Travel Thursday: Niagara Falls

I meant to get this post out last Thursday when I found out about Alan's surprise five year anniversary trip, but it didn't happen...so this week's #TravelThursday is in honor of our trip to Montreal in September for our five year wedding anniversary! 

Right after we graduated Ball State, we took a trip to Ontario for the week. One of the places we wanted to go was Niagara Falls. 

We visited in May on the Ontario side and I have to agree with those that say the Ontario side is so much better. You get a great view of the American side of the falls and you're literally right next to Horseshoe Falls on the sidewalk.

While the city is VERY touristy - think Branson - we just enjoyed walking along the gorge. We took a ride on Maid of the Mists, which is the boat that gets you super close to the falls. The ponchos they give you to wear? Haha, you still get soaked!

There wasn't a whole lot on the American side open yet since we went in May, but we did go over there, which is in a state park so you get a more "natural" feeling.

Another thing we did while there was ride the cable car across the whirlpool and back. If you know me even a little, then you know how much of a fear of heights I have. I literally spent the hour before it opened going back and forth as to whether or not I was going to do it. I knew Alan really wanted to, but I was terrified.

I must say that I'm really glad I decided to go for it because it was really cool. We were the only ones on the car except for the operator so we got a 360 degree view of the gorge. I will admit that I was a little disappointed by the whirlpool - it wasn't the giant ship sucking spiral that I envisioned - but it was still neat to see something that I otherwise probably wouldn't have. 

While I wouldn't necessarily want to spend my honeymoon at Niagara Falls, there's definitely a reason it used to be the Honeymoon Capital of the World. It's an incredible and humbling experience!