Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
and Surrounding Area
June 2003 and 2009

 .

Over the course of time, we had a chance to cruise the old neighborhoods where we grew up and capture some photos. This first series of photos was taken on the Canadian side of the border. Regrettably from an American point of view, the Canadian side of the border is far superior aesthetically. Over the last century, the Canadian side of the border - from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario - has been preserved as manicured parkland while the American side - with few exceptions, such as Lewiston and Youngstown - has been industrialized and in the recent past, much of these industrialized sites have been abandoned leaving a blighted landscape.

 

 
Always one of my favorites since I was a kid - the Flower Clock - on the Canadian side, near the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge....  

We continued along the gorgeous Niagara Parkway on the Canadian side along the lower Niagara River to the point where the river empties into Lake Ontario, at the quaint and picturesque town of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario.

Pictured here is the Prince of Wales Hotel. The lush flowers adorn the entire downtown area of Niagara-On-The-Lake. It's like Main Street in Disney World - without the $60 admission.
 
This is just another view of the Prince of Wales Hotel taken from the opposite corner. Note the horse drawn carriage which is available for hire. This is just another view of the Prince of Wales Hotel taken from the opposite corner. Note the horse drawn carriage which is available for hire.  

If horse drawn carriages aren't your thing, why not try one of the horseless carriages that are also available to tour the area, along with a driver dressed in period costume.  

This is a 1929 Model T - original cost - about $500.
 

Sticking to the transportation theme, here's a more modern opportunity. This jet boat - "a gigantic jet ski," leaves Niagara-On-The-Lake and takes a placid ride 7 miles upstream to Lewiston, then takes another 5 mile ride through the lower Niagara Rapids to the Whirlpool.

I didn't think the cost was too bad - about $50 Canadian.  I've rafted the Grand Canyon - why not the Niagara?

  

As an American, I'm proud to say that the United States and Canada enjoy the longest, undefended, international border in the world.  Other countries could take a lesson.

Anyway, this photo is taken from Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada looking across the Niagara River as it empties into Lake Ontario, looking at historic Fort Niagara on the American side of the river.
 
Just a bit upstream from Niagara-On-The-Lake, I captured this photo - looking across the Niagara River at Youngstown, New York - a quaint village in its own right.  

The lower Niagara River between Youngstown and Lewiston, New York is very picturesque.  Tourists should take the Niagara Parkway on the Canadian side and the more adventurous could take the Whirlpool Jet Boat shown above.

Along the Niagara Parkway are many picnic areas and a bicycle path that runs from Niagara Falls to Niagara-On-The-Lake - I would estimate at approximately 20 miles.
     

Our last photo from the Niagara Parkway looks across the lower Niagara River to the town of Lewiston, New York.

In the background you can see the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge - connecting appropriately Lewiston, New York and Queenston, Ontario, Canada.  In the background, behind the bridge, is the American Power Project - a hydroelectric generating station.