Hello from Niagara Falls: Experiencing the
7th Wonder of the World - Skylon Tower, IMAX Theatre & Daredevil
Gallery and the Journey Behind The Falls
After a long
and exciting day yesterday that included a helicopter sightseeing
tour, some butterflies, and an amazing magic show, I woke up to
a grey, cold and drizzly day. But that was not going to deter me
from exploring the City of Niagara Falls in more detail. I got up,
took a nice long shower and went downstairs for breakfast to the
Windows on the Lane Restaurant which is a casual dining restaurant
on the main floor of the Best
Western Cairn Croft Hotel.
The Windows at the Lane Restaurant
I then linked up with Lisa Smith, who works at the hotel, to get
a tour of the facility. Lisa took me into the tropical courtyard
that is the signature feature of the Cairn Croft Hotel and explained
that the name of the hotel was derived from its original owners
whose last name was Cairn, and from the word “croft”,
which is Scottish for “inn”. Even today the hotel is
still family owned and a friend of the owners hand-painted the faux-stone
pattern on the walkways surrounding the tropical courtyward. Lisa
pointed out that this property was the first Best Western hotel
in Canada and has been extensively updated in recent years. The
company Best Western Motels was founded back in 1946 which originally
was an informal link between properties, where each hotel recommended
other lodging establishments to travelers. As far back as 1962 the
Best Western Hotel Chain had the only hospitality reservations system
that covered all of the United States and Canada.
The poolside Bourbon Street Bistro
After a long history of company growth, Best Western today is the
world’s largest hotel chain in the world and comprises more
than 4,000 hotels in nearly 80 countries. One of Best Western’s
unique marketing propositions is its free high-speed Wi-Fi access
in all its hotels, a service that was rolled out across the entire
chain in just eight months in 2004. From an organizational point
of view, Best Western is also unique since it is not a traditional
franchise operation. Best Western actually operates as a non-profit
membership association, each property is individually owned and
each franchisee acts and votes as a member of this association.
Interestingly, hotels are allowed to retain their own identity and
can keep their own independent name as part of this identity, as
evidenced by the Best Western Cairn Croft name.
The tropical courtyard at the Best Western Cairn Croft
Lisa started giving me a tour through the tropical courtyard and
explained that originally the building was a U-shaped motel with
an outdoor courtyard. One of the improvements made to the property
was the installation of a roof over the courtyard and the creation
of a tropical environment, complete with a large heated indoor swimming
pool, exotic trees and plants as well as a playground that makes
the Cairn Croft a favourite destination for families with young
children. The Bourbon Street Bistro overlooks the pool, serves cocktails,
snacks and pizza and provides live entertainment on some weekends
and holidays.
A popular spot for weddings
The family-feel of this property is also evidenced by the fact
that many of the employees have been working here for a long time.
Lisa mentioned that many of the staff have been here for 15 or even
20 years, somewhat of a rarity in the hospitality industry. Clients
often become repeat customers and come back time and time again
for a special weekend in Niagara Falls. The Croft Lounge is also
a popular hangout on weekends and features karaoke, theme nights
and dance music on the weekends.
Sitting area in my room
The Best Western
Cairn Croft Hotel has also become a popular destination for
weddings, especially due to the tropical courtyard and the gazebo
in the garden-like bistro that adjoin the pool. Lisa added that
this property is particularly popular with same-sex couples who
travel from the United States to Canada to get married. Most of
her customers come from within a three hour radius and many of them
are avid golfers who like to take advantage of the Niagara Peninsula’s
plentiful and affordable selection of golf courses.
Delicate towel art
After this overview it was now time for me to hit the road and
start my busy schedule of discoveries in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
I started my day with a visit to the Skylon
Tower, Niagara Fall’s most famous landmarks. Construction
of the tower started in May of 1964 and 17 months later the tower
was officially opened jointly by the then Governor of New York and
the Premier of Ontario. I walked in on the main floor which houses
some retail outlets and an arcade and took one of the “yellow
bug” elevators to the top. As we moved up from the main level,
the falls on both the American and the Canadian side came into view.
The Sklyon Tower on a grey drizzly day
I went straight up to the top level which houses the observation
deck. This indoor/outdoor observatory is the highest vantage point
in Niagara Falls, and close to 8,000 square miles in Canada and
the United States can be seen. Sights such as the skyline of Toronto
and Buffalo are visible from the top and a circular walkway provides
a 360 degree panoramic view. Signs at regular intervals identify
the various sights surrounding the tower.
The Canadian Horseshoe Falls, viewed from the Skylon Tower
A souvenir shop is located in the central portion of this observation
deck and through the glass doors you can reach the outside observation
deck. I ventured outside where the wind was howling on this rather
grey and chilly day. The view of the American and Canadian Falls
as well as of Goat’s Island and Niagara Falls, NY, was nevertheless
breathtaking. Seeing the Falls from the air just provides a much
better idea of the imposing size and beauty of this natural wonder.
The American Falls, from the Skylon Tower
When it got too chilly I hurried back inside and went a couple
of stairs down to check out the Revolving Dining Room, which must
be a wonderful restaurant in the evening, when the colourful lights
and the illuminated cascades of Niagara Falls come to life.
I was to get much more intimate knowledge of Niagara Falls through
my next visit: just minutes across the street from the Skylon Tower
is the Niagara
Falls Imax Theatre, a modern facility that features a truly
spectacular IMAX presentation: “Niagara: Miracles, Myths and
Magic”. I always love IMAX presentations and was really looking
forward to learning more about the unique historical background
of Niagara Falls.
