Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is so incredible that I have visited not once, but twice. I stayed in the town of Niagara during my first overnight visit. Then I returned a second time with family and ended up staying in Niagara-on-the-Lake which I much preferred.

The Main Attraction

Obviously the main reason for visiting this region is to see the falls. The volume of the water flow is just surreal and it is definitely one of those things you have to see in person to understand the power of Niagara Falls. Luckily, we were on the Canadian side of the falls, which has much better panoramic views than the American side. I took the Hornblower Cruise on both occasions and I would highly recommend taking the boat tour if you visit. It brings you up close to each of the three waterfalls and immerses you in the mist of the Horseshoe Falls. They give you ponchos for a reason! We stood at the front of the top deck both times and the feeling of the mist hitting us was kind of exhilarating. We also got to meet Adam Sandler the first time we took the cruise. Life made.

New York, New York

A visit to the Big Apple has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and our trip back in August was unforgettable for a number of reasons. Not only did I finally get to see all the famous New York landmarks in person, but I also got the chance to see my favourite band Coldplay live in concert. It really was special.

Getting There:
We saved some dollar by taking the bus to New York, rather then flying which worked out far more expensive. Our budget-conscious decision may have been easy on our pockets but it was not a smooth journey by any means. Unfortunately we faced countless problems with Greyhound the minute we boarded our bus in Toronto and it's safe to say that I will not be using their services again. A stressful 17 hour bus journey, however, did not dampen our spirits and we left our overtired and hangry selves behind as soon as we stepped out of the bus station on 8th Avenue.

View of  the Statue of Liberty from Staten Island Ferry 

Where We Stayed:
Finding decent, budget-friendly and central accommodation in New York can be tough. We stayed in an Airbnb on Staten Island which was a little far out but the low price made it worthwhile. Getting to Times Square from our apartment involved a shuttle bus, ferry and subway ride but we spent the best part of our day out exploring, so the journey didn't phase us too much. Besides, the free commuter ferry provided us with a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline, so we couldn't complain! I would advise anyone who is on more of a time constraint to stay in Brooklyn or Queens to cut down on travel time.