It is said that Niagara Falls are more beautiful from the American side! A month after discovering Niagara Falls from the Canadian side, we cross the border into the United States to check out this legend and form our own opinion! So, are Niagara Falls more beautiful from the Canadian side or the American side?
Saturday, May 21, 2022
From the Thousand Islands and Kingston, a few hours of driving bring us closer to Toronto. Then, an idea strikes us: why not pass through the city? We don’t plan to make a stop in this vast metropolis, but the thought of getting up close to its towering skyscrapers is tempting. So, we decide to go for it. Instead of taking the highway that bypasses the city to the north, we head toward downtown. And it turns out to be the right call. After a long and tedious approach through the suburbs, we merge onto Toronto’s inner ring road, which takes us high up, right next to Downtown. For a few brief minutes, we weave through these glass giants, completely in awe. Rémi is driving, so I do my best to snap as many shots as possible, hoping to capture a few great pictures of this iconic Canadian city.
The last two hours of driving are marked by intermittent showers and a nice thunderstorm. We treat ourselves to a pizza in a small roadside restaurant, then head to the shore of Lake Erie, where we hop back in the car to escape a light, steady rain.
Sunday, May 22
We discover our spot under a morning drizzle, with a few rays of sunshine struggling to break through. We are facing Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes of North America.
This morning, a challenge awaits us: crossing the U.S. land border for the first time and returning safely to Canada. Indeed, we have reached the end of Lake Ontario, where the world’s most famous falls are located: Niagara Falls! We took a trip to Niagara Falls a month ago, accompanied by my mom. At that time, in the midst of renewing our work permits, we couldn’t leave Canadian territory. So, we settled for the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Today, after two years of administrative procedures, we received our permanent residency on the very day of our departure!! 🥳🥳 As Canadian Residents, we can now come and go from Canada without any issues. Awesome!
At the U.S. border, we encounter a very friendly customs officer. She asks why we are coming to the States and how long we plan to stay. “Only a few hours, we are going to the Falls!” She looks up at the Jeep. “Only a few hours? What’s all this stuff then?” We find ourselves explaining our situation, our two-year journey from Alaska to Argentina. She doesn’t ask any more questions but warns us that the Falls on the American side are much more beautiful than on the Canadian side. Let’s go check that out right away. We are granted a nice three-month visa for the U.S., which we will renew after Alaska.
We take our first steps in the U.S., near Buffalo! There’s no major difference from the other side of the border. However, we now speak in miles instead of kilometers, and liters become gallons. Quite a headache! After many calculations, we realize that gas is 35 cents cheaper than in Canada! So, we rush to the first gas station and fill up 😏
Upon arriving at the Falls, it’s raining! What a shame. Armed with our umbrella, we take a stroll through Niagara Falls State Park. It’s a beautiful, green, and well-preserved park. The contrast is striking compared to the concrete and Disneyland-like atmosphere on the Canadian side! Across the border, we had been surprised by the bustling atmosphere in the city, with its restaurants, attractions, souvenir shops, rides, and entertainment. On the American side, the falls are much more preserved in their natural setting, which is very pleasant. However, the effect remains the same. Just like the first time we stood before the falls, we are blown away by their grandeur and power.
So, the verdict after this second visit to Niagara Falls: are they more beautiful on the American side or the Canadian side? Well, although they are undeniably better preserved in their natural environment on the American side, we must admit that the Canadian side offers the best views! Sorry, madam customs officer 😁
After this quick visit to Niagara Falls on the American side, we return to Canada, a bit worried. It’s the first time we’ll be using our residency. We hope there won’t be any issues, especially since it shows my old passport number. At the booth, the customs officer asks where we live while checking our file online. Then, “Oh, you are residents!” We pass through effortlessly, without even going to the customs office. There’s no denying it, residency is awesome! With that, we leave Lakes Ontario and Erie behind, heading north to the third great North American lake: Lake Huron. Three hours of driving through fields and countryside!
We find a road at the end of a gravel path, near a meadow. There’s no one around, except for a doe crossing. The perfect spot for wild camping! We take the opportunity to start our evening routine: cook dinner, freshen up, eat in the sun, alone in the world. We’re getting into the rhythm, and there’s no denying it: we love it!
We find a road at the end of a gravel path, near a meadow. There’s no one around, except for a doe crossing. The perfect spot for wild camping! We take the opportunity to start our evening routine: cook dinner, freshen up, eat in the sun, alone in the world. We’re getting into the rhythm, and there’s no denying it: we love it!
Starting tomorrow, we will continue our road trip towards Western Canada, with a beautiful stop to discover the crystal-clear waters of Bruce Peninsula National Park.
