Monday, October 21, 2013
Niagara Trip Day 1 - Cave of the Winds/ Goat Island
1:53 PM
Day 1 - Cave of the Winds/ Goat Island
Impromptu family vacation to Niagara Falls, which is located at Buffalo NY & Ontario, CA.
I booked our flight 3 weeks before departure, super rush because the attractions(boat rides)
at the Falls closes on Oct 24th as the falls get partically frozen.
They will reopen next April, but we would be going back to SG by then,
so hubby was like just book and go! And we did lol!
Thank you Jackie for fetching us to the airport at 4am.
Inhumane time i know lol, but we didn't wanna fly in late and spend the whole day on the plane.
Chlovelle was excited! No issues when it comes to waking her up in the morning (unlike me)
Had breakfast before boarding, and i was looking forward to some snooze on the plane
BUT! We sat right at the end of the aircraft, best part is, it is right by the engine.
So imagine the smell, plus the SUPER LOUD engine noise. We didn't get to sleep... sobs
Thankfully the flight was smooth and fast, reached Chicago after 2 hrs.
Grabbed Macs (again) and hopped unto another flight to Buffalo, New York
We actually sat rather near to the engine again, but we were all so tired we slept despite the noise.
After an hour, we landed!
So happy i couldn't contain myself~
Oh, i also realize that most airport in states look the same...?
Or all airport look similar? hahahaha!
Few hiccups here and there, lost one of my checked in items, cocked up the car insurance too...
And by the time we are ready to leave the airport, we are 2 hrs behind time.
Went for some asian food that is not worth mentioning meh!
Our ride for 4 days!
I bidded for a compact car on Priceline for $32/day and got it!
Usual price for such cars at Buffalo is around $50/day, so we actually save quite a lot!
Initially i love it because it so CUTE AND SMALL! But after sitting in it and banging unto
everything in the car, I think i still prefer my Camry. haha!
After lunch we headed down to see the Falls from the American side...
The road is pretty much similar to the one in Dallas, except the drivers there LOVE TO HORN!
WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM HUH?!
YAY! We parked at Goat Island and because it is non peak period, their parking is FREE! (UP $8-$10)
Goat Island is located at the USA side of the Falls...
The (kiddy) map i used when i plan for this trip. Goat island is at the lower part of the map.
Falls leaves are so pretty, I wanted to take more pictures but hubby suggested to go for
the attractions first before the sun goes down.
Went back to the car and changed into our rainboots LOL
My fishmonger boots
So glad i got them in dark purple, no one notice them hiakhiak!
Tickets for this attraction is $11 per pax, kids under 6 goes in Free!
They provide sandals for us to change into because we will get SOAKED,
we rejected them because its too trendy, didnt fit our outfit.
Board unto an elevator which takes us down 175feet into Niagara Gorge
Here we are!
Put on her raincoat for her, but i look as if i am marrying her off... LOL
In her own world.
Bright yellow poncho that doesn't help to keep us dry.
Cave of the winds, say bye to straight hair!
You HAVE to be there to experience the magnificent falls,
I love the sound of the rushing water falling & hitting the rocks~
It is amazing how close we are to the falling water
There are waterproof mats on the ground to prevent us from falling.
Regret that i went to look into the mats and found lots of algae YUCKS
Shouldn't have done that.
It was a rather cloudy day, if not we could have seen a rainbow
Never ending flow of water, sometimes i wonder what if it stops...
Hubby took most of the pictures, i just walk around with velle and goes "wah wah wah!"
A staff says that the walkway is rebuilt every year, as it usually gets damage during winter.
That means..... we were walking on a rather used walkway....
Admiring the rushing waters, & getting wet when the wind blows.
We tried... This is the best. LOL
It was so windy & wet, oh! look at all those hanging algae hahahahha!
Hubby bravely went up to the hurricane deck.
Velle didn't want to, so i use her as an excuse not to go up too haha!
SOAKED!
My socks got wet too... tsk! Thought my boots was high enough.
Blast heater and change in the car because we came out again for a walk at Goat island
Terrapin point and horseshoe falls.
The view of the horseshoe falls isn't very nice here but we got very very close to it though.
Love the mist! Makes the falls so magical.
Had dinner at some extremely overpriced food court.
The food didnt even taste nice omgoodness.
Then we drove over to Canada and stayed at Embassy Suites.
When we was planning this trip, i wanted to stay at some budget inn to save but
hubby insist it will be worth it to stay at a hotel overlooking the falls.
I thought it might be a good experience considering we will not be returning here again.
While we were checking in, the supervisor asked if we wanted to top up $30/night to
upgrade to a higher level as the ones we booked are like level 10-15.
We rejected it because it will be another $100+ and the tax in Canada is like 13%.
In the end, the supervisor bumped us up for FREE!
SUCH GOOD LUCK!!
Hubby was overjoyed LOL
Got so tired after a bath, velle and I crashed at 9pm while hubby goes to the gym. LOL
Buey tahan this man.
There is a small panel of window that we can open to listen to the falls, it was so soothing!
Love it!
Stay tune for Day 2!!!
Labels: Cave of the winds, embassy suites, family vacation 2013, goat island, Life in Dallas 2013, niagara falls
