Hey Guys!
This post continues our time exploring all 5 Great Lakes.
Read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, Day 3 here, Day 4 here, Day 5 here, Day 6 here, Day 7 here, Day 8 here, and Day 9 here.…..Click here to see links to all of my blog posts.
After a quick bite to eat, we left our hotel and drove back across Rainbow Bridge to the US side of Niagara Falls.
I actually like this side better than the Canadian side but there are no hotels on the US side that have views of the falls like the Canadian side.
After getting parked near the Top of the Falls Restaurant, we made our way down to see the falls.
As we approached, we were greeted with a beautiful rainbow over the falls!
The colors were so bright and colorful!
If you look closely, you can see a double rainbow!
Of course, we couldn’t pass up on taking a selfie in front of the falls with the rainbow behind us!
I took way too many pictures of the rainbow! 😉
A shot of the Canadian side of Niagara.
After leaving this lookout, we began our walk around the state park.
As we were walking we passed a statue of Nikola Tesla.
Nikola Tesla became a consultant to George Westinghouse who won the contract to harness the power of Niagara Falls to produce AC hydro-electricity.
The Westinghouse-Tesla team engineered a water tunnel 2 miles long and 160 feet deep from the Rapids to the Niagara River just past the American Falls. Some 300,000 tons of earth were removed; 20 million bricks were used to line the tunnel.
On our walk, we passed several observation areas along the way.
Here you can see Prospect Point in the background.
Passing the Cave of the Winds
The wooden decking at Cave of the Winds, is removed every fall and rebuilt every spring to protect them from the ice buildup and damage from the freezing winter conditions at the base of Bridal Veil Falls.
I did this tour during my first trip to Niagara but we decided to skip it this time.
Read reviews here
A shot of the Rainbow Bridge
This is the bridge that connects Canada and the United States.
We decided to head to the Maid of the Mist boat tour since this was my hubby’s first time visiting Niagara. This is a must do tour when visiting Niagara Falls!
Tip: Adult tickets are $30.25 each and children ages 6-12 are $19.75….Purchase tickets here
Once you arrive, you will have your ticket scanned and then be put into a line for the elevator that takes you down to the boat.
Make sure you try and get a spot by the boat’s railing so you can get good pictures without a bunch of people in them!
Tip: You will get wet on this tour….I suggest wearing open toe shoes (sandals, flip flops, etc) and shorts or capris so your pants don’t get wet.
On the boat
We were packed like sardines on the boat!
Passing Cave of the Winds at Bridal Veil Falls.
We spotted another rainbow on the way to the falls!
Passing the American Falls ….it’s much smaller than Horseshoe Falls which is the main falls.
We passed the old Ontario Power Company generating station – a decommissioned hydroelectric plant built in 1905 to harness power from the river.
Nearing Horseshoe Falls
The boat takes you so close that you get drenched from the spray!
A shot of the falls
After the boat did a 360 degree turn so everyone could see the falls, we headed back.
Read reviews for Maid of the Mist here
After getting off the boat, we continued our walk to the different observations points.
Of course, when we spotted the state park sign, we couldn’t resist stopping to snap a photo in front of it.
From here, we decided to head to the Top of the Falls restaurant to have lunch.
Click here for dining options in the park
After waiting for approximately 30 mins, we were finally seated outside with views of the falls.
We decided to order a pretzel as an appetizer, followed by the chicken BLT wrap with fries, which we shared as our main course.
The food is pretty good but the views are amazing!
Read reviews here
After lunch, we headed downstairs to the gift shop to find a t-shirt.
After making our purchase, we decided to hop on the park trolley.
For the cost of $5 pp, this is really the best way to see the park.
The trolley makes several stops along the way….so, you can hop off at any location or stay on the trolley for the entire 3 mile loop.
Read reviews here
At one point, we were the only ones on the trolley! It was like having a private tour!
We passed the Red Coach Inn
The hotel opened its doors for business on August 30, 1923.
Read reviews for the hotel here
After completing the entire 3 mile loop, we hopped off and treated ourselves to ice cream.
We had to place our order on a vending machine and then pick up our ice cream at the window!
We ordered a single scoop of strawberry and a scoop of the Niagara Delight for a cost of $12.00.
After our ice cream, we headed to Three Sisters Islands.
The Three Sisters Islands are a trio of small islands in the Niagara River, accessible from Goat Island via footbridges, offering close up views of the powerful rapids and smaller waterfalls.
