Though the years fly by, the memories are hazy, and a spot such as this certainly deserves a revisit, my visit to Niagara Falls left such an impression on me that it still remains as a fond memory in my mind where others fade and vanish.
Vacations with my adventurous grandparents have brought me to many memorable locations, but one that stands out among them was our trip to Canada to see the renowned Niagara Falls. To a young mind, such a place seemed uninteresting at first. I had seen waterfalls before, and expected to find yet another clear water spring trickling over the edge of a cliff overhang, foaming at the bottom in a murky pool of water as I had seen on many nature hikes. But I was completely unprepared for what lay in store as we made the drive through the Canadian border.
I remember reaching our hotel in the late evening, unpacking and relaxing from a fatiguing drive. I slept easily that night, not overly excited for the visit to the falls. The next morning, I remember the hotel was serving a complimentary breakfast buffet and I was smug to point out that I was eating Canadian Bacon (A slab of ham steak) in Canada, thus making it simply bacon. This is the sort of thing my childish mind recalls, nothing else of the hotel or our experience, though knowing my grandparents they had probably gotten us a hotel with a pool, and we no doubt had spent the prior evening after dinner swimming.
The truly memorable part of this trip came when it was time for us to see Niagara Falls. Driving with the windows open, we slowly became aware of a rumbling sound that was steadily getting louder. When we reached our destination, the noise was so loud that it sounded like thousands of tin cans being crushed and tumbled. The view from a small overlook at a distance was magnificent. White mist hung in the air from the constant turmoil of the tumbling water, and beads of the mist would collect on the hairs of the arms or the eyelashes. The distant shores were lush and green with plant life nourished by the falls. The water fell so violently, that the pool below was distorted and foamy from the flood.
Most memorable of all was being able to walk through a cave behind the falls themselves. This pathway gave tourists a look behind the falls, providing a rain jacket to protect clothing and hair from the spray and splashing of the rushing water. The rumbling of the falls echoed off of the stone walls behind the falls and was deafeningly loud, but this only excited me more. I remember my older sister clinging to my arm the whole time, keeping me far from the gaping railings standing between us and the waterfall. But even from afar, I could still feel this cold spray of water coating the skin of my face and hands.
The magnificent view, unforgettable sounds, and natural beauty of Niagara Falls will leave a lasting memory to anyone who can appreciate such amazing wonders. I intend to visit the falls once again some day now that I am older, and I would encourage others to see this place for themselves.
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