As it took a lot of time and energy to plan my trip to the Four Corners, I didn’t start planning my trip to Buffalo, New York and Niagara Falls until I returned home at the end of May. My plans include crossing the border into Canada, and staying two nights in Niagara Falls, Ontario. On one of those days, I’ll meet a dear friend of mine I knew in Oman who now lives less than two hours away in Waterloo, Ontario.
Journal, books, map & guidebook
Leaving home on June 25, I’ll drive seven hours in a northwesterly direction, arriving in Buffalo that same afternoon.
I started planning by looking through the guidebook, Moon Niagara Falls. This guidebook includes sites on the Canadian and U.S. Sides, as well as information on Buffalo and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
accoutrements of travel
Here’s my itinerary so far:
- Monday, June 25: Arrive in Buffalo. Explore Allentown and Elmwood Village.
- Tuesday, June 26: Buffalo – Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Tour 9:30-10:30. Martin House Tour 11:30-12:30.
- Depart for Niagara Falls, New York: Niagara Falls State Park (Observation Tower & Prospect Point) and Little Italy.
- Wednesday, June 27: Continue exploring Niagara Falls State Park (Goat Island, Luna Island, Cave of the Winds, Terrapin Point, Three Sisters Island).
- Drive to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls: Table Rock Welcome Center and Brink of Horseshoe Falls, Skylon Tower.
- Thursday, June 28: Hornblower Niagara Cruises (8:30 a.m.).
- Meet Mona Lisa 11:00-4:00. Parkway North: White Water Walk, The Whirlpool, Lunch. Butterfly Conservatory.
- Lundy’s Lane. Walk some more around the Falls.
- Friday, June 30: Drive up to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Walk around the town. Drive home.
I’m in the middle of reading a novel set at Niagara Falls; it’s quite a hefty one at 512 pages: The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates. The story begins with a man committing suicide by throwing himself into The Falls after a disastrous honeymoon night. Most of the book takes place in the aftermath of this suicide. I’m only on page 250; it’s doubtful I’ll be finished before I go, but I’ll certainly take it along.
Of course, I had to make a playlist for the road trip: Niagara Falls and Buffalo Road Trip.
Here are my intentions for this trip.
Intentions for Buffalo and Niagara Falls
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“ANTICIPATION & PREPARATION” INVITATION: I invite you to write a 750-word (or less) post on your own blog about anticipation & preparation for a particular destination (not journeys in general). If you don’t have a blog, I invite you to write in the comments. Include the link in the comments below by Thursday, July 26 at 1:00 p.m. EST. When I write my post in response to this challenge on Friday, July 27, I’ll include your links in that post. My next post will be about preparing to walk the Frances route of the Camino de Santiago.
This will be an ongoing invitation, on the 4th Friday of each month. Feel free to jump in at any time. 🙂 If you’d like to read more about the topic, see: journeys: anticipation & preparation.
I hope you’ll join in our community. I look forward to reading your posts!
the ~ wander.essence ~ community
I invite you all to settle in and read posts from our wandering community. I promise, you’ll be inspired!
- Jo, of Restless Jo, wrote about her anticipation and angst as she prepared for her trip to Poland to visit her Polish family, followed by a planned trip to visit her daughter in Nottingham days after her return from Poland.
- Debbie, of Everyday Delights, has written about her upcoming trip to New Zealand, where she’ll experience volcanic action, an amazing train ride, the Mouri people, the Southern Alps and Middle Earth.
- Pit, of Pit’s Fritztown News, wrote about planning and preparation for his southeastern road trip. He and his wife Mary have a goal to visit states other than Texas by car and take their bicycles to ride rail and other trails. Their aim is to eventually ride 10 miles at least in each state.
Thanks to all of you who wrote posts about anticipation and preparation. 🙂
~ wander.essence ~ 
Wow, you are so organized. Have a wonderful trip.
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Thanks, I’m hoping I won’t be endlessly irritated by the touristy aspects. I have very specific things I want to see, and I hopefully can overlook the hordes of tourists! 🙂
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I hope you can too. I live in a tourist town and without them there would be no economy, so I’m grateful for them.
I also get so frustrated at not being able to walk down the street, of having people just step out in front of me.
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Gosh, you have so much energy, Cathy!
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Every once in a while, I guess I do, Sue. Believe me, I have my share of lazy days. 🙂
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Well, I used to be always ‘on the go’, but alas, no longer!
