Today looked light on paper, but in reality, we packed a lot in. Breakfast at the hotel was a surprisingly good start—fresh fruit, excellent coffee, and friendly service. We sat right beside the windows, soaking in the morning view while we ate.
Afterward, we headed down to the concierge to coordinate a tour. Yes, I know we paid extra, but it was worth every penny to have someone pick us up and handle the details. With that squared away, we dropped our bags at the front desk since we’d be switching rooms later. I also had to ask about some odd charges on my card—they claimed it was the garage and that it would roll into the main bill. We’ll see. Honestly, the building says “Marriott,” but it doesn’t *feel* like a Marriott. The rooms have small things off—like the toilet handle, the tub faucet, the heat—it feels more like a Holiday Inn Express. And don’t get me wrong, I love a Holiday Inn, but you expect and pay for a different level of polish at a Marriott.
At 11, the tour company scooped us up. First stop: Journey Behind the Falls. The view from the observation deck was dazzling, even if I struggled to see through the glare and water on my glasses. Sounds awful, I know, but really it was pure fun—I had a grin stretching ear to ear. I just kept pressing the button on my phone, praying something would turn out, and somehow we got great shots. Going into the tunnels and standing behind the falls themselves was another level. The raw force of that water is impossible to capture in words.
Next, we stopped at a whitewater overlook before heading to the main event: the waterfall cruise. We lucked out—it wasn’t crowded, and we hustled just enough to snag a front spot. Oh, what an experience! I couldn’t see most of the time thanks to rain and spray all over my glasses, but it didn’t matter. I just kept clicking away and laughing. The poncho saved me from being drenched, though I still came out wetter than Jack. Between the birds diving for food, the friendliness of the people around us, and the thrill of being swallowed up by mist, it was unforgettable.
Back at the hotel, we got our new room. Yesterday we’d been on the 24th floor, today the 16th. At first, I fussed when I saw the number—since we’d been promised higher—but the manager assured us we’d be happy. And wow, he was right. The room is beautiful, huge, and has a view that steals your breath. I had to give him credit, and I gave thanks to the Lord for blessing us with such a spot. It didn’t erase all my gripes about the hotel, but it softened them.
For lunch, we gave Turtle Jack’s another chance, given its closeness to the hotel (the place we’d walked out of last night). This time it worked out—after a slow start to be seated, the service turned out great, and the food hit the spot. I had fish and chips, Jack got a burger, and I tried a fruity mocktail that wasn’t half bad.
The afternoon was slower. Jack set up in the chair overlooking the falls with his laptop, and I took a nap—both of us fully content. Once I woke up, we hopped the incline railway back down to stroll along the falls. It was peaceful, just the two of us walking together. Eventually, we turned onto Clifton Hill Street where everything exploded into neon lights, arcades, haunted houses, Ripley’s—you name it. A bit like a mini Vegas without the gambling. Loud, flashy, chaotic—but fun in its own way.
We went there mainly for the go-karts, and they did not disappoint. Jack’s cart was lightning fast—he was zipping past everyone. I was driving my own and enjoyed it. They had it set up with tight turns and a downhill section that added a level of excitement over old-fashioned tracks. Afterward, we wandered through souvenir shops, grabbed ice cream, and just enjoyed the evening before catching an Uber back. We ended the night watching fireworks over the glowing falls, my feet propped up, the view filling the window. Perfect.
Tomorrow we check out and head south, but I think we’ll linger in the morning to soak up this view just a little longer.
A few random fun things to remember:
- They can remotely slow down the go-karts if someone stalls—everything came to a crawl until a stuck car got fixed.
- We walked 7.91 miles today.
- My husband is awesome and randomly packs zip lock bags in case things need to be waterproof.
- Planning ahead may save money, but sometimes it’s worth paying for ease.
- It’s weird not having anyone else to worry about or look out for on a trip. I mean, I have Jack, but it feels different than having Mama with us.
- 90% of today's pictures were with phones
Jack’s Favorite Thing of the Day:
- The boat ride down into the falls. He thought it was both thrilling and spectacular to get that close.
My Favorite Thing of the Day:
- Also, the boat ride. Getting swallowed by the mist, laughing through the spray—it was pure joy.
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