Niagara Falls visitors find little to do

[birdog1960]

"Ghetto" is a little harsh...the Falls themselves are a national park, and quite well maintained.

 

But just a little harsh, as the park itself is...well, surrounded by a ghetto. Parts of Niagara Falls look worse than photos I've seen of postwar Berlin.

interestingly, this article from 1973 made the same analogy http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19731004&id=mY1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fPoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7347,885127. i remember going to the maid of the mist parade with my family and cheering e dent lackey, the mayor, riding his white horse in the parade. i thought the guy was so cool. and he did alot to revitalize NF (the skating rink circling the NF convention center was awesome). but ultimately he failed, too. but no one's seriously tried to develop down river into a tourist destination (that i'm aware of) with the falls as a backdrop. maybe that would work or maybe it's just never to be...

[BillsPride12]

interestingly, this article from 1973 made the same analogy http://news.google.c...&pg=7347,885127. i remember going to the maid of the mist parade with my family and cheering e dent lackey, the mayor, riding his white horse in the parade. i thought the guy was so cool. and he did alot to revitalize NF (the skating rink circling the NF convention center was awesome). but ultimately he failed, too. but no one's seriously tried to develop down river into a tourist destination (that i'm aware of) with the falls as a backdrop. maybe that would work or maybe it's just never to be...

 

It's a shame Niagara lost the old Festival of Lights

[ExiledInIllinois]

"Ghetto" is a little harsh...the Falls themselves are a national park, and quite well maintained.

 

But just a little harsh, as the park itself is...well, surrounded by a ghetto. Parts of Niagara Falls look worse than photos I've seen of postwar Berlin.

 

State Park. I think it was one of the first, if not THE first, in the country. They knew back then what the power of humans could do to the area. I mean, what would it take to divert all water for hydro? As we speak the Canadians are building an even bigger diversion. But, nobody is supposed to know about that.

 

Anway... Spot on w/the rest. Good thing the State Park reservation was built or the area would look like crap right up to the Falls. On a much smaller scale, look what became of Minneapolis and their very scenic (@ one time) (St. Anthony) Falls. Of course more erosive forces have played a part but, not without human mucking it up first:

 

Early Days:

 

 

 

 

Human involvement:

 

 

Modern Minneapolis:

 

[run dat back]

Who spends seven days by any waterfalls outside of the tropics?

[BuffaloBill]

There is a lot to do in the region but the area immediately surrounding the Falls on the U.S. side does lack appeal.

 

The Canucks have the better view, Clifton Hill, Niagara on the Lake, wineries, Shaw Festival and the ballet. I'd say they have us beat hands (and clothing) down.

[billsfanmiami(oh)]

My wife and I Honeymooned there. Best bar there is the Wild Mushroom. Love that place. Awesome wings and great service. We went back 5 years later and that was a nightly stop during our visit.

 

Love the wild mushroom! Came across it in one of our first stops up to Canada to drink as 19 year olds and it quickly became one of our favorite spots. Did New Year's Eve there when I was 20 I think? I'm sure we still have a bunch of dollars on the wall there. good times! Oh and as everyone else has said Niagara Falls, ny blows. Such a shame. Did my bachelor party there a few years ago cuz not everyone had passports and some weren't allowed into Canada for DUIs. Had a great time (I think) but would never consider staying there for a weekend or anything. Have done short weekend trips to Canadian side last couple years with wife our families before going to Bills games and its great. Winery tours, Niagara on the lake, falls view casino, etc. probably had one of if not best meal of my life at A.G. In the sterling inn where we stayed. 6 course chefs tasting menu with wine pairings. Worth every penny.

[ExiledInIllinois]

There is a lot to do in the region but the area immediately surrounding the Falls on the U.S. side does lack appeal.

 

The Canucks have the better view, Clifton Hill, Niagara on the Lake, wineries, Shaw Festival and the ballet. I'd say they have us beat hands (and clothing) down.

 

And they got the shipping canal (Welland) around The Falls! Man were we suckers in WNY. Here is an old article from 1963 after the Seaway opened:

 

http://www.google.co....52164340,d.cGE

 

 

That is a pretty interesting article on building a Seaway port on Lake Ontario (Niagara County) and/or the possibility of and All-American Canal to rival Welland. Gets you thinking, it was 1963... 15 years before the Love Canal debacle... Did they know?? There was a feasibility study that went nowhere. Boy did the Seaway kill Buffalo/WNY commercially!

Edited September 14, 2013 by ExiledInIllinois

[birdog1960]

wow. spent some time checking out actual ideas and plans from the local and state pols. apparently, ecotourism is in the plans. problem is the chosen approach looks to be closing down the robert moses parkway (or part of it ) between NF and Lewiston and making the space between the existing parkway and the gorge into parkland. um, there's a nice big park called devil's hole right there already. to no ones surprise there appears to be some questionable politics swirling around this. i don't see a lot of benefit for a lot of cost including isolating lewiston and youngstown rather than developing them. they're clearly currently the more attractive areas. this doesn't make sense to me.

[BuffaloBill]

wow. spent some time checking out actual ideas and plans from the local and state pols. apparently, ecotourism is in the plans. problem is the chosen approach looks to be closing down the robert moses parkway (or part of it ) between NF and Lewiston and making the space between the existing parkway and the gorge into parkland. um, there's a nice big park called devil's hole right there already. to no ones surprise there appears to be some questionable politics swirling around this. i don't see a lot of benefit for a lot of cost including isolating lewiston and youngstown rather than developing them. they're clearly currently the more attractive areas. this doesn't make sense to me.

 

If they made it a green belt with a running and cycle path it might make sense. Overall there must be less car traffic than when it as built given population decline.

[DC Tom]

If they made it a green belt with a running and cycle path it might make sense. Overall there must be less car traffic than when it as built given population decline.

 

And tours of Love Canal.

[drinkTHEkoolaid]

My wife and I Honeymooned there. Best bar there is the Wild Mushroom. Love that place. Awesome wings and great service. We went back 5 years later and that was a nightly stop during our visit.

I've enjoyed a few...err many beverages there, and in the other clifton hill bars. Ohhh all those hazy memories that I "think" were super fun. Sigh...to be 19 again.....