Niagara Falls is by far, one of my favorite day trips. It's about a two and a half hour drive from Bradford, and it's one of those things that gets etched in your mind forever.

So, last Friday, we took a day off, and took a day trip.

The Rebel isn't making any money yet, so we had to find things to do for free or cheap. That's a Hatcher Family Tradition... (see my book, Cheap Ways To... available at http://www.amazon.com )

We decided we would visit both sides of the falls, and all of the free attractions that we could fit in one day.

So we packed a lunch, and ate breakfast in the car (pop tarts! yummy!). We arrived on the American Side at about 9 oclock. The first thing the kids saw as we pulled up was the giant hot air balloon.

We progressed to the place where we could walk along the rapids, until we reached Prospect Point.


It got a little misty, but most of the moisture was blowing away from us at this overlook. I had never been to the American Side before, so it was a new angle for me. It's not as impressive as Canada, but it is still gorgeous.

It's always fun hanging out with my kids, and my gorgeous bride. The last time we came, she was pregnant with Abe, and we walked all over Canada. She's still as pretty as the day I married her! It was just like Lois and Clark in Superman II.



We walked over to the visitor's center, and snapped a picture of the kids. They call it the "clock picture".

We walked across the footbridge to Goat Island, doubling back a bit to Luna Island, between the big falls and the "Bridal Veil Falls"

In between Goat and Luna, there was a soldier, dressed in British Garb from Fort Niagara.


(photo from Old Fort Niagara Website)
Isaiah was quite excited about meeting the guy. As we left, his mom explained "He's a soldier from the Revolutionary War Days."

Isaiah replied, "Wow. I'm glad he's still alive!"




On Luna Island, Shiloh removed her shoes, and tried to send them over the falls. I think she was a little bored at this point.

As I snapped this photo with the last remaining life in my batteries, Shiloh pushed me away, as if to say, "No comment."


Well, with a dead camera, and no more pictures to take, we proceeded to Terrapin Point, where we got soaked from the mist of the Horshoe Falls. We had walked for quite awhile by now, so the mist felt nice in that August Noonday sun.

The kids took off their shoes and ran in the grass near the Cave of the Winds while I went back to snag the car.

We rode over the Rainbow Bridge to Canada. I didn't really think about the fact that kids need identification when you take them to another country, so we were detained by customs for about 45 minutes. Eventually, the looked at the kids, and they looked at me, and they saw enough genetic resemblance to let us cross.


We were smart, and parked at a lot that was WAY out, paying only 6 American bucks for parking, compared to 16 to park closer.

We ate a picnic lunch of ham sandwiches, chips, and grapes at a table near the parking lot. A hungry yellow jacket hummed around the grapes, so the kids didn't eat very many of those.

The further lot provided a free shuttle back to the falls at Table Rock. We got off before that, and visit the Greenhouse. It's a free attraction. (of course) They have plants from all over the world, and exotic birds and turtles.

The kids were enthralled to be "in another country like Africa". And the culture of Niagara Falls is a little exciting too, with people all around you, speaking every possible language, and in native dress from all over the world.

We saw a breathtaking view from the Canadian side. We noticed that rainbows seem to follow you, no matter how far you walk.
(any physicists able to explain that to my kids? rouletterebel@verizon.net )

The we drove out to the botanical gardens (another free attraction), and looked at all the plants. The kids actually seemed enthralled by it. Especially when we found an unattended sprinkler. The twins got soaked. Shiloh decided it was time to go, so she walked close to them and started hollering. Until the sprinkler made it's way around and dumped some water on her head. She couldn't make up her mind if she liked it or not.

Abe was too busy looking at the plants to care.

We stopped by the Butterfly Conservatory, which is not a free attraction, but does have a large lobby with windows peeking inside the butterfly room. There is also a free display with caterpillars and cocoons, and then many mounted butterflies.

Our legs were tired, and we had homemade vegetable soup in the crockpot, so we headed back to Bradford for dinner.

Total cost: 35 dollars for gas and tolls. 10 dollars for lunch supplies.