Dave Munday was one of Niagara Falls' biggest daredevils
The movie started with the native legend of the Maid of the Mist,
and featured a dramatization of the first sighting of Niagara Falls
by European explorers in the 17th century. It also covered all sorts
of stories of daredevils and high-wire performance artists that
started to make Niagara Falls a tourism attraction from the early
19th century onwards. Even the story of Roger Woodward, the seven
year old American boy who was swept over the Horseshoe Falls in
a life jacket (the only survivor who went over the Falls without
a protective vessel) was told in moving images.
William Red Hunt, another famous Niagara Falls daredevil
Just outside the Imax Theatre’s screening room is the Daredevil
Gallery that features a number of the interesting and diverse
vessels that were used by various daredevils to go over the Falls.
One of the most famous was a 63-year old school Teacher named Annie
Edson Tayler whose story was also told in the Imax movie. Joined
by with her cat, she was the first person to go over the Falls for
a publicity stunt, in a wooden barrel, cushioned by a big mattress.
Unfortunately, her much hoped-for public speaking career never materialized
and she died as a pauper.
George Stathakis' Death Barrel
Other daredevils went over the falls in metal barrels of all shapes
and sizes, with varying results. Some arrived on the other side
of the big cascade virtually unharmed, while others suffocated or
died of internal injuries. It was indeed rather eerie to see some
of the actual vessels that were used in unsuccessful attempts to
go over the Falls. One of the most gruesome exhibits is the “George
Stathakis Death Barrel” that was used in an unsuccessful attempt
in 1930 when its passenger suffocated after being trapped in turbulent
water behind the Falls for 22 hours. Today such daredevil stunts
are actually outlawed and anyone ever attempting to go over the
Niagara Falls would surely face hefty fines.
Annie Taylor started it all - the first person to go over Niagara
Falls alive
To continue with the Niagara Falls historic theme my next visit
was to the “Skylon The Falls 3D/4D Movie”, a movie theatre
located at the base of the Skylon Tower that recounts the Niagara
Falls story from a more fantasy-based angle. Special effects include
gusts of air, sprays of water and moving seats that are intended
to create a multi-sensory experience of the film.
Approaching the Canadian Horseshoe Falls
It was time to continue my exploration of Niagara Falls, but I
had to get closer. So I walked down Murray Street and turned right
onto the Niagara Parkway, walking right next to the mighty Niagara
River. The weather at this time was grey and chilly, and wet snow
was falling. I was glad to take refuge in the Table Rock Centre,
the shopping and restaurant complex right next to the edge of the
Canadian Horseshoe Falls which was currently under renovation. Most
of the souvenir shops and fast food outlets were open and I had
a quick pizza and a charming conversation with five British ladies
that were in Niagara Falls for a quick pre-Christmas getaway, their
first time in Canada. They seemed to have a pretty jolly old time
in Canada and took the clammy weather in strides – they were
probably used to it.
Standing right on the edge of the precipice
Having satisfied my hunger I was ready to get truly up close and
personal with the Falls: the
“Journey behind the Falls” is one of the best ways
to experience the true power of the Niagara Falls first-hand. I
took the elevator down to the lower level at the Table Rock Centre
and started my own journey behind the mighty Falls. Known until
the early 1990s as the “Scenic Tunnels”, this attraction
consists of two tunnels and an outside viewing platform. The tunnels
date back to early 20th century and extend about 46 m behind the
waterfall. I walked down the long underground corridors with their
orange lighting and stopped intermittently to read the informational
posters on the wall. These displays provide a description of the
history of Niagara Falls, its geology and some of the famous visitors
who include President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, who were both
here on separate occasions.
Towards the end of the tunnel there are two smaller side tunnels,
each leading to an opening, or a portal, that provides a view from
behind the waterfalls. One of these portals was partially covered
by icicles and presented a perfect motif for any passionate photographer.
Access to the portals was blocked by a metal barrier for safety
reasons, although in the past visitors could get much closer to
the edge and admire the tumbling masses of water from just a few
meters away. The dull roar of the falling water pervaded the entire
underground space and provided an idea of the power of the millions
of litres of water that fall down the Horseshoe Falls every second.
One of the two portals, the water is rushing down in front
The statistics illustrate why Niagara Falls is considered one of
the natural Wonders of the World: the Canadian Horseshoe Falls,
the most impressive of the three falls in Niagara Falls, have a
length of over 670 metres, and their height is 53 metres which makes
Niagara Falls the most powerful waterfall in North America. The
depth of the Niagara River below the Horsehoe Falls is estimated
to be 56 metres. The straight line crest of the American Falls is
253 metres. About 90% of the water of the Niagara River plunges
over the Horseshoe Falls while the other 10% make their way down
the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls which are separated
from the Canadian Falls by Goat Island, an uninhabited island that
provides great vantage points of all the cascades.
Side view of the cascades from the observation platform
I had now reached the outside observation platform that provides
an excellent lateral view of the curtain of the Horseshoe Falls
as they plunge into the river below. Tourists from all over the
world were feverishly taking pictures of this unique sight. Even
on this grey day the view was impressive and the thunder of the
cascading masses of water filled the air as one fifth of the world’s
fresh water was crashing 13 stories down into the river below.
Duly impressed by this natural wonder, I made my way back up and
strolled back along the Niagara River’s edge to my vehicle,
which I had parked conveniently at the Fallsview Casino Resort.
I was pondering what to do next and because I felt thoroughly chilled
I was looking for a nice place to warm up in.
Looking north towards the Rainbow Bridge
I found just such a place just a few minutes drive away from the
Horseshoe Falls: Bird
Kingdom, one of Niagara Falls’, Ontario, newer attractions.
This tropical destination was surely going to revive my chilled
bones and it was going to be my next stop on my Niagara Falls discoveries.