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Saturday, September 21, 2013

Then We Took a Boat

That was AFTER the train ride described in the previous post.
And, we had lots of company, several hundred in fact and most of then (including ourselves) got wet — VERY wet on the 30-minute Maid of the Mist tour of Niagara Falls. It's the most famous attraction other than the Falls, of course.
maid of the mist boats
The Maid of the Mist operates from late spring to late October annually. The 80-feet long boats can hold over 500 passengers and have two 350-horsepower engines that carry the vessels against the powerful current. A recyclable souvenir raincoat is provided with the cost of admission as protection against the mist and spray.  But, if you want to experience the full enjoyment of this ride and stand along the outside railing, you will get wet anyway.
tour boatsboat riders
The tour boats are named Maid of the Mist, followed by a different Roman numeral (the most recent one is VII). The boat starts off at a calm part of the Niagara River, near the Rainbow Bridge. Its route takes it past the American and Bridal Veil Falls, then into the dense mist of spray inside the basin of the Horseshoe Falls or Canadian Falls. The tour is accessible from either the Canadian or American side of the river.
American-Canadian Falls
It's one of North America’s oldest tourist attraction. The first Maid of the Mist was launched in May 1846 as a ferry service between the Canadian and American sides, pre-dating by two years the construction of the first Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge at the site. The ferry service business declined when the bridge opened as people crossed the Niagara River using the bridge instead of the ferry. By 1854, it was a tourist sightseeing attraction.The original coal-fired, wooden boat was replaced by the steel, diesel-powered ships. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world take this tour each year.
in the fallsfalls rainbows
And now Grenville and I can be included in that count (this was our first trip to Niagara Falls). Grenville was really much more excited than he looks !
our boat tourfalls and tour boats
Just wondering — have YOU ever visited Niagara Falls ?

15 comments:

MadSnapper said...

gorgeous but not me sister. when i was 8 my grand daddy took mother and me and my brother on a 2 week trip to DC and Niagara. I refused to get on the boat, refused to ride that silly thing that takes people out over the falls, grand daddy and his wife and child went on both, while mother had to stay on the firm ground with me... you are brave, just looking at that crowded boat has me visualizing it flipping over.

Anvilcloud said...

Been there many times. My parents lived nearby for a few years, but even then, if you live in southern Ontario, you do get to The Falls every now and then. Mind you, for the most part, I don't love the place. Driving up the parkway to Niagara on the Lake is nice, but I think I mentioned that already.

Lois Evensen said...

What fun pics! They bring back memories of our trips to The Falls. :) Thanks for sharing! :))

Sunday hugs,
Lois

possum said...

Yep, been there, done that, have no desire to do it again. Did not get on the boat, saw no reason to get wet.
The couple of pictures that opened looked nice, tho. Most of your pics no longer open for me and haven't since you guys switched to apples, but the ones that DO open look great!

Montanagirl said...

Fun post! I have been there once - as a small child. I was more impressed with the Falls than the Smithsonian at that point in my life. I might have been 5 or 6 at the time, don't really remember.

Debby said...

No I haven't but it is on my wish list. I am sure pictures don't show the real beauty.

Anonymous said...

No I've never been to the Niagra Falls but I've always had that on the to visit list if I ever travel again.

have a great day!
Christer.

betty said...

First time visiting your blog; enjoyed the pictures of your adventure to Niagra Falls. I have never been there, but my parents went there on their honeymoon back in 1953 and I remember my mom talking about the boat ride and getting wet, but then of course if you are visiting Niagra Falls, I think it would be almost mandatory to take the boat ride to experience the magnificent of the falls in this way :)

betty

barbara l. hale said...

I've been to Niagara Falls a few times. We used to stop when we were kids on our way from Ohio to New York to see my grandparents. Been a few times as an adult, too, even in the winter when it is just spectacular. Been a lot of places but I would go back on the Maid of the Mist any day.

Out on the prairie said...

Lovely ,I have been there a few times

Elaine said...

We went to Niagara Falls a few years ago and we loved it! We didn't do the boat ride though. We did go up in the observation tower, and the view was magnificent.

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

No..I have never been there and now I'm getting concerned that I will never get there...ever!! Back in the 1950"s Marilyn Monroe made a film, "Niagara" and I fell in love with it then at the age of about 16 or 17.

Linda G. said...

I am happy that the two of you finally saw Niagara Falls! My husband and I are talking about a return trip one day. It is nice that we live close enough for day trips to such a beautiful place.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

This trip was the result of your posts about visiting the Falls. We would like to return in winter one year.

grammie g said...

Hi B,,, Fabulous for you guys,, but for me the thought being near enough for the mist to hit me, and the look of the amount of people on the boat I would surely be thinking I was going to die : ))!!
Glad you all survived and had a great time doing so!!
Love those lovely blue rain or mist gear!! lol!!

Grace