My Vacation To Niagara Falls, New York and Virginia.
My oldest son and his little family and I left Friday evening (July 14) about 6 pm and drove all night and Saturday until we reached Niagara Falls, New York. That is the area that my daughter in law and her family grew up and lived in. There we stayed at a Holiday Inn. We went out to a restaurant and ate dinner then drove over to the Canadian side to view the Falls at night.
American Falls (left) and the Bridal Veil Falls (right)
When we got back to the USA side, my son and I went in the large Seneca (Indian) Casino that was there. I had a few drinks (diet) with rum that they offered for free and my son had another type of drink. We played the slots for about 3 hours and didn't seem to be having any really good luck. We didn't really spend a lot of money but kept winning a little here and there that kept us playing for a long time. I think I spent 40 dollars and my son spent about 20. But it was still an evening that provided a lot of fun playing the games.
Seneca Casino at Niagara Falls, New York USA
Sunday, we decided to go back to the Canadian side and spend the day and discovered that we had to be searched and a background check run on all of us. We had to present our birth certificates and driver's licenses to the agents. We spent about 30 minutes sitting in an office feeling like Criminals under arrest. Once the background check was completed we were allowed to go on to Canada.
When we got there we went to the skylon tower and went to the top in the elevator. The ride up was awesome as we viewed the Falls and surrounding area. On top we took photos of the Falls and the scenery. Standing by the river and Falls was awesome in itself. Yesterday the movie 'Niagara' was on tv (starring Marilyn monroe and Joseph Cotten) and it seemed so strange to see the river from a boat floating in it. The scene at the end when the boat goes over the falls was fascinating to me after seeing Niagara Falls for real. The surrounding area did change a lot since that movie was made.
A poster from the movie 'Niagara' with Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotten
A scene from the movie 'Niagara' when the boat is going down river toward the Falls
The Skylon Tower is the space needle in the distance (on the Canadaian side)
We took the elevator back down and went and ate lunch in the basement food court then we went to the gift shop to buy souvenirs.
Later we took some of the tour buses and looked at all the scenery and tourist areas that were available.
A view of the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls from the shore and tourist area
a view of the American Falls with the tourist boat. It takes you close to the Falls. Maid of the Mist. At night this water fall is lit in red, white and blue.
Another view from the shore of the Horseshoe Falls.
Here I am getting wet from the mist from the Horseshoe Falls in the background.
Another view of the Horseshoe Falls.
Finally we went back to the USA side. On the way across we were not searched like on the Canadian side. We told the attendant that we just bought souvenirs. There was no custom duties or anything.
When we got back to the Hotel my son and I went back to the Casino for a little more fun. He won 160 dollars but I didn't win anything. We sepent about 4o dllars was all and played for two and a half hours. We had a few drinks.
We left Niagara Falls on Monday and drove to Auburn New York. As soon as we got there we went on a 2 hour boat ride with relatives (2 women and 3 small children) on one of the finger lakes. It was fun and relaxing going around the lake to a cove that was shallow enough for the children to swim in. They all had a great time, but I had forgot to pack my swimming trunks so I didn't get in the water. I just sat and drank cold water and watched. Since the boat had a canopy over it there was plenty of shade. The boat was owned by a young woman named Sarah who was a friend. The other young lady's name was Colleen.
On the boat ride, Sarah the boat owner to left and myself to the right. My 2 little grand sons in the center. Another little friend is driving the boat.
Sarah is center right, her daughter Gabrielle to the left and Colleen with child to the far right.
My 2 grand sons and Leon Jr playing by a river in a relative's back yard.
Later we went to visit some more relatives and out to eat dinner. We stayed in Auburn until Wednesday then left and drove to Petersburg, Virginia to visit some more relatives. It was there that I had a big surprise waitng for me. Unknown to me my daughter in law and my ex wife had set up a birthday dinner for me. I had known that Kathleen my ex wife had flown to visit my daughter Melanie in Virginia but I had no idea that we were close to her Army base. Melanie, her family and Kathleen were in Washington DC on a tour when we were travelling to Virginia and Kathleen got them to hurry up and go back to Petersburg so she could arrange a secret dinner meeting. My daughter in law and her cousin made the reservations and set up the tables in a restaurant.
In the evening , when we went to dinner I noticed all the balloons and decorations on the tables but didn't think anything extraordinary about it. I did however see 5 extra place settings that were vacant. I asked Jennifer who those were for and she said "some more relatives". I let it go and just assumed it was some more of her relatives I didn't know.
You can imagine the surprise when later I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned around to see my daughter and her family standing there. I yelled "Melanie Dawn!" and jumped out of my chair and grabbed her. We hugged for a long time and she gave me some kisses. We were both surprised because neither of us knew that we would be seeing each other. I cried with happiness----it was the best birthday surprise ever to see my little Soldier girl.
My two grand sons to the left and my two grand daughters to the right. (Leon Jr's 2 boys and Melanie's 2 girls) at my birthday dinner.
My son Leon Jr and his wife Jennifer
We stayed in Virginia overnight and went to Melanie's Army base on Friday and spent the day with her. She took us shopping on the Army base and I got some souvenir hats and shirts to proudly wear to show support of my Army daughter. I am so proud of her!
My Soldier daughter Melanie (in civilian clothes) at my birthday dinner.
We left Friday night and drove back to Tampa. We arrived there on Saturday about noon time. The trip was a little over a week but it was long enough to be fun but short enough not to be boring. It was one of my best vacations ever. Everything went like clockwork.
Maybe next Live Journal entry i will do one on trivia about celebrities at Niagra Falls.