Niagara Falls: A bucket list start to grandson’s trip
Our grandson’s Ethan and Judah flew into Buffalo, NY for their boat trip, so we took the opportunity to visit Niagara Falls! It was a hot, sunny weekend day in July. Therefore, it was no surprise that the place was busy and parking hard to find. After finding parking not too far past the park, we walked towards the visitor center’s lookout over the falls.
As we neared the falls, we could hear the water rushing before we actually saw it. My excitement was growing! As the falls came into view, we all paused and took in the awe-inspiring sight of that quantity of water and the power as it drops over the falls.
Tony broke the silence with “that’s a lot of water power!” Ethan responded with “I was wondering who would say that first.” Although the specific phrase Ethan had in mind was “that’s a lot of water!”. For the rest of the day, and throughout our trip, whenever we observed a lot of anything, we jokingly commented “that’s a lot of (fill in the blank)!”
Judah noticed a tall observation deck and suggested we head there for a view of the falls from above. The observation tower entrance also happens to be where you purchase tickets for the Maid of the Mist boat ride. We looked at the prices for the boat ride, did the math for 4 tickets, and considered it. On the one hand, it’s a bit pricey, but on the other hand, it would be a unique way to see the falls.
As we were pondering whether to buy tickets or not, someone approached me, “do you have tickets?” When I replied “no”, he handed me a ticket and said they had a spare one.
That was an unexpected and pleasant surprise! We re-did the math to purchase 3 tickets.
Then, another person came up to me and said “I have an extra ticket if you want it” and handed it to me.
With 2 free tickets in my possession, it became clear “we’re going on the boat ride!” We purchased 2 more tickets. Before boarding, they hand you ponchos. I guess we’re going to get wet. On this hot, sunny day, it will feel refreshing!
We strategized how to get a spot near the bow of the boat for a clear view. They pack the passengers onto the tour boat and we wanted to get photos of the falls, not of other passenger’s heads.
Not only did the boat ride give us a unique view of the falls, it also provided a feel of the turbulence under the hull and the spray on our faces. We were so thankful for the 2 free tickets and kindness of strangers. After returning to our car, we drove to some of the other viewing spots before heading to Meraki in Erie, PA.
Sailing Grounds: Erie, PA
We chose Erie, PA for our grandson’s trips because depending on the weather conditions, we can either sail in the bay, which is a more protected area, or out on the big lake. As far as land explorations, on one side of the bay is a natural setting of woods and beaches in Presque Isle State Park and on the other side are all the amenities and highlights that come with city life.
Sailing
The boys trip was on the short side, 5 days. With that in mind, we strategized to find the best weather day for sailing out on Lake Erie. They enjoyed a brisk afternoon sail and could see first hand what we had explained about waves building up faster on Lake Erie due to it’s shallow depth. We sailed past the shore of a few of the State Park beaches and then out away from shore (but not quite to Canada) before deciding to head back. Everyone had a turn at the wheel and managing the lines before we returned to the bay.
Cars
Rental Car
When possible, Tony and I prefer to visit walkable towns or places with good public transportation options. We quickly learned that while in Erie, we needed a rental car not only for the grandson’s airport pick up/drop off, but also to get around the State Park (it covers a big area) and to explore around town.
Car Technology
Our rental car was a 2023 VW Jetta, much newer than our 2011 CRV at home and with more features that we aren’t familiar with. It didn’t take long before Judah offered “I can connect your phone to the car’s navigation system if you want.” That was a gracious and polite way to bridge the generational gap in the area of car technology. We were using our phones to navigate the area. While our phones do the job, they have small screens and not as good audio, so the connection to the car dash was a big improvement. Thank you!
Car Shuttle
We started and ended their trip at a marina dock and anchored out the nights in between. How are we going to shuttle the car to be near us while at anchor? Good question! While the boys have their licenses, they aren’t old enough to drive a rental car so either Tony or I needed to move the car.
I offered to move the car and let the guys take Meraki to our anchorage. It felt very strange to be on the dock, throw Meraki’s lines, and watch them leave the marina. This was the first time Meraki left a marina without me onboard, but she was in good hands! We did the same arrangement returning to dock and the boys threw me the lines.
Bicentennial Tower
Whether from a lighthouse or an observation tower, it’s always fun to view an area from up above. The Bicentennial tower was unique in its panoramic views not only over the water, but also over downtown Erie. Also, a schooner docks here and seeing the ship from this vantage point was gave a different perspective.
