After resting for a time in the park area we continued walking towards Horseshoe Falls. After some research on-line just now I discovered that it was Queen Victoria Park we were walking through.
Queen Victoria Park is literally the "heart" of Niagara Parks. Bounded by the steep Fallsview moraine and the Niagara River Great Gorge, the Park contains a valuable collection of unique native and international plants and beautifully maintained gardens.
Walking through the Park beside the Falls, from Clifton Hill to beyond Dufferin Islands, you can enjoy a rock garden, hanging baskets, a Hybrid tea rose garden and attractive carpet-bedding displays. Park benches and well-groomed lawns provide pleasant venues for relaxation and photography.
Whereas the American park encompassed mainly Goat Island and the Prospect Point corner of the mainland the Canadian parks were a thin strip stretched along the edge of the gorge. There was a completely different feel. On the American side all of Goat Island was a park--so the city felt far away. On the Canadian side the city was always easily in view and sometimes just on the other side of the road from where you were walking in the park. It was interesting though that both areas, the New York state park and the provincial park(s) in Ontario were created in the 1880s.
I'm not sure what building this is (this is the tower visible in the picture above), but apparently there were wires connecting it to a nearby structure or the ground. Interesting...
This may have been part of an old power plant. It is obviously of stone construction and the facade is very visible from the New York side. It was an interesting view looking straight down at it after seeing across the gorge earlier.
As I mentioned before the mist obscured quite a bit of Horseshoe Falls from certain angles.
It was interesting to see the mist rise up.
I think this was the centrepiece of Queen Victoria Park, featuring a gift shop, restaurant, and carriage rides out front.
The Maid of the Mist boats appear to be quite misty.
We saw rainbows several places from several angles. It was a great day with abundant sunshine and plenty of mist in the air.
This is the Canadian version of the Cave of the Winds tour. It is apparently open much of the year--but it doesn't look anywhere near as exciting. I'm sure that there is plenty of mist, but I doubt it feels the same as being on the Hurricane Deck at the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls.
As I said, many rainbows.
Someone was nice enough to offer to take our picture.
This visitor center was located right near Horseshoe Falls. There was a rather large gift shop, several restaurants, ticket selling areas for the Canadian attractions, and some small exhibits.
Amy chased seagulls in Canada also!
It was hard to decide when to take pictures as there were so many good spots--I'm there is a park and walkway along the edge of the gorge instead of commercial buildings obscuring the view. Eventually we cleared the area where the mist was in the way and I got this video of the breadth of the falls.
Can you see the double rainbow? I thought it made a good picture to have the arch of the rainbows in front of the arch of Rainbow Bridge in the background.
I recognize the Canadian and American flags but I'm not sure about the left one.
From this angle you can see how the water falls out from the rock on Horseshoe Falls.
And one last picture in front of the falls!
On our way back to the Rainbow Bridge we headed up into the touristy part of town and walked around. We ended up going into Starbucks where after some difficulties with the computer system Amy was able to use her Starbucks card to get a drink. It was nice to sit down and relax for a bit.
We went into the gift shop for the Brick City attraction but didn't pay to go inside. Perhaps next time we go back we'll explore it--it did look fascinating.
Ah, yes, and here is verification that my surmise it was QV Park we were walking through was correct.
If we'd have been driving we likely would have gone through this way. I find it interesting they make you go to the US with your duty free items. I guess it is the best way to ensure that Canadians don't sneak in to avoid taxes.
This end of the gardens right next to the Rainbow Bridge appeared to have a very British feel with sculptures, manicured plants, and orderly paths.
Who doesn't like a fish fountain?
This is a better overview of the park with the tower at the end of Rainbow Bridge in the background.
It was a fun walk through the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. If you visit the area make sure you have your passport (or other accepted form of border crossing document) as you definitely want to go into Canada to properly appreciate the falls. And walking is the best way to go (it is cheap and you'll see quite a bit!).
~Matt
PS All of my Niagara Falls pictures are in this album.
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