Niagara Falls Day Trip
Yesterday we went on a day trip to Niagara Falls, NY. We almost didn’t go. I didn’t sleep well on Saturday night, woke up at 6:00 am with a headache, and didn’t feel like getting out of bed. We had planned to leave for Niagara Falls at 7:00 am. I told Bob that I changed my mind about going to Niagara Falls and went back to sleep.
I rolled out of bed at 7:15 am. After taking a shower, I felt better and asked Bob if it would be okay if we went to Niagara Falls as planned. Bob agreed to the trip. I ate a quick breakfast (Bob had eaten breakfast earlier). We departed home, en route Niagara Falls, around 8:30 am.
About an hour into the drive we discovered that neither of us had remembered to bring our U.S. passports. When we planned this day trip, we talked about walking over Rainbow Bridge into Canada for picture-taking opportunities and to pick up whiskey at the Duty-Free Shop. The walk into Canada will have to wait until another day.
Yesterday was our first use of the Empire Passport that we purchased earlier this month. Without the Empire Passport we would have had to pay $10 to park at Niagara Falls State Park. Initially we purchased one passport. We discovered upon receipt of the passport that it had to be permanently affixed to our vehicle. At least half of the year we travel by motorcycle, so we decided to purchase a second Empire Passport for our motorcycle. If we visit Niagara Falls State Park twelve more times before the end of March 2016, we will break even with our purchase. I am sure that we will break even before then, though, as we plan to visit as many NY State Parks as possible in a year.
Our first destination upon reaching Niagara Falls was to see the falls from the Observation Deck.
Observation Deck view of the falls
When I took the photograph of the falls shown above, I was standing on this observation deck.
From the Observation Deck we walked to Prospect Point and then along Niagara River and across the bridge to Goat Island.
Prospect Point
Niagara River, just before it rushes over the brink of the American Falls
Looking across to Canada from Goat Island
From Goat Island, there is a lovely vista of the American Falls. The photograph shown above is a close-up picture of the impressive snow and ice sculpture on top of the American Falls from the Goat Island Overlook. The photograph shown below is a wide-angle picture of the same vista.
From the Goat Island Overlook of the American Falls, we walked to Terrapin Point.
This was our first look at Horseshoe Falls, as we were walking to Terrapin Point.
Terrapin Point Overlook of Horseshoe Falls
What a wonderful day it was for a day trip. Sunday started out snowy, but the sun came out before we reached Niagara Falls. The sun shone rest of the day. The bright sunshine didn’t do much to warm up the day, though. The temperature stayed in the low 20s throughout the day.
The Beauty Around Us 
6 Responses to “Niagara Falls Day Trip”
so glad you decided to go as it looks beautiful. Great pics as always!
Those are some wonderful captures of a beautiful place to visit.
I’m glad you were able to go to Niagara and get these beautiful photos to share with us.
Wow, I’ve never been to visit in the winter. It’s really beautiful with the snow.
Marvelous photos of Niagara!
Oh how I love that area. We’ve been on the American side and the Canadian side… Sorry you forgot your passports –but as you said, that is a good excuse to go back —over and over….
Since we have season’s passes to Biltmore, we go A LOT —during each and every season. You will do the same things using your special passes to the state parks of New York….
Keep enjoying them and sharing your pictures.
Hugs,
Betsy