In 1848 Niagara Falls was so cool it actually stopped flowing
Niagara Falls, Ontario - A million bathtubs of water tumble over Niagara Falls every second, but on Easter Sunday in 1848 an ice jam upriver was able able to halt the cascading water for several hours. A few brave (or foolish) people were able to take advantage of the unusual situation to search the exposed riverbed for artifacts. Although you can't cruise to the mist at the foot of the falls in the winter months, visitors miss the crowds, prices are competitive, and the scenery is still spectacular. Icicles formed by freezing moisture cling to rockfaces and railings, and the rainbow-coloured evening illumination of the Falls reflects off of great chunks of ice and snow at the foot of the Falls. Niagara Falls presents its annual Festival of Lights from November through January. Photo courtesy of Niagara Falls Tourism.
More details on Niagra Falls Ice Bridge and a great photo
In the News: Winston Churchill called the Niagara Parkway the prettiest Sunday Drive in the World. May 1st, 2011, for the first time, a section near the Falls will close for cyclists and pedestrians!
Niagara Parks Appreciation Day will be celebrated on Sunday May 1 with deep discounts on admission to attractions, parking, food and other services. A portion of the proceeds raised this day will go to support the GNGH Foundation & future Walker Family Cancer Centre’s It’s Our Time campaign. Deals include $5 admission to all Niagara Parks attractions including, $5 parking at all NPC paid lots; and $5 all-day in-Park transportation on the Peoplemover Bus and the Falls Incline Railway systems. Additional discounts will include $5 hamburger or cheeseburger combos (including French fries and drink) at Table Rock’s Burger Town, $5 Tapas all day at Elements on the Falls Restaurant and only $5 for a baseball cap or stainless steel water bottle at Niagara Parks gift shops.
As well, the Niagara Parkway will be closed to cars and buses for the first time ever. The Parkway will be closed from Clifton Hill to Murray Street between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 1 so that cyclists and pedestrians can better experience Niagara Falls.
Tips for international visitors: The view of the Falls is best from the Canadian side. You can reach the this side of the Falls from Buffalo by crossing the Peace Bridge at Fort Erie and then driving north for 20 minutes. Another popular entry point is from Niagara Fall NY, which has crossing the Rainbow Bridge. This leads right into the heart of town. The Niagara Parkway is a scenic drive and a recreational trail that stretches for 56 km (35 miles) from Fort Erie, past the Falls and to Fort George, which is just outside Niagara-on-the-Lake. The route features parkland and historic sites. Niagara Falls is a 90-minute drive from Toronto. Using this route you'll pass through the Niagara region, which is known for having more than 60 wineries. Many are open to the public tour tours and tastings, some feature restaurants.
Lucy Izon
Canada Cool is produced by award-winning Canadian travel writer & speaker Lucy Izon. Her travel stories & reports have appeared in numerous leading North American publications including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and Chicken Soup for the Traveler's Soul. Bio page
Canada’s Coolest:
Welcome to a new feature on Canada Cool. I'll be presenting different 'Coolest' lists with my favorites and I encourage you to nominate suggestions from your own experiences. You can Twitter @CanadaCool or email Lucy@CanadaCool.com. Let me know what makes your suggestion exceptionally cool. Remember, by contributing your comments you are giving Canada Cool permission to quote you. Only a selection of submissions will be included, but all comments and submissions are greatly appreciated!
The first feature is: Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives
Here are some of my favorites...
The Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Alberta - This 229 km (142 mi) Rocky Mountain route from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper passes 100 frozen rivers and nudges the base of the Athabasca Glacier - the most accessible glacier in the world. You can stop and explore it. It spills down from the Columbia Icefield, an area of ice so massive that you could fit the entire population of North America on it with each person getting at least a square metre of space.
The Corridor, Algonquin Park, Ontario – this 56-km stretch of Hwy 60 cuts through the southwest section of Algonquin Park. Less than three hours north of Toronto the park is a nature-lover's paradise with 7,725 km of lakes, rivers, forest, trails, camping, comfortable lodges and 2000 km of canoe routes. Offers hiking trails to stop and enjoy, but what makes it really cool is that it’s one of the best places in North America to spot moose (especially in May and June). And, on Thursday nights in August up to 600 cars will gather to listen to wolves howl.
The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – Driving this 303 km (187 mile) route is like riding a roller-coaster: the road snakes around hairpin turns, rises to heights over 365 metres (1200 ft), weaves around headlands revealing spectacular coastal scenery, and plunges down to sea level taking you into the heart of small fishing communities. The most dramatic scenery is between the Cape Breton Highlands National Park entrance near Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay, so go slow. And, plan some flexibility into your schedule, so you can drive it on a clear day.
And here are some of your nominations for 'Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives'...
More from Canada’s Coolest
'Canada's Coolest' topics we'll be publishing in the future:
- Golf Course Features
- Haunted Hotels
- Hotel Special Services
Send your suggestions to lucy@CanadaCool.com
Recent 'Canada's Coolest' topics:
