How Do You Describe Niagara Falls?

past. It was chaos.  We rode a fairly large boat that held hundreds of people but looked like a toy in comparison to the surroundings. At the base of the Falls, we were blinded by the vapor cloud. The photo I took with my cell phone made it look like we were underwater.  You hear the roar of the water everywhere.

Later, we walked on a boardwalk along the Niagara River Rapids.  This is classified as one of the most dangerous white water stretches in the world.  There is a $10,000 fine for anyone who tries to kayak there. The beautiful green water churns and crashes past, with "standing waves" that never subside.  It's mesmerizing.  Just a few feet away from the water, a groundhog emerged, looking very comfortable living so close to total disaster.

Amid Mother Nature's magnificence, the town of Niagara Falls, Canada provides a jarring contrast. It is all hotels, fast food, thrill rides and souvenirs and it is very expensive.  

There is an indoor water park and a casino. I guess the kids have to be kept happy while the adults go broke.

I recommend staying on the Canadian side of the Falls - the view is spectacular. Take the tours and (literally) soak up the scenery, no matter what the cost.  Like Monument Valley, the Niagara Falls experience is not the cliche I assumed.  It should be on everyone's "bucket list."