar.
Next stop is Niagara's Fury, a multi-media presentation which is inside a theater, so I'm suspicious when we are handed green ponchos. I ask if we're going to get wet and the answer is "just a little bit". We learn about the geology of the area culminating with a big screen shot of the waterfall complete with heavy mist descending on us from above.
Last stop is the White Water Walk, which is a boardwalk along the Niagara River. No ponchos, and the class 6 rapids are astounding.
Niagara Falls is a beautiful natural phenomenon. The area is surrounded by a lovely park, but it is bordered with a casino, a ferris wheel, a water park, Hard Rock Cafe and a Ripley's Believe It Or Not. WHY???

Running Odometer: 8048
States: Michigan  Total:  25
Countries: 2