Camping Trip Days 3: Niagara Falls

After getting a bit lost (and probably added to some sort of watch list for passing the HUGE power plant 87923840 times) we found our camp ground (I had the wrong address) and had a VERY late dinner.  We had planned on going out to the falls at night, but we were just too freakin' tired.  So the kids played at the playground and then we went to sleep for and exciting DAY NUMBER 3 (3...3...3...that's an echo.)
We had planned on doing many things at Niagara Falls and it was a bit overwhelming, so when we saw the sign for a Discovery Pass, we jumped on it.  It got us into everything we wanted to see plus some and got us on the trolley as well.

our camp site

our trunk with all the camping supplies out... still amazed it all fits.

breakfast!

horseshoe falls

so right before this picture was taken, there was a father who was taking a picture of his daughter.  Grace saw the whole thing and grabbed me and said, take MY picture... and ran over to the same spot.  I think she may have been annoyed that mom and Elijah were also in the picture.

trolley=best thing EVER!

rapids leading to the falls.

maid of the mist line.

this is how Grace rode the whole time.  She did NOT want to get her face wet.  It worked well for her though.

The US falls with the Canada falls in the background.

After the Maid of the Mist, we had lunch and caught an IMAX movie.  And a little running around time.

Then off to the Cave of the Winds.  We found out (after standing in line for a few minutes) that you have to wear their very fashionable footwear.  At least we all matched... and we got to keep the sandals... score?

Already getting wet.

so at this point I'm seeing the water rush under us and thinking... holy crap, my kids could TOTALLY fit through that railing.

yeah.  those little yellow things did nothing to keep you dry.  On the way up we passed a couple ids wearing their bathing suits... THAT was a good idea.

Grace wasagain not so fond of massive amounts of water splashing her in the face.

So mom took her back down while Elijah and  I went up to the Hurricane Deck.  Yeah, that would be the falls falling ONTO the deck.  Up we went.

And this was as close to the falls as I would let Elijah go.  That isn't his hair, it's one of the ties flying up in his face.  It was SO windy and SO wet up there.  Insane.  I'm glad Grace didn't go, because it would have freaked me out.  She's so little.  Heh.

And we all came out safe, sound, and a little wet.  We learned that they take the stairs down every winter and rebuild them in the spring.  Wouldn't want that job at all!  Also they actually diverted the water once to the Canadian side to measure the erosion of the falls.  I think it's insane that they can turn the falls off.  heh.

the top of the US falls.

Off to the Aquarium... penguins

sea lions

seals... and many other things... but those were the highlights.  There was a Discovery Center on our list, but it closed earlier than everything else and we missed it. It's all good.  We were beat.  And the next day was a trip to Lake Bomoseen, VT.  Everyone needed a good rest.  But first a little playing in the pool!