Maid of the Mist (Niagara Falls, Canada)

If you are planning a trip to Niagara Falls, you should ensure to include The Maid of the Mist on your travel agenda. I first rode on The Maid of the Mist over thirty years ago (the history dates back to the mid-1800s...far before my time). This ferry can be boarded from either shore. I normally stay on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, so I boarded on the Canadian side. The boat ride is located a ten to fifteen minute walk downstream from the Canadian Niagara Falls Visitor's Center. During my recent visit to Niagara Falls in July, I revisited this special attraction from my younger days.

If you follow the walkway down along the river, you cannot miss The Maid of the Mist. A viewing plaza along with tourist shops and restaurant block the walkway, either forcing you around or over the entrance to the boat ride. Tickets booths are set up on the walkway facing both approaches to the attraction. When we arrived, there were three ticket booths operating (coming from the visitor's section direction). I walked straight to the window and purchased my tickets. I used my credit card, which converted the Canadian price to U.S. along with a small International surcharge. In total, it ended up being less than the advertised $14.50 Canadian and slightly better (with the current exchange rate) than the advertised U.S. currency price of $13.50. My son's ticket was $8.90. Children under five are free.

After purchasing the tickets, cattle gates direct you towards a cement walkway that runs along the main structure. As you zig-zag down the walkway, you arrive at an elevator, where you have to wait for an employee to pack everyone onto the next elevator. We were able to get on the next elevator and ride down. As we exited the elevator from the other side, I was able to see a fairly large line forming on the other side for the ride back topside. We followed the cattle gates from the elevator towards a large tent where we were provided with a cheaply constructed blue rain jacket emblazoned with The Maid of the Mist logo. We donned our raincoats and proceeded forward to the docks.

Upon arrival at the docks, they were preparing to board the next ferry. We were near the front and were able to pick our poison. Most people rushed towards the top, exposed portion of the boat. I began by moving forward towards the front of the boat, but did not like the way the uneven floor followed the prow upward. The area also started to get crowded quickly. Looking back at the fantail, I noticed that no visitors were gathered in that area. We moved to the back of the boat, which was far more comfortable. The only disadvantage of riding in the back was the poor quality of the sound system. We had difficulty hearing the history being narrated from that position. What we did have was unadulterated views of the falls and plenty of room to move around. Not having a crowd was a worthwhile trade-off for the narration.

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Skylon Tower Revolving Restaurant, Niagara Falls, Canada

Skylon Tower, the tallest structure near Niagara Falls, is one of the focal points of the Niagara Falls skyline. The structure was poured in 1964 at a cost of 7 million dollars. The 520 foot structure was opened in October 1965. The yellow elevators are visible from a good distance, running up and down the exterior of the tower core. The elevators have plenty of windows for breath-taking views of the falls as you make your ascent (and again during your descent). The skylines of Buffalo, New York and Toronto, Ontario are visible from the viewing deck of the tower.

Skylon Tower is home to an observation deck as well as a buffet style dining room and a revolving restaurant. The elevator ride to the observation deck runs around eight dollars for children and thirteen dollars for adults. If you eat at either restaurant, the cost of the elevator ride is factored into the cost of dinner. My group opted to dine at the revolving restaurant, where you enjoy a panoramic view of the city and falls while you dine. The revolving restaurant takes one hour to complete a full rotation. The revolving part of the restaurant is situated on a track that runs around the outer perimeter of the room. Elevated bar type tables are located on the inside part of the track while tables that seat four sit directly next to the large windows overlooking the city. A narrow walkway runs between the tables to allow for careful navigation in and out of the dining area. Several breaks in the inside wall allow you to step off the revolving platform to enter or exit.

I visited the Skylon Tower for lunch, figuring the prices would be a bit friendlier at lunch time than they would be during dinner. When I was presented with my menu, I was expecting the prices to be high because of the location as well as the conversion between US and Canadian currency (the prices listed were in Canadian dollars). I was still not prepared for the sticker shock I experienced when presented with the menu. A bowl of soup will set you back eleven dollars. A vegetable dinner runs twenty-five dollars at lunch time, while the pasta dishes run closer to thirty dollars. I ordered the New York Sirloin, which was priced at thirty-seven dollars (the dinner portion is listed at fifty dollars). I have eaten beef in Canada before and have found it to be a bit harsh on my taste buds. However, Alberta beef is generally good. I inquired if the beef was Alberta beef and was surprised to learn that is was USDA. My wife ordered Penne Alfredo, my mother ordered a salad and my son ordered a cheeseburger (fifteen dollars on the kids menu).

While we waited (extensively) for our meals to arrive, we took in the grandeur of Niagara Falls. The view was spectacular. I was able to take some excellent photographs from the tower perspective. The skyline of Toronto (and the CN Tower) were visible from fifty to a hundred miles away (I’m not sure of the “crow fly” distance). Buffalo was also visible from the tower. The 3 horsepower motor gently and gradually took us on a circular tour of the city, providing a view of the falls, followed by the city and returning again to the falls side. The restaurant was not crowded, but we arrived for a rather late lunch (after 2:00 PM). Although the view was nice, I found the wait to be a bit excessive. We waited over half an hour for our food.

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