Spontaneous Activity
On the way to see the Bicentennial tower, Judah noticed a parking lot that had quite a few hot rods and muscle cars lined up. “I bet it’s a car show!” he exclaimed. As a group, we decided if the show was still going when we drove back after the tower, we’d stop and check it out. And that’s how it worked out. Judah sought out the hot rods and muscle cars. Tony prefers the older cars. Ethan and I appreciated the variety of cars.
Beach Fun
Presque Isle State Park is known as Pennsylvania’s “seashore” with its beautiful coastline and beaches. The beaches are numbered and the first beach we visited was packed with people. While it’s nice to see lots of people enjoying the beach, we wanted a little elbow room to throw the football or frisbee so we went to one of the “closed” beaches. Right away, Ethan noticed all the driftwood scattered around this beach and got busy building a structure.
We assumed the “closed beach” meant no lifeguard and that we could swim at our risk. So, after some time building with driftwood and throwing the football and frisbee, it was time for a swim. We were on our way out of the water when a lifeguard on a 4 wheeler came driving down the closed beaches stopping along the way to inform anyone in the water that there is no swimming allowed at those beaches. Thankfully, we were done at the beach and ready for ice cream.
Food and More Food
Before the boy’s trips, Kendra gave me the heads up about their big appetites. I tried to provision accordingly. Still, we made frequent runs to the grocery store for more food! For meal planning, an added consideration was the heat. I prefer not to heat up Meraki’s cabin during a heat wave. With that in mind, we ended up eating some hearty salads or sandwiches onboard and for hot meals, we’d eat at a restaurant.
Sara’s restaurant became a favorite spot with its proximity to the State park, retro vibe, fun sayings on packaging and the walls, and their delicious food and ice cream. One time I ordered a root beer float. On our tray was a tall cup with a big swirl of vanilla ice cream in the bottom. I must have looked puzzled so they gave me instructions “you add the root beer at the soda fountain.”
Concert and Charcuterie
With the craftsman of our custom charcuterie board (Ethan) on this trip, we wanted to ensure a special occasion to use it. A concert night seemed a perfect opportunity! During the summer months, Erie hosts “8 Great Tuesdays” concerts. The concerts draw quite a crowd in the park and some come by boat like us.
We got there early and our pre-show entertainment was watching other boats’ anchoring techniques or lack thereof. Tony shared some of his anchoring knowledge with our grandsons using the scenes that were unfolding in our anchorage. For Tony, I’m not sure which was more enjoyable, the anchoring or the music. The music was a genre we all enjoyed and I even convinced Judah to dance with me in the cockpit. Another highlight of the evening was seeing the Schooner sail into the anchorage. Oh, and the charcuterie meal was a hit too!
Tony’s Birthday Breakfast
Food is often a part of celebrating special occasions. Tony’s birthday was on their travel home day. We made a plan to do something special before heading to the airport. A local recommended Bakery On 5th. It was the perfect recommendation! Ethan and Judah both ordered the avocado toast. It was the fanciest I’ve ever seen and a generous portion. Maybe it will keep them satisfied on their travel day?
Chocolate Shop and Park Visit
Speaking of special food, another local recommendation was Romolo’s chocolate shop. One afternoon we combined a visit to a park with the chocolate shop. Walking from the park to the shop, there was a stream. Hmm, take the bridge or use the rocks and cross the water? Ethan opted to use the rocks as his walkway across the water. Then we discovered a turquoise colored lagoon which added to the charm of our afternoon.
Time to Relax and Chill
While we packed a lot of outings and activity into our days, we also made sure to allow time to relax. This sometimes took the form of lounging in the cockpit, reading a book, or playing a card game.
During one of our low-key times, Judah opted to take a run. He planned a morning run to avoid the high heat and humidity, but I’d say the heat still took a little out of him. He crashed for a “power nap” in the V-berth (taking after his grandpa). After discovering the added cushion on the V-berth, we wondered if there might be a mutiny for our sleeping spot that evening.
Until Next Time
It’s always hard for us when a family boat trip nears an end so we’re learning to say “until next time”.
In this case, we actually did get a little bonus time together due to a flight delay. We were already on our way to Buffalo airport, so I searched for something to do to pass the time. Buffalo city waterfront looked interesting to explore.
As we neared the waterfront, we could see the waves crashing over the breakwater. “That’s a lot of wind!” It was so windy that after we parked our car and walked between the tall buildings towards the waterfront, there was a funnel effect and we felt the wind pressure as we tried to walk.
The Power of Water
We started and ended this trip with displays of the power of water. First with a visit to Niagara Falls and now with seeing the size of waves that can build up on Lake Erie on a strong windy day.
Thank you for keeping the stories coming, I just adore reading of your adventures, and the time spent with your families aboard…what could be better than combining sailing & family visits..both you and Tony are amazing!