We then headed back to our car and drove back to the hotel just to park our car.
On the way, we passed the Hotel Niagara.
The hotel was dedicated on April 8, 1925 and opened for business the following day. It is located 1/4 mile from the Horseshoe Falls.
Once we were back at our hotel, we walked to the nearby Skylon Tower to purchase tickets.
I had wanted to do this during my first visit to Niagara but we didn’t have time to fit it in.
Inside the bottom of the tower
At the top of the tower, there’s a revolving restaurant….I had made reservations to eat here during my first visit but we didn’t have time to make the reservations.
Tip: Tickets are $20 pp
On the elevator going up to the observation deck
The elevators take you up 775 ft in just 52 seconds!
You have amazing views on the way to the top! 
Once you reach the top, you will have 360 degree views of all three waterfalls; American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls.
On a clear day, you can see up to 80 miles!
The views were incredible!
There are inside and outside viewing areas….
Of course, we couldn’t leave without first snapping a quick picture at the top!
After spending several minutes at the top, we headed back down to the bottom floor where I spotted a Starbucks so I decided to order one of their refreshers.
This place is huge!
The entire bottom floor has a fun center that includes arcade games, a 3D/4D movie about the Legends of Niagara Falls, a dare devil barrels exhibit where you can see the barrels used by real daredevils who went over the Falls.
They had one of the barrels on display inside the fun center!
Read reviews hereÂ
After our tower ride, we headed back to our room for a while to rest.
We spotted a rainbow over the falls from our hotel window.
We also had a view of the Skylon Tower from our window.
After resting for a while, we headed back outside and took the Falls Incline Railway down to Horseshoe Falls.
The Niagara Parks Incline Railway provides a fast & convenient link between the Fallsview Tourist area and the Table Rock Centre.
We decided to head to another place that I had wanted to tour on my first visit but didn’t get the chance due to our itinerary being so full ….the Niagara Power Station.
Opened in 1905, this power plant was the first major power plant built on the Canadian side of the Niagara River.
The plant operated for 100 years and provided electricity for Canadians and New Yorkers.
It’s Niagara Falls newest tourist attraction.
Tip: The cost for an adult ticket is $32 for self guided and $42 for a guided tour
Inside the station you will learn about the incredible history of the plant as well as those who kept it running for 100 years.
You will also see repurposed artifacts, interactive exhibits and fascinating installations that offer a first-hand look at how this hydropower pioneer harnessed the power of water to generate electricity.
The power plant used Nikola Tesla-inspired designs to send power to Ontario and New York, operating for a century before becoming the Niagara Parks Power Station museum….so, there is a lot of information in the museum about Nikola Tesla.
They had this amazing light show that was narrated ….it told about the history of how they harnessed electricity from the falls!
It was so cool!
The telephone that was used after the plant was built.
Looking out at Niagara River
There was a gift shop and a cafe inside the museum.
More pictures of the museum
Once you are done touring the museum, you will then get in line to take an elevator down 180 feet beneath the halls of the Niagara Parks Power Station.
A side of the elevator is clear so you can see every floor of the power station along the ride down…it was so interesting!
After reaching the bottom, you will exit the elevator and walk through a 2,200 ft tunnel!
This remarkable tunnel was excavated with only lanterns, rudimentary dynamite, pickaxes and shovels!
They had the tunnel lit up with different colors. 
It was a weird feeling knowing you were 180 ft below the ground!
Along the walk, there were lots of informational signs and artifacts.
Once you get to the end of the tunnel, you are greeted with a gorgeous view of Horseshoe Falls!
It was so cool!
After taking way too many pictures, we headed back inside the tunnel.
The original door to the power plant.
Read reviews here
We then headed back to the Table Rock Center to find something to eat.
Unfortunately, it was after 8 pm and most of the restaurants inside the center had already closed…..we found one place that had burgers that was still open so that’s what we ended up with…..of course, the hubby was completely fine with a burger. 😉
After eating, we headed back outside to wait for the fireworks.
The place was a zoo! It was so crowded!
At exactly 10 pm, they started the fireworks!
They usually only last for 5 mins but since it was the 4th of July, they lasted 10 mins.
It was cool to see the fireworks over the falls that were lit up in different colors.
After the fireworks, we headed back to our hotel.
Views from our hotel window.
Later, we called it a night.
Thanks for reading!
Stay tuned for Day 11!