Page 8 - AAA Schuylkill County – AAA Now! – July/August 2016

TRAVE
Majestic Marvel –
Explore the Sights and Sounds of Niagara Falls
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Niagara Falls has long been a sought-after vacation spot for the spectacular waterfalls that visitors can see up close and personal – on the ground, from the water, from high above and behind the rushing waters.
Renowned for their beauty and a valuable source of hydroelectric power, Niagara Falls is visited by millions of visitors each year and is considered Canada’s most spectacular attraction.
Straddling the border between Canada (the province of Ontario) and the United States (specifically the state of New York), Niagara Falls is made up of three sets of falls – the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls on the United States side, and the most expansive falls – the Horseshoe Falls – on the Canadian side.
The Niagara Falls were formed at the end of the Ice Age when glaciers receded and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment – named for the cliff that the Niagara River plunges over into Niagara Falls.
Linked by the Rainbow Bridge, it is easy to traverse the Falls from both countries.There are several choices for viewing the different angles of the falling waters. Explore all the sights and sounds of Niagara Falls from these popular options.You will be happy you did.
JOURNEY BEHIND THE FALLS
Grab a yellow poncho (with a hood) and venture through tunnels carved out of bedrock to get
so close it’s like you are under the Falls. Hear the rushing water and feel its mist from an observation
platform near the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls
on the Canadian side. Don’t be surprised if you
get a little wet (OK, a lot wet). You will get the best photos taken from the brink of the Falls. An elevator through the Table Rock Welcome Center transports visitors 150 feet down to the tunnel system during the Journeys Behind the Falls tour.
AERIAL VIEWS
Niagara Helicopters allows you to the see the Falls and the region from the ultimate vantage point – a helicopter ride. Niagara Helicopters takes passengers above the Falls for spectacular views. The pilot narrates and answers questions during the ride. On a clear day, Toronto to the north and the shores of Lake Erie to the south can be seen. Take a balloon ride over the Falls for another awe-inspiring view.
ON THE WATER
Don a blue slicker (or two, you’ll need them)
and take a boat ride smack up to the Horseshoe Falls aboard the Maid of the Mist cruise boats. Be prepared for the unexpected – feel the power of the falls and the splash it sends back. The Maid of the Mist, the oldest and probably the most well-known attraction at Niagara Falls, has been offering this exhilarating journey since 1846. A second option
to get on the water and feel the power and mist of the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and into the heart of the Horseshoe Falls is aboard Hornblower Niagara Cruises.
BY LAND
On the American side, Goat Island’s Cave of
the Winds leads hikers to a point beneath Bridal
Veil Falls. The American Falls can be viewed from walkways along Prospect Point Park. Learn fun facts and Niagara Falls history aboard the vintage-style Niagara Falls Scenic Trolley. In Canada, platforms in Queen Victoria Park offer views of the American and Horseshoe Falls. The park also boasts underground walkways leading to observation rooms that give visitors the illusion of being within the Falls.
UNIQUE – AND UNFORGETTABLE
For unique – and unforgettable – experiences, be transported through the air in Whirlpool Aero Car, an antique cable car that travels over the racing Niagara River. Feel the car sway by the water torrent. Niagara SkyWheel – a Ferris wheel gondola – offers more amazing views and may make your stomach drop. The Skylon Tower may be the most unique attraction – you can sip on a drink or eat a meal in its revolving dining room that turns slowly and not only showcases 775-foot views above the mighty Falls but Toronto from a distance.
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JULY/AUGUST 2016
Now!