Long trip to Niagara Falls was worth it
Kidsday reporter Katherine Kent, from Oysterponds Elementary School, Orient, at Niagara Falls. Credit: Jana Kent
Last summer my family took a car trip up to Niagara Falls. There was a long trip ahead of us since we were driving from Orient.
We crossed Long Island Sound on the Cross Sound Ferry to New London, Connecticut. From there on we drove all the way to Niagara Falls. It was a long, long trip. We left early in the morning and reached our destination at 6 o’clock, when we finally unloaded our luggage. I was so tired that I wondered if this trip was worthwhile.
The next day we began our sightseeing. We went on the Maid of the Mist boat. All visitors got a poncho. We got these ponchos so we wouldn’t get wet. I considered myself lucky because I was the first to the bow of the boat. This was the tip of the boat, where I had the best view.
The boat left the port and we slowly sailed closer to Horseshoe Falls. The thundering sound of the falls and the cloud of mist were getting more and more profound as we got closer. We all were getting wet. My father tried to take pictures, but his camera was getting wet, and he gave up. I could tell that everybody on the boat enjoyed this trip.
We then went to the state park and were sightseeing the falls from the shore. Even more exciting sightseeing was waiting for us at the Cave of the Winds. We had to take an elevator to the bottom of the gorge. There were waiting for us tour guides, dressed up in full waterproof clothing. They gave us ponchos and also waterproof shoes. From there we walked on a platform through the Cave of the Winds. The water was roaring, and we were engulfed in the cloud of mist. It was frightening and also beautiful. On the boat we had gotten wet, but by the Cave of the Winds, we got thoroughly wet. In this cloud of mist and water sprays, many tourists were behaving like mischievous kids, trying to take pictures of each other. All of them were laughing and posing for their cameras.
Then we had to go back to the hotel to change our clothes. After a short rest, we went to a restaurant to have something to eat. For the rest of the day, we did some more sightseeing and took photographs. Our day ended with fireworks. From the state park, we could see a beautiful and illuminating display of fireworks. It seemed to me that the falls and the gorge were changing colors. It was a nice way to end our day.
The following day we explored Niagara Falls and shores of Lake Ontario. Yes, this trip was worthwhile!
Brittany Crosser’s fifth- and sixth-grade class, Oysterponds Elementary School, Orient
