Beautiful Niagara

Our trip to Niagara Falls for our 20th anniversary celebration was just fabulous!  I really didn't know what to expect from the falls, as I didn't do a whole lot of research before the trip and I've never even seen more than a photo or two.  No one has ever told me about a trip to Niagara Falls.  However, I had heard some of the rhetoric about the American side vs. the Canadian side.

You be the judge...

American Bridal Veil Falls

Canadian Horseshoe Falls

Well, let me just say that it is absolutely a remarkable place to visit.  How this amazing flow of water was formed is beyond my comprehension.  The amount of water that goes over those falls every minute of every day is mind boggling (why doesn't it stop?).  The energy the falls produce is astounding.  Stand above, beside, or at the foot of the falls (in a little boat) and the roar of the falls is deafening.

Bill and I really do love to travel.  Doesn't matter where.  We could very easily be considered your "typical tourist" or "crazy Americans".  We like to experience all the destination has to offer, partake of all the local flavor, hot spots, things to do, things to see, and take WAY TOO MANY pictures.  We would/could not travel to such a destination and not see it from every angle, both countries, top & bottom, and wear the mist in our hair, our clothes, and on our camera lenses.

The weather was iffy to say the least.  Very cool September week.  We had grey overcast skies most of the time (until the last two days) and a bit of rain.

The whole Niagara area is clean, clean!  Beautifully landscaped parks, walkways & flowers!

The Secret Garden

The falls are even more spectacular at night (although very hard to photograph) and one of the most romantic strolls for a couple.  A couple celebrating 20 years together.

Fireworks every Friday and Sunday nights!

The countryside is beautiful.  Green, heavily forrested, and lush.  Very clean.  The Niagara penninsula is also a wine making, grape growing paradise.  Wineries for miles and miles.  We spent a day wine tasting and just fell in love with Canada's Icewine.  Yumm!  So sweet.  So expensive!  In fact, one of the best meals we had the entire trip was at a small winery.  Fresh baked bread from the outside brick oven, a french menu, a beautiful view over the grapes, and I was in heaven!  Our cute little waiter with his thick French accent...just perfect.  

Ravine Winery (a historic 1812 civil war site)

Because we flew to Toronto, we also spent some time enjoying this beautiful city.  It's really very metropolitan, reminded me a lot of New York City, but has the enormous Lake Ontario recreational offerings. The City is booming & bustling with at least a dozen high rize-high-end luxury condo projects under construction and boasts a low 7% unemployment rate (hmm...maybe we'll move to Canada). 

We were able to reconnect and lower the stress load we've been carrying for some time.  I'm grateful for a big life event to celebrate to get us out of the routine, even if it just for a short week.  We feel refreshed and happy. 

Ready for the next 20...