Wow, today was full from start to finish.
We started early—6:30 a.m.—to catch the sunrise over the falls. It wasn’t quite what I had pictured, with the mist clouds rolling thick and blocking most of the view, but what we did see was beautiful. More than that, it was neat to watch the falls before the full daytime flow. Overnight, they restrict the water to generate power. It was still a lot of water, just not the massive surge you see during the day. The sunrise may not have been perfect, but the experience was worth it.
After that, we decided on a slow morning. I think Jack piddled on his phone and maybe got some more sleep—I went back to bed. This girl is not built for mornings. We got up for round 2 around 9:30 and got ready for the day. Breakfast at the hotel was a highlight. I tried the omelet bar, which was excellent, but honestly, the coffee stole the show again. I should have asked what brand it was—it was that good.
Once we checked out, the day was really Jack’s plan. I only had one request, and he did the rest. He nailed it.
First up was a hike at Niagara Glen Trail. To get to the paths, we had to descend four or five flights of metal stairs, and once we reached the bottom, the trails wound through rocks and roots, clearly marked and moderately challenging. We hiked about a mile, mostly under forest canopy, with only a couple of overlooks where you could really see the river. Still, it was so good to be out in God’s creation. Hiking is a different kind of walking—it does something for the soul. The peace of sitting by the water was wonderful. Climbing back up those stairs? Less wonderful. By the time we reached the top, I was drenched. Thankfully, I had packed a change of clothes and deodorant—a fresh shirt, a dry bra, reset for the day.
We made a quick stop at the Floral Clock, which was beautiful, but we couldn’t really enjoy it. There were ladies there trying to convert us to Christianity. I am Christian—I am a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, and I strive to live a life that reflects that. So I applaud their heart, but the method not so much. It just made me, a Christian, uncomfortable... I can’t imagine nonbelievers. We didn’t stay long at all.
Next was a scenic drive toward Niagara-on-the-Lake, and it was gorgeous—tree-lined neighborhoods, vineyards, a lighthouse, and little spots to pull over and take pictures. We stopped at Fort Mississauga, right on the banks of Lake Ontario, where the wind was wild but the views stunning. There was a trail by the water I’d walk all the time if I lived nearby.
Lunch was at the Olde Angel Inn in town, which dates back to the 1700s. It was cozy, historic, and the food was delicious. I had shrimp and fries, but honestly, even the water stood out—it was so crisp and refreshing. Afterward, we wandered through the town. Quaint, charming, and reminiscent of Dahlonega but prettier. I kinda wished I had more time here—if I had another day, I could easily see myself spending half of it just strolling around, poking into shops, and meandering. But with the time I did have, shopping wasn’t how I wanted to spend it, so I just soaked in what I could before we moved on. Before leaving, we treated ourselves to ice cream at Cows, a local shop with rave reviews that absolutely delivered. I had two scoops—chocolate and raspberry. It was perfectly balanced, not too sweet, just right.
From there, we crossed back into the U.S. after a quick stop at the Duty Free store. Can I just say—I loved Canada. It’s beautiful, clean, and the people are friendly, and it operates much like the U.S. But there’s just something about stepping onto American soil. A tension you don’t realize you’re carrying slips off your shoulders—you’re home. If something happens, if you get sick, if you even get arrested… at least you’re home. There’s a comfort in that you can’t explain until you feel it.
We wrapped the sightseeing with the U.S. side of the falls. Articles always say Canada has the better views, and they’re right—you simply can’t see the whole picture from the U.S. side. But the experience? Completely different. Canada felt like a commercial park, while the U.S. side was a true nature reserve. Ten dollars to park, free to walk the trails, and you can get so close to the water. Peaceful paths led us past cascades and ducks, and the observation decks jut right over the falls—you can look straight down as the water plunges. I loved it. If I could redo the trip, I’d carve out much more time for the U.S. side. We barely gave it a couple of hours, and it easily deserved a full day or two. I would’ve loved to slow down, wander more of the trails, and just soak in the peace of it all.
We rolled in around 9 pm to the Country Inn near Letchworth State Park, our base for the next few days. It seems they close everything early here. It’s a good thing we weren’t really hungry; we grabbed some chips at the local convenience store and called it dinner. Still, the inn impressed me—it’s clean, the water hot, the staff competent/friendly, and the HVAC works. Honestly, three out of four categories beat the Marriott. Still not letting that one go…
A few random fun things to remember:
- Canada, everywhere we went, just felt clean.
- Tap-to-pay is universal there—our first U.S. purchase required inserting a card, and we laughed that Canada does it better.
- The black squirrels are on the U.S. side too—they immigrated.
- We spotted a fox dart across the road on our drive.
- The New York welcome center is massive and very nice.
- Border crossing was smooth and stress-free.
Jack’s Favorite Thing of the Day:
- Goat Island, especially the point section with its little waterfalls, the view of the rapids, and being so close to the falls it felt like you could toss a rock in.
Lisa’s Favorite Thing of the Day:
- The New York side of the falls—the trails all screamed peace, and I loved it.
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