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I think we will all slow down as we get older. I can already feel the slowdown coming with my achy knee joints. 🙂
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Well, I’m not old, but compromised health has me acting older than my years……
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I don’t consider myself old either, but yes, sometimes health issues make us feel older than we are! It’s so frustrating to have health issues, Sue, I know. xx
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C’est la Vie! I just have to have strategies!
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Strategies area always good! 🙂
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😀😀
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Great preparation, Cathy! I’m very much looking forward to reading about that trip. I hope you’ll enjoy it, get many wonderful lasting experiences, and return home safe and sound.
Best,
Pit
P.S.: And thx for linking to my blog. Much appreciated.
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Thanks, Pit. I hope it will be fun. At the very least, it will be good to get away. 🙂
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Safe travels Cathy. Your list of intentions leaves me quite exhausted! Enjoy the time with your old friend – you’ll probably end up spending loads of time chatting about the old days and putting the world to rights – all intentions out of the window!!
xx
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Haha, Jude. I just take notes and try to be aware of what I want to pay attention to. As for Mona Lisa, I only have one six-hour block of time with her; the rest of the time I’ll be on my own; plenty of time to meander and contemplate and observe. When I’m with her, though, I won’t have a moment to think, as I’m sure we’ll be chatting every second. 🙂
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It sounds like you’ve planned a fantastic trip. We’re going to the Canadian side of the falls on my birthday – can’t wait!
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When is your birthday? What else will you see in Canada? I’ll be two nights on the Canadian side myself, and one in Niagara Falls, NY and one in Buffalo. It’s so strange, I’m leaving in two days, and I’ve really done so little to prepare! 🙂
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We are visiting Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal. Our daughter lives in Toronto so we are there longer than anywhere else. I’m sure you’ll be ready on time.
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Wow, that will be quite a trip, Carol. Sounds fantastic and a great birthday treat. I love Quebec, but I’ve never been to the other cities you’re going to. 🙂
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What a great trip. I have very fond memories of Niagara Falls it is overwhelming in its power. I was so amazed by the fact that Canada had all the razzmatazz and Americans side had the beautiful national parks. How many days will you be there Cathy? Have a great trip, looking forward to hearing all about it.
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I’m looking forward to seeing the Falls, Pauline. It’s hard to believe never having been despite living only a 7-hour drive away. I know, it seems you’re right that Canada has all the razzmatazz and America has the state park and more natural areas. I’m sure they’ll all be crowded! 🙂 I’m leaving Monday, staying a night in Buffalo, one night in Niagara Falls, NY and two nights in Niagara Falls, Canada, then driving home on Friday. I’m excited but haven’t done much to prepare so far. It’s not that long of a trip, so I’m not too stressed out. Just have to remember my passport, as I usually don’t take my passport on a car trip! 🙂
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I’m sure it will be crowded at this time of the year. I’m liking shorter trips now, but still miss the long road journeys
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Oh, absolutely it will be crowded, Pauline. I should have planned to go off season. I still love long road trips! 🙂
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I’ve been to the Canadian side, but not the US side. One for the list for when you know who is gone.
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I’ll be on both sides, Anabel, as long as I don’t encounter any problems at the border. I’m not sure I understand your last sentence ?? 🙂
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[…] tentatively linking to Cathy, she has an on-going challenge about the anticipation and preparation for a particular destination. […]
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Fabulous post, Gilly. I love this and I love how it all came together after your being waylaid in a previous attempt to get to Poland. I know it was a fantastic time! I’m linking this up to my next anticipation and preparation post on July 27. 🙂
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I’d better get busy planning my road trip. Only a month to do it in, and if I do it as thoroughly as you, that’s not long enough.
I like the “Still life with hydrangea” you’ve created with your preparation books. I don’t know Moon guides. Are they specifically American?
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I’m sure you will do it, Meg, as you’ll get caught up in the excitement! I’m in the same boat as I need to finish preparing and training for the Camino, plus plan our time in Portugal after. I have two months, but I’m sure they will speed by!
Thanks about the still life with hydrangea. I love doing those journals and the photos of my travel paraphernalia; I feel like a kid doing arts and crafts again. As for Moon Handbooks, I’ve used them for many destinations, usually the less popular ones and U.S. destinations, which they do specialize in. I think I used them for Korea and Oman as well, since at the time, they were not big travel destinations. Lonely Planet doesn’t cover some of these less popular places.
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