Niagara Visit

We went on a long trip to Niagara waterfalls, Newyork.

Brief Summary
Place : Niagara waterfalls.
Location : Newyork
Distance : 100 miles(approx.) from Richmond,VA
Group: Shrenik and his wife, me and my wife.
Transport : Nissan Altima (silver)
Duration: 4days

Journey:

On 1st July, We took rental car around 11:30 am from Airport. Had lunch around 1:15 pm and then started for the trip around 1:30 pm. We put some songs and enjoyed the journey in car. Around 5:05 pm took halt at Dunkin Donuts, had Coffee and got refreshed. Started from there and reached Hershey's Chocolate factory by 7:30 pm. This was the first destination of our Trip. The Factory is very good. The entrance was big with idols of animated characters of Hershey's chocolates(Kisses, Milk Chocolate, Reese's). We have tasted different flavoured chocolates. Watched a 4D show. It was good. we spent around one and half hour in the factory and then went to Khana Indian Bistro(Indian Restaurant) for dinner. We reached there by 9:50 pm. Food was nice and then we left for Pennsylvania. we booked rooms in Quality Inn Hotel. Reached the hotel around 12:45 am. First day of our trip was done successfully.

Next day(2nd July) Woke up around 6:30 am and got refreshed. Had our breakfast in the hotel around 7:45 am. Checked out the hotel and started for Camelback Adventures Park in Poconos. We reached the park by 9:14 am. Climate was very hot. There are several rides in the park and special park for water rides. There are zip-liners and flyers which were about 1000 and 4000 feet long. We have done the 4000 ft flyer ride which takes us from top of one of the hills to the bottom of another hill around a speed of 60 mph. It was a thrilling experience. Felt great to be in air at such an height and slide very fast. Around 12:30 pm we started from the park. Had lunch at subway around 1:15 pm and then reached Penn's Cave and Wildlife around 3:45 pm. We passed through the Amherst County while reaching the cave and got chance to observe the Horses, Cattle and houses of the residents who still follow the old traditions. Penn's Cave is very crowded that day being long weekend and we had to wait almost 2 hours to take the tours. We first went to wildlife tour. It was wonderful. Saw Wolves for the first time, they have good variety collection of deer and two huge Bears which are very fond of Oreo biscuits. Then we took the cave tour in a boat. It was almost an hour tour. We saw the cave interiors and the formations in the cave and got to know about the history of the cave through the guide. It was great to be inside the cave in pitch dark and silent atmosphere. Around 8:15 pm we started from there, had dinner at Indian Pavilion Restaurant around 8:45 pm. Food was very tasty. We started around 10:15 pm from the restaurant and reached Days Inn Hotel in Pittsburgh around 12:22 am. Second day completed after lot of fun.

On Next day(3rd July) woke up around 6:20 am and got refreshed. Had Breakfast in the hotel around 7:20 am. Left for Pittsburgh temple around 7:45 am. Pittsburgh Lord Venkateswara temple is the first Hindu temple in US. We reached the temple by 8:04 am. The temple was huge and by the time we reached already holy chanting s were going on in the temple. We had the Darshan took prasad and left for Hindu-Jain temple around 9:04 am. Reached the temple by 9:22 am. We were the first persons to visit the temple for the day apart from the priest. It was calm and quiet inside the temple. we left around 9:54 am from there to our hotel, checked out and then started to Niagara the crux of our trip around 10:06 am. Had lunch at rest area around 12:46 pm (food from Temple Canteen). Started around 1:23 pm towards Niagara. By 4:30 pm we reached the Days Inn hotel in Niagara. We checked in the hotel, got refreshed and reached the waterfalls around 5:50 pm. The waterfalls were very huge and spectacular. Being bright sunny day it was very hot and could see the reflection of Sun in the waterfalls. The sound of water splashing is amazing and felt like roaring of the waves of Indian Ocean. The tall Canadian buildings one the opposite side of the falls are other attraction. We took the helicopter trip to view the waterfalls around 6:45 pm. This was our first helicopter ride. It was exciting to sit in a helicopter and view the ground from the top. The overview of the waterfalls from top was amazing. No words to describe the world's famous falls. We could see the complete horse shoe shape of the falls. Took plenty of pictures and videos from the helicopter. It was 10 minutes ride. Couldn't even blink our eyes as we might miss to see the wonderful view of the falls, lake and Canada city from so high in the air. Had dinner around 7:30 pm. Then watched a 4D show around 7:45 pm. WE came back to waterfalls to view the fireworks. we were standing near the observatory center for almost an hour and half. There were lights focused on the falls from the Canada side and the coulours changed at regular intervals. It was awesome to watch the falls in colours. There was delay in fireworks due to delay in Sunset. The fireworks are amazing and great sight to the eyes watching colourful sparkles in the air. After the fireworks we went to haunted house around 11:05 pm and then went to Seneca Casino around 11:25 pm. we took a round in the casino and then started around 12:20 am from there to our hotel. Reached by 12:45 am, thus completing our third day of the trip successfully and with lot of joy.

On Last day(4th July) we woke up around 6:00 am, got ready and had breakfast by 6:30 am in the hotel. we started around 7:00 am from the hotel for the waterfalls and then reached the counter for Maid-Of-the-Mist ride around 7:45 am. We stood in the queue for only half an hour. Soon we entered the gate, went down to 200 feet through elevator and boarded the cruise. It was a 20 min ride one the cruise. We went very near to the falls. The view of the falls from the base is splendid. We were given blue rain coats to cover ourselves from the splashing water of the falls. Soon we reached the center of the falls where we could only feel the splashing water and hear the sounds of the waterfalls but couldn't see anything due to white mist and water being sprinkled on us. We couldn't believe our eyes as we stood in center of the greatest falls. We could see a huge rainbow and our cruise went underneath it. Never seen such a big and full rainbow before. It was a great experience one the cruise. We got down the cruise and went to nearby hill from where we could get close view of the falls. we saw two rainbows on the falls. Around 10:20 am we departed from there had lunch at Qdoba around 11:30 am and went to Corning Glass Museum. reached the museum by 2:49 pm. The Museum was outstanding and for the very first time saw how the glass is manufactured. It was astonishing to watch as the instructors displayed various stages of glass making and how they are molded into different shapes. There was a huge Glass Art Gallery which has glass paintings, glass sculptures of all over the world and anitque glass making techniques. We left from the museum around 6:15 pm had our dinner at McDonnalds and reached home around 1:45 am. Completed our journey successfully.
Overall it was a very wonderful and memorable trip. Enjoyed thoroughly and everything went as per the plan and have not missed anything. All is Well.

 Photos