“USA 🇺🇸 ~Road Trip’n Through Pennsylvania to New York and Niagara Falls!”

• September 4, 2021
• By Pen
• 4 Comments

Daryl and I have both wanted to go to Niagara Falls for a very long time! Today we finally made it! ✅
Given the crazy summer weather we have been having, we ended up with the most beautiful blue-sky day, ever! It was perfect for this adventure!
Now I know for sure, New York is so much more than the popular New York City visit and that surrounding area, though we will most likely stop there, later on, too, because I just love NYC.
While I’ve been to NYC, many times; even walking along the busy sidewalks next to Al Roker, carrying his (then) infant daughter, then sitting next to Ethen Hawk in a sandwich shop; (yes, he is short in real life)….Anyway, I have never been to central or upstate New York.
I found central NY to be okay, but Upstate NY is incredible! It is so pretty, with wide open spaces.
*****
We left Kent, Ohio very early in the morning of our Niagara Falls visit, as we were still 3,5 hours away from New York and the Falls.
We crossed through the very Northwest corner of Pennsylvania, to make our way straight to Niagara Falls State Park ⬇️

Low fog, leaving Ohio ⬆️ heading for Niagara Falls. It was the most beautiful morning!

Crossed into Pennsylvania ⬆️

Made it to New York ⬆️⬇️

Rusty Ferris Wheel, just like in Armenia 🇦🇲!

******
NIAGRA FALLS STATE PARK USA 🇺🇸

******
CANADA 🍁 🇨🇦 EVER SO BRIEFLY
Driving along the Niagara Parkway, on the way to the Falls, Canada 🇨🇦 is seen right across the river. ⬇️ Niagara Falls is a city on the Niagara River, in New York State. It is known for the vast Niagara Falls, which straddle the Canadian border. 

Had we been allowed to enter Canada, we would have explored Niagara Falls from that side too.
In a few hours of all things Niagara from the USA 🇺🇸 side, we had our fill, and continued our way, North.
******

⬆️ In Niagara Falls State Park, the Observation Tower, at Prospect Point, juts out over Niagara Gorge for a view of all three waterfalls. Trails from the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center lead to other viewpoints. ⬇️

*******
THE MAIDEN OF THE MIST
We absolutely recommend  “The Maiden of the Mist” boat tour. It cost us $100 total plus parking, but the boat is electric, so no fumes when circling at the base of the falls. It was also a quiet boat, so all we heard was the roar of the powerful falls!
We made it a point to get right up front on the boat. We got wet, and we got photos videos! It’s a very fun way to “explore the roar?”
The Maid of the Mist boat tour in Niagara Falls, NY has been described by generations of visitors as one of the highlights of their trip.
A favorite Niagara Falls State Park attraction for more than 150 years, the Maid of the Mist journey begins at the Observation Tower, where guests are given a souvenir rain poncho to wear and board the double-deck Maid of the Mist boat.

⬆️ View (looking down) of dock from the top of the Observation Tower

⬆️ View looking opposite way of the falls, taken from the top of Observation Tower

⬆️ Same view of the river from the bottom of the Observation Tower. (There are stairs and an/or elevator).

⬆️ From there, the boat ferries past the base of the American Falls, and onto the basin of Horseshoe Falls; the dramatic passage leading you through the roiling waterfall whitewater and massive rock formations.

⬆️ Daryl met a group of Nepalese onboard (of course he did) and celebrated with them in the mist. Having been to Nepal, we love the friendly people!

********
The Maid of the Mist returns guests to shore with newfound appreciation of the power and grandeur of Niagara Falls. ⬇️

Back on land, viewing the top of Niagara Falls. Yes, it was exhilarating and super windy!
******
BACK ON THE ROAD
Since we were avoiding being in New York for Labor Day weekend, (this day was a Thursday) we did hot-foot it North, towards Vermont.
The hotel prices in New York are so high (just to get a dump) even without the added inflation and, so we are hoping Vermont will be cheaper for a couple nights stay.
I’m  feeling the need to be out of the vehicle and in one place for a time, to re-energize!
******
For our night, right after our Niagara Falls visit, we made it as far as Oriskany, New York…Way off the beaten path to find a hotel that was not over $200 a night. I needed to do laundry, so I got that accomplished too. ⬇️

⬆️ Side note: ever since living overseas, I no longer use a dryer. I just got used to it, since dryers were rarely available, but washers could be found. Now that we are stateside again, I still don’t use the drier, even though they are available. That being said, since we live in paid-for lodging of some kind, every night if our life, in our Gypsy lifestyle, I am also not doing sheets and towels.
For our clothes, it’s cold water and hang dry, anywhere I can lol find a spot. It works great for our limited wardrobe!
******

NEW YORK 

PENNSYLVANIA

OHIO

This is a map of the Northeast of America, where we will be enjoying some slow down time. It’s such a beautiful part of our country!

STATES VISITED ON OUR USA ROAD TRIP ⬇️

CALIFORNIA: ✅

NEVADA: ✅

OREGON: ✅

KONA, HAWAII: ✅

OREGON again: ✅

IDAHO: ✅

UTAH: ✅

WYOMING: ✅

COLORADO: ✅

NEBRASKA: ✅

SOUTH DAKOTA: ✅

NORTH DAKOTA: ✅

MINNESOTA: ✅

WISCONSIN: ✅

ILLINOIS: ✅

INDIANA: ✅

MICHIGAN: ✅

OHIO: ✅

PENNSYLVANIA: ✅

NEW YORK: ✅