First Mom + Daughter Trip: Niagara Falls (US/Canada Border)
- LoAroundTheGlobo
- Jan 22, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: May 3
May 2022
Over two years into the global pandemic, and the world as I knew it looked and felt completely different. Those two years seemed to fly by and simultaneously stand still. I graduated from law school in 2020, sat for and passed the VA bar exam, worked a fellowship, accepted a job in Northern Virginia where I subsequently lived for one year, then took a new job (with the fellowship organization), and moved to Ohio for a boy I met on the internet.
Even with all these changes plus all those not listed here, my mom was and is a steady force in my life. She has always been my biggest cheerleader and support system. It seemed like high-time to take her on our first-ever mother/daughter trip - just the two of us.
Of all the beautiful places we'd visited together, we always dreamt of going to Niagara Falls but hadn't yet been. So, for Christmas 2021, I surprised her with an Airbnb reservation, flights, and a weekend itinerary. I drove roughly seven hours from my new home in Cincinnati to retrieve her from the Buffalo airport, and we got in line for what would become a four-hour wait to cross the border into Ontario, where our Airbnb was located.
After finally crossing, we drove along the main drag, hysterically laughing about how the downtown seems like a Las Vegas for kids - blinking neon signs everywhere, oversized creatures towering from building-tops and roaring at passersby, haunted houses, mini golf, spooky museums, and other childlike attractions littering the streets. Of all the research I'd done about Niagara Falls, little, if any, material mentioned that the downtown area feels like a miniature Disneyworld.
After settling into our cozy Airbnb, we ventured out for dinner and found ourselves at a beautiful steakhouse overlooking the falls. The panoramic views were surreal, the service incredible, and the togetherness amazing. We wined and dined and were pleasantly surprised by a beautiful show - twinkling rainbow lights and fireworks illuminating the falls!
Our first full day was a busy one... we ventured back across the border into New York, this time on foot. After walking around the state park grounds and exploring the various US-side lookouts of the falls, we went on the "Maid of the Mist" boat-ride. As you make your way down the cliffside to the loading area, they provide you these ridiculous blue ponchos and issue a long list of CYAs - the ride will be rocky, keep your feet planted, protect your valuables, including your technology from the mist, remove any eyewear.
We had an amazing time on this excursion - from taking selfies with the roaring falls and bracing ourselves on the slippery railings to marveling at how massive, powerful, and extraordinary they are. After experiencing the falls from the water, we rode around on the trolly that loops around the US-side peninsula, picking up and dropping off tourists at the designated overlooks. We admired the tons - literally tons - of water pouring over those rocks and reveled at the rainbows that glittered in the mist and sunshine and the birds that dove for fishies swept up in the chaos.
After a late lunch at the international food court on the US-side, we braved the walk back across the bridge, waiting only two hours to enter Canada this time, and settled in for dinner at a restaurant situated under the bright and blinking neon lights before returning to the Airbnb to unwind in the hot tub.
On Sunday, we drove the 1.5 hours to Toronto, passing basically nothing but vineyards and wineries that scatter the coast of Lake Ontario. Needing gas and to inflate my tires about halfway into the drive, we pulled off at a rural gas station where we quickly realized we'd need Canadian coins to feed the tire inflation machine. Before you ask, no we did not have Canadian coins... but we did have my mom's never-met-a-stranger attitude and an elderly, gas-station-regular who seemed willing to help - and who unwittingly upheld the American stereotype for Canadians that they're always kind and unassuming.
With his assistance, we made it to Toronto where an amazing day that included bike riding, lakefront exploring, nude beach observing (emphasis on observing), and tiki-boating was in store for us. Upon our arrival, we rode along the lake, venturing up the daunting hills into various parts of the city, before eventually talking with some seasonal workers who convinced us to take a boat ride over to Toronto Island.
The two teenagers, presumably working partly on commission, indicated to Mom and I that there were three drop-offs at the island; two of which they recommended to us as being "family-friendly" and the third of which was (as they put it) "wilder and for the party people." Mom's middle name is wild so to the nude beach we headed. We really did enjoy exploring the island, especially seeing the panoramic view of downtown Toronto before heading back to our Tiki boat for the trek back to the car. It was a long, perfectly warm and beautifully sunny day that we wrapped up with an easy drive back to Niagara Falls.
On our final day, we walked along the Canada-side of the falls, which included exploring the "Journey Behind the Falls" tunnels (this time yellow-poncho-clad), riding in a tiny gondola, and dining in the Skylon Tower that rotates 360-degrees every hour. This was yet-another gorgeous day of views, quality time, food, and bright sunshine. We couldn't believe how the falls could be even more magnificent or jaw-dropping, and yet, from these different angles and overlooks, we enjoyed an entirely new perspective of this world-wonder each time.
As our final adventure, we decided to visit Ripley's Believe It or Not where we learned how many daredevils had gone over the falls - and the unsurprisingly small percentage of those who survived. There was even a cat who made the plunge and lived to meow the story!
All in all, it was a fantastic mother/daughter weekend - as we shared so many laughs, hugs, moments of awe and togetherness, and created countless memories at this bucket-list destination. One long weekend certainly doesn't compare to the 27+ years of companionship my mom has provided me, but this special treat became our first-annual mother/daughter weekend - and I'm excited to see where this new tradition will take us!
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To Do or Not To Do?
Yes, absolutely! It's as spectacular as everyone says, and there's plenty to do - regardless of age or ability. A word of caution - it's (obviously) a very touristy place, which also means expensive and oftentimes crowded. Be prepared to wait in long lines - for tickets, meals, ideal picture spots, and certainly at Canadian entry-points. Although pricey, each excursion offers a unique experience and perspective of the falls; I recommend picking your top three or four activities and trusting that you'll get the full experience regardless of the activities you select to do.
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