travel tuesday | niagara falls, canadian side

While I was in Niagara Falls this weekend, I got multiple texts and social media comments with the same sentiment: "I'd love to see the Falls, even though it's cheesy!" Honestly, that thought never crossed my mind when Zan and I decided to go a few months ago. I must have missed a memo that the Falls are for amateurs or something, because I was un-ironically stoked to see one of the most famous natural wonders in North America and the world. I wasn't disappointed! The town of Niagara Falls has a lot of tourist traps, and whether you view the Falls from the Canadian or US side, you'll be swatting off people like flies, but Niagara Falls is worth seeing, without caveats.

Niagara Falls is a beast! 

Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls: Horsehoe Falls, The American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Horseshoe is on the Canadian side, and the other two are on the US side of things. All three pound down into Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario. Niagara Falls has the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world, and the Horseshoe is the most powerful waterfall in all of North America, which is astounding and so, so cool. I absolutely believed it when I could feel the mist from way above the Falls. The biggest drop is 165 feet. I have no idea how to contextualize this fact, but over 6 million cubic feet of water rushes over the cliffs every minute (150,000 gallons per second)! 

When Zander and I first laid eyes on the Falls, we shared a first reaction: that the power is mighty and gripping and feels bigger than life. 

The view of Niagara Falls is better from the Canadian side...... it's also way tackier 

While the US side technically has more territory of the Falls, the Canadian side offers a better view of them. From the Canadian side, you can clearly see the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. On the US side, you can really only see the Horsehoe Falls because the American Falls is right under you. The Canadian side has these great expansive views of the entire gorge that seems to spread out for ages. That view is worth crossing the border. 

Unexpectedly, the Canadian side is tackier than the US side. Niagara Falls park on the US side is just that -a park. While we stood under a giant, neon-red Casino sign, high rises galore, and more hotels and souvenir shops than we could count, we looked across to the American side, where all we could see was green. Sure, there are high rises in the distance, but the immediate Falls overlooks seem to be far more natural.

The water at Niagara Falls is more than aesthetic

What surprised me most about Niagara Falls is how beautiful the water itself is. Looking down from the overlook areas on the Canadian side, the emerald water rolls in thick waves with white crests amongst a permanent, billowing cloud of mist. It's spectacularly beautiful. I'd want to swim and lounge in that water for days, if I wouldn't probably perish from the sheer force. 

The Falls are so forceful that they are a significant hydroelectric power source. While it must be tough for towns and cities around the Falls to negotiate catering to tourists and protecting the sanctity of the water, it's amazing to think that the stunning scenery isn't just for our aesthetic consumption but keeps the lights on, too. 

Niagara Falls is romantic 
 
I learned an important lesson about traveling in my late-20s with my significant other this weekend: every trip will prompt an increased number of hints and nudges and winks about getting engaged. I always figured that when I met someone, it'd go with the territory that he'd be in for a heck of a lot more airline and gas miles than he might have expected. Thankfully, I found someone that embraces it, and we've traveled an incredible amount this year. That said, Niagara is the world Honeymoon capitol and just about as romantic as a giant tourist destination can get; I can see how eyebrows started to rise when we skipped town for a long weekend and headed into the mist.

The Falls are lit at night. The water tumbles over the cliffs in shades of red, purple, green, yellow, and the rest of the rainbow, and it makes you want to snuggle close to someone special. Or, in our case, run away from that person trying to be the first to find and take the best night shot. Seeing something that's one-of-a-kind and so rare in nature makes me feel warm and fuzzy and fills me with awe. Sharing those feelings with someone - that's what romance is all about.