The choice to stop in Toronto is not much more than a way to avoid a long haul flight to Europe from Las Vegas. It works, but there is so much to see in the area, and I only have one full day. I decided to book a full day tour to visit Niagara Falls, a 9.5 hour round trip from Toronto.
Toronto To Niagara Falls
The tour made a couple of interesting stop along the way. The first which I did not think I would enjoy, but proved otherwise is a winery. The 20 Bees Wintery is a brief stop for a tasting (and of course purchasing is if you like.
I am not a wine drinker, and the reds and whites did not interest me too much. However, one that caught my taste buds is their icewine. There are certain conditions in winter that winemakers need to create Icewine. The grapes are harvested at night and only after being exposed to three consecutive days of temperatures of -8 or below. As a result, when the grapes get pressed they are near to frozen and only excrete 1-2 drops of the nectar from the grape. It results in a very sweet dessert wine; that is rather expensive. It takes around the same number of grapes to make 30 cases of wine.
Niagara On The Lake
Niagara On The Lake is a small historic village. The main street does not look to have had much change in 40-50 years. The array of stores along the street is quite an eclectic collection. There are varying goods from groceries to second-hand clothes, Christmas decorations and cafes. The stop was brief but well worth getting a chance to take a look at this beautiful little town.
Niagara Floral Clock
The final stop before heading to Niagara Falls is a Floral Clock. I had previously seen a floral clock when I visited Melbourne. However, I must say that this clock is a little more impressive than the one in Melbourne. The primary factor is the size, with this clock measuring 12 feet across.
Niagara Falls
Upon arrival at Niagara Falls, I have no other words to describe the scene it but spectacular. The falls are created by a 50-meter high rock face in a horseshoe shape that the water spills over. Almost 4 million cubic feet of water (110,000m3) fall over the crest line every minute on average.
As you approach Niagara Falls, you get the impression that it may be raining. Until you realise that the water crashing to the bottom of the waterfall is creating the mist. A result of the force it impacts and subsequently the mist being pushed up into the air.
The first stop at the falls is something called Behind The Falls. It is a viewing platform set at the bottom and just to the side of the falls. Thankfully raincoats are provided because the mist down here could quickly saturate you otherwise.
The greatest challenge I found at Niagara Falls was capturing a good photo. I think this will depend a lot on the conditions each day, as it was the mist which created the biggest challenge for me. If the wind had only been blowing the other way, there would have been some very different photos. However, one thing the mist creates is plenty of opportunities to photograph a rainbow.
Taking the time to see Niagara Falls was worth it. I would have liked to be able to explore more of Toronto, but of course, that just means I will need to return in the future. However, I am very glad that I had the opportunity to visit Niagara Falls.
