My Memorable Trip to Niagara Falls- With pictures!!

Super finish to a super travel logue. You have quite a flair writing and seem to be a perfectionist in doing your job. Great pictures and the udupi lunch menu - hmm....sent me drooling. So what your next plan for summer?

Regards,
Priya

Dear Rajmi,

Mikka Nanri !! Asai pottu mudikumbodhu enna theriyaradhunnu sollungo ! Romba Sandosham!

I feel since I enjoyed each and every minute of my trip, it is still green in my memory and able to share it with you all.

If the IL'ites are upto it, I can share the places that I had visited !

Sure, you will visit this place...keep dreaming and planning and one day you might be there !!

Cheers
Krithika

Originally Posted by rajmiarun

Dear Krithika,
Kannu munnadi kondu vanthu niruthinatha meduva asai poda nichayama enakku rendu naalavathu pidikum.

I love going to places, but that is not the same case with husband. He is not that much interested in travelling. But atlast we have decided for a long trip that is different.

The entire description, the way you started and the reaching back home, I really relished every single detail, mm by mm. Ezhaichirukeenga. I have no words to describe how I felt. I really felt like visiting Niagara myself.

Though I have it in the list of places that I wish to visit atleast once in my life time, I dont know when it will happen. But you have given me a chance to visit it viritually. Your memory is also too sharp and so is your style. Do continue with your travelogues more.

My dear krithika,
Yes,my dear friend Iam panting and breathing hard,but Iam so excited that Iam walking with you.
It so thoughtful of you to give information about how to book tickets,where to stay etc.Now let us continue,my friend,Iam enjoying this trip with you as much as you enjoyed it with your family.
lots of love
mithila

Dear krithika,
Great!I loved this travellogue.Thank you for the trip ,
love
mithila

Originally Posted by Jithiks

Dear all,

Sure, many of us would have visited Niagara Falls in USA & Canada.

Each of our experience would have been unique, memorable and cherished forever. It will be permanently etched in our memory.

Some may have been fortunate enough to have visited this great “Natural Wonder” many times. Others, might be planning for a trip to see the falls this Spring/Summer.

I noticed that many IL’ites had asked for information about the visit to Niagara falls, hotels to stay, Indian restaurants, attraction to see, deals on tickets etc. Instead of giving itsy-bitsy informations here and there, I thought that I would share my trip to “Niagara Falls”.

We visited this "Great Natural Wonder" last summer in August 2007. It was one mind blowing and refreshing journey. We had decided to drive down the whole way just for a change. And I should say, we did not regret it one bit.
Initially, I felt going by flight with the kids will be much convenient, but thinking of the long lines at the airport and the invariable delay @ the NY airports,not to mention the exhorbitant flight tickets, made me reconsider this.

Driving down to Niagara was quite adventurous and enjoyable. Most of all, my kids loved it and are now more than ready to go for long long drives.

My narration is quite longggg,(like Hanumar Vaal- meaning Hanuman’s tail) but loaded with lots of information too. In between I have included some tips too !
We had also taken so many pictures & Video in this trip. I will also share some pictures that we had taken.
Hope you can all take a walk/ride/swim through the memory lane with me.
In fact, this memory brings a broad smile to my face and I feel excited to share this with all of you.

Now for the details about the trip…

Niagara Falls Trip- 1
We left on Aug16^th ‘07, Thursday evening and came back on Sunday,
Aug19th night. The whole trip was really awesome and fabulous!

On Aug 16th, we left home @ around 6:30pm. Just as soon as we started driving on the freeway, there was a big storm..with thunder &lightning and we could not see the way @ all!! Many cars had stopped over the shoulder with flashers on and waited till the heavy rain subsided. We also stopped. After about 10mts, we resumed the journey. Meanwhile, we were saying Arjuna...arjuna...Baba..baba...because the lightning was terrible!! What a start !!

{Tip 1- Even if GPS is installed in your car, it is wise to carry printouts of maps from google/mapquest/yahoo etc. Always carry umbrellas, rain coats etc. Be prepared for changing weather. }

Anyway...after that the ride was quite smooth and we stopped for dinner @ around 8:30pm..had our idlis, curd rice with aloo curry and mango thokku ( usual menu for our rides!!) Since chapattis and pooris change texture after sometime...kids prefer idlis & curd rice only...or given a choice...they would prefer eating out. Since we were going to eat out for the next 3days..decided to pack dinner.

Later, after an hrs drive...we reached Hagerstown, a small city in Maryland state. We stayed there for the night at Comforts Inn. We booked a room for the night in this inn 2 days before our journey. Since we had decided to take a break in between, we felt this would be the best choice.

Next day morning, (Friday)...had a so so…breakfast at the hotel..(cereal, bagels etc) and resumed our driving @ 9am. Then stopped @ Pittsburgh for lunch @ Taco bell and gas.
There was a 30min delay from the freeway here called “Penna turnpike” because of some accident. From Virginia, we need to cross the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania and finally come to New York state.

At last we reached the city of “Niagara Falls” @ around 6:30pm..fri evening. So, it had taken us 13 hours drive. (excluding the night stay & including stops for food/rest area)
"Niagara falls" is a city in the State of New York. There is also the city of NY which is at the southeastern tip of NY state. Niagara falls is located at the North west part of NY state above the Buffalo city.


Attached some pics...

