Niagara Falls

As usual we've been super busy, but here are some of my favorite pics from our Niagara Falls weekend.

This was one of the first pictures I snapped on that cold, gray Friday morning when we arrived.  The weatherman predictions for that day were wrong (what? how could that be?) so we reversed our schedule and did the inside attractions Friday and saved the outside activities for Saturday, hoping for sunshine and a warmer temp.  When we first walked up the rail at the falls and Helaina took a good look, she yelled out "Oh WOW - cool!!!"  Yes indeed.  She was only 4 the last time she saw the falls and appreciated it more this time around.

She loved the afternoon at the aquarium.  Penguins, tanks filled with all kinds of fish, sharks, turtles, coral, sea lions, seals - just about anything you could imagine.

She liked the sharks that were suspended everywhere at the aquarium, even from the ceiling.

Helaina laughed hysterically at the sea lion show.  They balanced balls on their noses, waved to the crowd, jumped high out of the water, made funny sounds and played with their toys.  Our Discovery Passes also included an Imax movie about the history of the falls.  We thought Helaina would be bored but she loved it.  She learned about Lilewala(?), the girl who legend tells was called the Maid of the Mist.  It also had recreations of the first woman to go over the falls in a barrel and people who accidentally went over the falls and lived.  She was fascinated by it and still talks about it.

Our hotel had a great pool and Helaina couldn't wait to get in it.  Her and Jim took a dip after dinner and we had to drag her out to get her back to the room, showered off and put to bed after a long, exhausting day.

She woke up the next day ready for action.  So stinking cute, our happy little gal.

It was still a little cool early in the morning, but the sun was out and it warmed up quickly.  Riding the trolly to one of our destinations while Helaina studied what we would be doing that day.

Maid of the Mist was first.  No matter how many times I ride that boat it still is an amazing and thrilling experience.  Love it, love it, love it.

Decked out in her blue raingear, ready to get wet.  Half the time she had it off so she could get soaked.

Helaina snapped this picture of us.  You can tell it was on the return trip because my hair is wet from the mist.

Cute pic of Daddy and daughter with the Maid of the Mist in the background.

After lunch at the Fallsview restaurant with an amazing view of the Canadian falls, we finally ended our day with what Helaina had been waiting for - the Cave of the Winds.  This was her first time.  We told her all about it and she was so excited with anticipation that she was just about jumping out of her skin.

We got our special rubber sandals and waited in a very long line for our turn.  Down the elevator, a walk through the long cave-like corridor and we emerged at the start of the walk.  We donned our spiffy yellow raincoat and headed down the rubber-matted walkway.  Absolutely amazing.  With every step and platform you crossed, you got closer and closer to the falls wooshing past you, literally inches away.  No hood on for Helaina, she loved the cold water splashing her in the face and on her feet.

It was a much more wild experience this time than I remember.  Jim and I were in Niagara Falls years ago, way before Helaina joined our family, and I don't remember the walk being this exciting - or wet.

It's totally impressive to be standing just feet away from the water rushing past you - and in many locations inches away from the power of the falls.

Helaina could have stayed at this spot all day.  The freezing cold water came gushing through the bottom of the wooden fence and hit your feet like thousands of icicles.  She laughed and screamed with delight with every splash.  Even with our pants rolled up, we left soaked, totally soaked - thanks mostly to the Hurricane Deck.

We had to drag Helaina away, literally.  She kept wanting to go back through the trail, which we did several times.  Trouble is that she wanted to go back to the Hurricane Deck which was the place where you got POUNDED and the most soaked.  It was also scary because it was so forceful.

Jim took Helaina up to that deck a second time.  It was nuts.  The deck is built so that it's right in front of a portion of the bridal veil falls and the water is thundering down right in front of you.  It hits the deck and the rushing water surrounds your feet and drains right over the edge.  It's loud, windy, scary and I was actually afraid the force would knock Helaina off her feet and push her right through the wooden railings.  I was actually surprised that there wasn't more of a barrier there instead of just wooden railings.  I had her by the arm and wouldn't let go of her on that deck.  Jim didn't want to go back but he did for his adventurous little gal.  That's the 2 of them behind the Hurricane sign waving to me.  It was a fun 2 days.  We'll definately make the trip again in another few years.  Next time I think we'll take Helaina on the Whirlpool Jetboat ride that Jim and I went on years ago.  Now that's a wet, wild and scary adventure all on its own.