GaliWalker
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Post by GaliWalker on Feb 7, 2022 5:23:10 GMT -8
Niagara Falls (New York, Feb/6/2022)I visited Niagara Falls yesterday. While the temperature was a relatively comfortable 18°F at 7:15am, when I reached Niagara Falls, there was an 18mph wind blowing which put the perceived temperature at 2°F. Drat! Taking pictures was an ordeal, particularly the switching of lenses, and I had no idea at the time if they would turn out okay or not, because my hands were too frozen to check what I'd taken. SunriseThe Cave of the Winds is a boardwalk complex that is constructed right below the American and Bridal Veil Falls. While the majority of the structure is taken down during winter, the entrance ramp is permanent. In 2010, I was lucky enough to be in a group of 4-5 people who were allowed down onto the Cave of the Winds entrance ramp, as part of the State Park's 125th anniversary. Well, it seems that they have now started to run the elevator during winter. Since I'd only snapped off a few quick shots on my 2010 trip, because of the nature of that visit, this time around I spent about an hour down there. It was a gorgeous sunny day, which made Niagara Falls do its typical rainbow factory trick. Skylon Tower, CanadaThree Sisters Islands
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 7, 2022 19:15:19 GMT -8
Wow.
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Post by autumnmist on Feb 8, 2022 9:23:49 GMT -8
Stunningly beautiful, and cold!
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Post by rachelsdad on Feb 15, 2022 11:25:14 GMT -8
Great pix!
I was there last Thursday. I was in downtown Buffalo and decided to take the 20+ minute drive over.
Interesting to see the difference on the American vs. Canadian side. Sad to say the U.S. side looks a bit like 1960's Eastern Europe while the Canadian side is, (was), booming. But then we've not been allowed there in a couple years :(
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GaliWalker
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Post by GaliWalker on Feb 15, 2022 11:37:58 GMT -8
There used to be a few restaurants that I would eat at on previous winter trips, all of which were taken before the pandemic hit. These restaurants had now closed, and it took some effort to find lunch. Having said that, I still prefer the US side to the Canadian side: more to do (from an outdoors recreation perspective). I wonder how much of that has to do with the creation of Niagara Falls State Park - the first of its kind in the US - when a conscious decision was made to move away from a carnival atmosphere and to more of a scenic spectacle.
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Post by Coolkat on Feb 15, 2022 11:48:11 GMT -8
I wonder how much of that has to do with the creation of Niagara Falls State Park - the first of its kind in the US - when a conscious decision was made to move away from a carnival atmosphere and to more of a scenic spectacle. I've never been there so I'm curious if this is a new development?
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GaliWalker
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Post by GaliWalker on Feb 15, 2022 12:18:55 GMT -8
Not new. Niagara Falls State Park is America’s first state park. It was established in 1885. Before that the entire place was fair grounds, carnival barkers and other shenanigans.
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Post by hikerjer on Mar 10, 2022 19:29:48 GMT -8
Interesting experience for me. Last fall I was on my way to New England to visit friends. On the way I passed through New York about 50 miles south of Niagara Falls. While pausing at a rest stop a man noticed my out of state plates and approached me to ask if I was planning to visit Niagara Fals. I told I hadn’t planed on it and probably wouldn’t. He then asked me if I was in a hurry. I wasn’t. He then asked me if I had ever seen them. I hadn’t and said so. He looked me straight In the eyes for about a minute without saying anything. The he said, “Let me get this straight. You’re less than an hour from Niagara Falls, you’re not in a hurry and you’ve never seen them. Still, you’re not going to visit them.” He sighed and again, looked me in the eyes again and said, “Don’t be an idiot”. That convinced me to drive up and see them. They were spectacular. So glad I did. I owe that guy.
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GaliWalker
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Post by GaliWalker on Mar 10, 2022 19:50:48 GMT -8
^ Absolutely!
In western Pennsylvania there aren’t too many spots close by that rival the western States in scale of the landscape. I know of just two that are within a 4hr drive for me: Niagara Falls and Hocking Hills (in eastern Ohio).
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balzaccom
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Post by balzaccom on Mar 13, 2022 5:55:42 GMT -8
It's also nice to remember that the commercialization of Niagara Falls is one of the elements that led to the creation of the National Park Service. They didn't want to see the same thing happen in Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc.
Just goes to show that making mistakes is sometimes a good way to learn!
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