Groundhog Day

Sunday, 11 October 2009

Road Trip Day 53

So, where was I last night? Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, home of the famous weather predicting Groundhog of folklore and movie stardom.

Kidding!

OK, you probably saw that coming but having stayed at the home of the Groundhog Day I couldn't resist making the obvious joke. Here's the real entry...

- + - - | - - + - - | - - + - - | - - + - - | - - + -

All Falls Down

Monday, 12 October 2009

Road Trip Day 54

I ticked another one of those huge, unmissable sites off my list today. The area around the falls is covered in Casinos, Hotels, Restaurants and observation points. It's not too horrible though and I avoided the tackier parts, heading straight for the New York State Park and started my day with a look at the main attraction. In this photo the falls closest are America Falls with a very slight gap to the much narrower Bridal Veil Falls. In the distance you can see the mist billowing around the much larger Horseshoe Falls.

Misty Misty

I bought the bundled ticket of several attractions for one price and started with the much recommended trip on the Maid of the Mist. When you board the boat it feels sturdy enough, but viewed from above you get an idea of how much it bobs around in the turbulent water below the falls.

It's a great trip to take and an international tourist rite of passage. I got suitably drenched and spent the rest of the day with squishy shoes.

Still, it was worth it, though as the day was cold it took me a long time to dry out. With that in mind I chose not to do the Cave of the Winds walk. I was temped by the attractive high grip sandals and yellow poncho, but not by the prospect of spending the rest of the day soaking wet.

Other Stuff

There are other attractions at the falls but, frankly, they are a little tired. The Discovery Centre gives some of the history and geology of the Niagara Gorge but it's very simplistic. Over the road is an Aquarium with some pretty fish, twitchy penguins and some sealions.

Still, the area is really all about the Falls themselves which are pretty spectacular and well worth the visit.

Goodnight.

Stats - Day Eighty

Distance travelled - 0 miles - Stayed in Buffalo, NY

State count - 34 + DC + B.C.

Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205, 210, 246, 118, 3, 145, 229, 111, 207, 206, 40, 605, "Cowboy", 35, 11, 18, 262, 216, 208, 430, 216, 59, 226, 115 / 110*, 309, 30, 8, 255, 428, 209, "Spare", 105, 207, 227, 126

*room switch