Breathtaking Niagara: The 8th World Wonder, Eh?

Some consider Niagara Falls the world's 8th world wonder, and after visiting I would have to agree.  The sheer dominance of the falls is astounding with over 600,000 gallons of water flowing over the falls PER SECOND! That's too much to even comprehend or believe until you actually see it in person. I was only 16 years old when I visited, but it is a trip that still sticks out in my mind.

After flying in to Buffalo, New York we (my mom, my friend and I) made our way across the border to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Our hotel of choice for this trip was the Sheraton on the Falls. Sheraton hotels are always nice and I enjoy staying in them, and this particular one was no exception. It is located directly beside the falls with floor to ceiling glass walls so every room has a full perfect view. We had a wheelchair accessible room with a roll in shower and it provided plenty of space to move around freely. The Sheraton on the Falls also came with an unbeatable price, making it irresistible with it's breathtaking view. After getting settled in our room, we headed out to see what all Niagara had to offer.

Just a short walk from our hotel was Clifton Hill, Niagara's main strip of attractions and restaurants. We spent a lot of time here during our trip since it offered so much to do. There was a Ripley's Museum, Guiness Book of World Records Museum, Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and much more. It was a very busy spot, especially at night.

The one attraction that was a must-do for all of us was the Maid of the Mist. This is a boat ride that takes you right into the falls and luckily it is fully accessible for wheelchairs. After paying $17 apiece for our tickets, we were given blue rain panchos, which we definitely needed for the voyage. The boat literally took us right beside the rushing waters and I was kind of scared that our boat might topple over because it was rocking so hard from the power of the falls. We were soaked (!!!!) by the time it was over, but it was worth every penny and gave us the chance to view the falls up close. This should be at the top of your list of things to do when going to Niagara Falls!

My mom and I on the Maid of the Mist.

While we were there, Cirque du Soleil was in town. We thought about going to see it one night, but then we heard about the Oh Canada, Eh? Dinner Show. We thought that this would be more of an authentic Canadian experience so we opted for it. When in Canada, do as the Canadians do, eh? This show is a two hour dinner show that celebrates everything about Canada through songs and skits. For dinner they served traditional Canadian foods including pea soup (eww!), roast beef, roasted chicken, and maple chocolate cake for dessert. I learned some of Canada's history and traditions in the show and it was a hilariously good time overall.

Other highlights of our time in Niagara Falls included seeing the IMAX 4D film about the falls and going to the top of the Skylon Tower to view the fireworks over the falls. The fireworks over the falls were truly breathtaking and it was a once in a lifetime experience. Niagara also proved to be an ideal vacation destination for wheelchair users. It is small enough that you can roll pretty much everywhere in the city from the comfort of your chair, but there are accessible taxis available if you need them. If you want to witness one of the most majestic sights in the world, then go visit Niagara Falls... eh?