Will continue with our journey...please join me friends...

Cheers
pic(1)- Buffalo, NY
pic(2)- Peace Bridge, Buffalo, NY
pic(3)- Downtown Buffalo
pic(4)- Tunnel thru Maryland
pic(5)-Sign board for American Falls

dear krithika,
i enjoyed whatever i saw, and am happy i could travel with you including your thayir sadam and thokku and idli being my favorite...sure way to help who ever has to go to places with all details..great lady carry on..sunkan

Dear Krithika,

It was intentional that I did not read this piece on Niagara from you till now. I knew it was a long piece and wanted to read and enjoy it in peace, hence had reserved it to read only when I had the time to do so.

This morning, I am totally gratified that Niagara appeared before my eyes in all its splendour, thanks to Jithiks!

Goes without saying that 'you write so well'. Many do, but in this case it had to be exacting as it was a personal impression and experience that you are reporting here for the benefit of future visitors to this enchanting falls. As such, you have done a great job. Like Ammukutti says, it is a special privilege to remember one's trips and reproduce it in such a great detail. Take me for instance, I have been there twice and apart from a few names and ofcourse the visual splendour of these falls, other details are vague or forgotten!

"They have a caption for this.... "It's just as well you're speechless. No one can hear you over the roar". We get very close to the falls and kept clicking away for pictures. We also had to be careful not to get the camera & video wet. It was quite an emotional moment and along with the water drops, came the tears too ! (Don't ask me what is there to cry for this..I don't know! )"

I could fully empathize with you here. These lines touched me. The tears happen Krithika because we are standing right in front of HIS hands which has created this amazing scenario we witness. I think almost all natural wonders will leave us feeling insignificant and minute and of course in His/Her presence!!

I am now wondering as to when your family will take on the next road trip or any trip for that matter. Because, I am ripe for another holiday at my desk!!

As for now, you have travelled right into FP forum with a nomination for your write up, congrats!

L, Kamla

PS: Hey, where are you and your family in the pics. It is only a MUST that you add them, all of us would like to see please?:)

Dear Krithika,

Glad that you all reached safely after having a heavy lunch without sleeping there ... Thank God, the weather wasn't that bad for you when you drove back ... My mouth started watering by your family menu hmm you should be lucky to get a lovely lunch like SB ... We can't see our South Indian Tiffins here .. not even in Paris it tastes Good :rolleyes: ammadi idduku namma samaiyalae theivala (our cooking itself is better) ... hhmmmmmm ... awaiting to land our chennai ...

It was such a wonderful trip with family and I really enjoyed reading your Memorable Trip ... ... Thanks for sharing here Friend ... Hope everyone will be benefited for those who haven't visited it he he me too ...

Regards, Suni ...

Hi Jithiks,

You are really a good narrator. Reading your experiences was like reading a good book.Thanks for all those great tips(the most practical one about indian restaurants) as we Indians have great expectations when it comes to our food items.

It has always been a dream to visit Niagara but since our kids are small we are waiting for a couple of years before going on this dream vacation.

Thanks,
Sudha

Hi Happywoman,

Happy to know that you had been reading my narration from the beginning. Truly understand where you come from..usually we wait till the end of a movie or story to give our final feedback..thanks for stepping in and giving your comments.

I am sure if you try harder, you can recollect the wonderful and even the minute details from your trip...because our mind is much powerful than a computer !

As for the Indian restaurants, we did take a printout of all of them in that area...one thing..we didn't call to check..that is why I included that as a tip. Moreover, the roads and the locations change a lot and are not updated in the websites very often.
Glad you could read my narration as part of your coffee time !!

Cheers
Krithika

Originally Posted by happywoman

hi Jithiks,

I had been a silent reader of this thread and was waiting for the climax. Sorry that i did not reply in between. This does not mean that i less appreciate what you have written. I felt the suspense like in the daily soaps....OMG...you really impressed me very much. I remembered my trip to Switzerland (titlis.lucerne,jungfrau,zurich etc) i wish i too could remember the small details but no way im going to remember even if i scratch my head sharply. All i can do is take outt the video cassette of our trip and relive the memories.
I dont know how comfortable i will feel when i will visit the Niagara with my family (of 2kids) but i thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog at my own pace with a cup of hot coffee every time i visited this thread.
One more thing i wanted to say is about your hunt for Indian food in the journey. I remember taking a printout of the Indian restaurants when we visited Europe.
Keep up the good work. Write about your other journeys also. Im sure many of us will be interested to read.

Hi Lakshmi,

Your comments make me so happy and glad that I could be of a little help for your Niagara trip !

So cute, your daughter...crying cos of the Ponchos instead of the raincoat..haha!
It happens to many of us. Only difference, we couldn't cry..but swallow our dissapointment !

Do share your experiences here Lakshmi..by the way, did you find the restaurants inside the Food court and opposite the visitor center?

Cheers
Krithika

Originally Posted by lakshmip

hi jithiks,


thanks for the post yaar.i hv checked u'r post some 10 days ago.last weekend we were to nigara for the first time.it was great.we enjoyed it.u'r post helped us alot.

just one funny thing i would share my 3 yr old daughter was crying throughout the boat trip coz she didn't like the blue cover they gave to wear.
she was expecting some good raincoat kinda thing ...but they didn't gave her.anyways...nice post. and pls some body post some trips they made .

love
lakshmi.