We made several stops in New York en route to New England, starting in Niagara Falls, NY. We were perched right next to the thundering waters of the Niagara River as it dropped 176 feet. We took the scenic route along Lake Ontario to our awesome accommodations for the evening in Sodus, NY.

Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
To start at the beginning of this series, visit Fall for New England 2021.

Oh, the Memories…

Thoughts of our last visit to Niagara Falls just bring back smiles. It was a road trip with our daughters and (now) son-in-law. Two slept in a tent with three in a dilapidated rental pop-up.

We travelled north, up the coast of Lake Michigan and over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to Brimley State Park where temps dipped into the 30s (in August). Our first shopping of the trip was Walmart for sweatpants and more blankets.

After we crossed the border, we spotted Canadian Bacon (from a distance, thank goodness) and camped again at Killbear Provincial Park. Curious name for a park. Wish we would have thought through the 5 pounds of BBQ ribs we were grilling (at night) – because the boys were in no shape to be killing any bear. Thank goodness it wasn’t necessary.

We set up camp in Niagara Falls (Canada) for three nights. The weather was great (for a while) and we had fantastic views of the falls and a wonderful dinner at the top of the Skylon Tower, along with a ride on the Maid of the Mist. Our last day turned to crap and we went on the Journey Behind the Falls because we were wet anyway.

Torrential rain kept us at our camper that afternoon so, we played a few drinking games, prompting a pizza delivery and my calculating a tip in Canadian dollars that I will NEVER live down! Each time we reminisce, my tip increases exponentially! We bypassed our stop to the Dunes in Michigan because everything we brought was soaked to its core. A hot mess of a trip, but one we will never forget!

Fast forward 16 years…

Water Water Everywhere!

After our last trip to Niagara Falls we were convinced that America had the best falls, but the Canadians had the best views. We had intentions of spending a night at a fancy hotel with a great view on the Canadian side, based on the assumption that Covid would be in the rear view. As our road trip approached, that was clearly not the case. The photo in the header at the top of this post and the one just above were our first glimpses of the Niagara River making its way down stream on this beautiful day.

The Best Laid Plans

Just a three hour drive from Cleveland, we opted to stop for a couple of hours on the New York side of the Falls on our way to a B&B near Lake Ontario. Since the main lot was full, we lucked out with on-the-street parking right near the American Falls Pedestrian Bridge for $5/hour. We plugged in two hours and headed out.

From this location we were not able to climb (or elevator up) the Observation Tower (the green column in the photo above), but we also weren’t exposed (literally) to the throngs of people swarming around it. Sounds like a good reason for a third visit sometime soon.

The bridge got us up close and personal with the water that was heading for the big drop. We walked over Green Island, Goat Island and then onto Luna Island. We quickly agreed that the views may be better from the Canadian side, but standing next to the falls – with the thunder and the spray – was more of a rush!

75,000 Gallons per Second

We were perched on the edge of Luna Island – in between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls! Stats on a nearby sign boast a crestline of 1,100 feet, a height of 176 feet, and a summer daytime flow of 75,000 gallons per second. Wow!

Brave Birdy

The seagull (above) wasn’t worried at all about being swept away! Can you imagine going over these falls in a barrel? Ya, me neither!

Enjoy a few shots of Horseshoe Falls and be sure to click through them for a larger view. Although it’s difficult to get a panoramic view of these falls (like across the border), the sound of the rushing water was a fantastic alternative!

On the Road Again

We drove along Lake Erie on I90, north on 290 up to Lake Ontario and on to Seabreeze Pier in Irondequoit, NY. Its Amusement Park has been open since 1879 and although we had hoped to catch a glimpse, we didn’t really have time to ride on “The Jack Rabbit” anyway. Too bad, since it’s the fourth oldest roller coaster still in operation in the world! Shortly after that we came to the end of the road at a closed bridge and a very small parking lot.

We were trying to figure out the logistics of this bridge which seemed to be stuck for eternity in the closed position. We came to the conclusion that it may have operated like a train turntable and in its open position may have allowed traffic to cross. But cross to where? Baffled, we enjoyed a view of the beautiful marina on the other side wondering where the bridge may have lead. I guess I didn’t feel the need to take a photo of the lighthouse, so visit the link above if you’re so inclined.

Welcome to our BB&B

Not just any B&B, this was Burnap’s Bed & Breakfast and Beyond in Sodus, NY. We thoroughly enjoyed our short visit amid the apple orchards, grape vines, and the wonderfully restored old mansion. Visit the link for the history behind this wonderful B&B (&B).

Although carrying our bags up those old stairs was no treat, once we arrived in our room it was gorgeous! It was decorated so beautifully with antique pieces and the bathroom was very modern and beautiful. Our bed was so comfortable, we melted into it until the next morning when we headed downstairs to check out the gazebo area and the breakfast portion of our stay on this fabulous morning!

The Highlight of our Stay!

The flowers were lovely and it was also breakfast time for several baby birds in a nest under the gazebo roof. Our hostess (Jan) sat with us for a while and told us some history of the place while we sipped coffee on the gazebo in the morning sunlight. That was truly the highlight of our stay.

We bought a bottle of Burnap’s wine because Jan and her husband, and their daughter Kendra Burnap (owner of the establishment) were pictured on the bottle. Although the wine was not made onsite, it was made with their grapes. We enjoyed our bottle when we arrived back home after our adventures, with wonderful memories of this beautiful area of New York. Cheers to the Empire State!

Next up: Historic Wilmington

Happy trails,
Barb