Wetting my appetite.

Niagara Falls has often been called "the world’s most famous address and indeed it is.

It took us almost 10 hours to reach the American Pilgrimage .loll. We were delayed by the part of Obama’s stimulus package as lots of jobs are created in recession . We could see work in progress on the highways. Nonetheless we thoroughly enjoyed our expedition crossing towns and countryside. We crossed City of Buffalo best known for the bills, Sabres and chicken wings and off course historic architecture and bustling theatre district. It is the second most populous city in the state of New York.Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River . Not to miss the Mittals steel factory a part of the Mittals empire. President William McKinley was shot here. We stopped at the Lake theme park resort which has amphitheatre showcasing today’s biggest names in music. I wanted to visit the cultural and the intellectual center of the Chautauqua and Ellicotville which was not easy as was out of way but also visited the Ford and Chevrolet plants.

The food cooked by my sister was delicious and we faced no issues at the front. My niece Hiba just enjoyed my company and the two year old Monster Mustufa my nephew was tied to his car seat. When bushed the song of film main hu na were treated as lullaby for him. It poured cats and dogs on the way but didn’t beat our spirits.

You have to see it to believe it! We all were there for breathtaking sights and sound of the majestic Niagra falls. Niagra falls state park is Americas oldest park established in 1885 and designed by a great landscape architect, Fredric Law Olmsted perhaps better known for designing New York City’s Central Park. Olmsted believed that parks should be places of natural beauty, where “the masses could be renewed.” This philosophy was applied throughout Niagara Falls State Park, with an entire network of footpaths through wooded areas and along the banks of the Niagara River .Trust me Its ONLY at this falls where we can get up-close and personal with the falls. It’s a fitting tribute to the man who believed that Niagara Falls belongs to all of us.
We reached in the afternoon and made ourselves comfy for the day and night ahead of us. The hotel was 20 minutes drive from the Niagra falls. Soon our adventure trip began. Parked the car and reached the Niagra Information center. My sister and brother in law were well informed as visited years back. So… the adventure began right with an elevator ride 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge. Then, clad in a souvenir rain poncho and sandals, we went to the wooden walkways to the Hurricane Deck, less than 20 feet from the torrents of Bridal Veil Falls. This walkway is removed every November and reassembled each spring so it won’t be damaged by winter weather. Cave of the Winds was an ultimate experience. Have never faced the pounding waters. It was a almost like facing a 5 degree hurricane as informed We were mere feet away from the thundering waters. It was a rocking experience. The Maid of the mist boat tour of the American and the Canadian falls was thirty minutes ride but a lifetime experience. It was spectacular. The boat took us right down to the base of the falls. It took us so close to the waterfall that we gasped for air, we drenched in the falls water but one thing I dI couldn’t stop capturing the moments which came out quite decent as expected as the boat was rocking throughout in the choppy waters.

Although the most widespread and extraordinary views of the American Falls can be seen from the deck of the park’s Observation Tower. Extending out over the Niagara Gorge, the Tower allows you to look directly out into the cascading waters of the American Falls or down into the raging torrents below. Four elevators provide access to the base of the gorge and the boarding site of the Maid of the Mist boat ride. Trust me these firangs knows adventure. We came back awestruck. Imagine 3,160 tons of water flowing over the falls every second. This accounts for 75,750 gallons of water per second over the American and Bridal Veil Falls and 681,750 gallons per second over the Horseshoe Falls.

Next day we planned moving in a tour bus which could take us to the topmost of the falls. On the way we were informed that native Americans living in the Niagara region were most likely the first people to behold the power of Niagara Falls. The first European to document the area was a French priest, Father Louis Hennepin. During a 1678 expedition, he was overwhelmed by the size and significance of Niagara Falls. When he returned to France, Hennepin published an account of his travels in "A New Discovery". The book brought Niagara Falls to the attention of the western world for the first time and inspired further exploration of the region. The development of the rail system in the 1800s opened Niagara Falls to throngs of visitors and made it a prime destination for travelers from all over the world. In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte’s young brother, Jerome, honeymooned with this American bride at the falls. He is sometimes credited with starting this tradition.

By this time were got access to the cave Goat island which was dramatic as we had to go through the cave of the winds, t op of the falls restaurants , three sister island, terrapin point, luna island and the rapids! This was the place where world’s first large-scale hydroelectric generating station opened in 1895. However, the plant used the direct current (DC) system, which could only transmit electricity 100 yards. Then, in 1896, the famous electrical engineer Nikola Tesla proved that he could transmit electric from Niagara Falls to Buffalo, New York, using his new alternating current induction motor. This was the first use of the AC system of electricity that is used around the world today. The current Niagara Gorge Discovery Center is located above the site of the Schoellkopf Power Station, from which electricity was first sold as a commodity.

The ultimate was never forgetting Illuminating experience witnessed by me produced by the massive spotlight beamed across the gorge onto the falls, the beams were sent across the side of the falls which is Canada.its was mind boggling.trust me the lights competed with all the lights of the Broadway.it was spectular…

Now I wonder why for generations, the majestic beauty and humbling power of Niagara Falls State Park has fostered a sense of awe and wonder. Through the years, countless people have enjoyed the sparkling scenery of the falls, making the Niagara Falls vacation spot a favorite.. rushing torrents, spectacular scenery and one-of-a-kind attractions while letting your excitement flow as freely as the waters. I want to visit once more but now I would like to watch it from Canada.. across the bridge.