Maid of the Mist – The Maid of the Mist is a boat tour of Niagara Falls.The boat starts off at a calm part of the Niagara River and takes it passengers past the American Falls and then into the dense mist of spray inside the curve of the Horseshoe Falls i.e Canadian Falls.
So as I recap we took a guided tour on August 3 , 2013 from Toronto to Niagara Falls.Our first point was skylon tower and then Closer look of Niagara Falls from the banks of Niagara Falls.Our next point was Maid of the Mist , the important attraction of Niagara Falls and it was included in our tour.Our guide cum driver has parked the bus near to the boarding point of the boat tour and took us to the admission queue of Maid of the Mist. He has asked all tour group to be together and arranged our admission.
Entry to Maid of the Mist
View from Queue
It was a long queue with so many people and a long route to reach boarding. It was giving me a feeling as if I am entering in some famous Indian temple with a special darshan ticket.There was almost two floor level difference between admission point and boarding point. We were just walking in the ramps by following other people going for taking boat tour. At the final point we were handed over an overall (Sort of raincoat)by the tour staff to protect ourselves from the spray of water.
Maid of the Mist : (Canadian Side)
Website : www.maidofthemist.com
Address: Maid of the Mist steamboat company limited, 5920, River road, P.O box 808 , Niagara Falls, ON
Phone number : 905-358 – 5781
Boarding point : Queen Victoria Park at the Maid of the Mist Plaza. River road at Clifton Hill.
Retail Rates : Adult $ 19.65 , Child (5 – 12 ) $ 12.65
At every tour ferry takes approximately 600 people for twenty minutes ride. The tour is available starting from either the Canadian or American side of the river, returning to the starting point in each case.
Waiting for our turn
Finally at the Boat
Starting point view
Starting Point view
Finally our turn came and we also boarded the huge ship on the upper deck. There was automated announcement and guided description of the tour in both English and French.But none of the passenger was bothered to hear the announcement. All were ready to take pictures , video as well was planning to protect camera from water spray. Then the tour started and it took us first towards American side falls and then taking U turn towards Canadian waterfall. Slowly -2 we were approaching Main falls and we had started feeling the spray of water and its intensity. After reaching very close we decided to keep our camera inside. It was an out of the world feeling. One can feel the flow , pressure of water by going so closer to it. I was feeling as I had achieved something big .My dream of visiting Maid of the Mist finally came true.
View from tour
American Falls
Closer view of Canadian falls
So Ship took turn at the falls and we returned to our boarding point with raincoat as a gift from Maid of the Mist company.
Here are some facts about Niagara Falls:
-The Canadian horseshoe falls is 170ft high (52 m ) and its brink measures 2500 ft (750 m) where as American Falls is 180 ft (55 m) high with a brink of 1100 ft ( 330 m).
– The average depth of water below Niagara Falls is 170 ft (52 m)
-The water that flows over Niagara Falls comes from four of the five great lakes.
-Originally 202,000 cubic feet per second (6060 cu.m) or 5.5 billion gallons per hour of water flowed over Niagara Falls, however half of this water is now diverted for power by US and Canada.
Thus we were back and ready for our next attraction points.Hope everyone has liked this part as well.Next in the series is Niagara on the lake village, Floral Clock, World’s smallest Church and Winery visit….Till then , Happy reading , happy travelling !!!!
Wow ………
Amazing pictures of the mighty falls. Enjoyed every picture and every bit of the post. Thanks for taking us to the virtual tour of Niagara falls, eagerly waiting for world’s smallest church.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mukesh ji for liking the post.Whenever I see the pictures and Videos of Falls, I feel I am still unable to show the actual feel of Falls…It was really great.Almost like a Virat Swaroop..
Thanks again
nice post.beautiful photos.amazing creation of almighty.
Thanks Ashok ji for liking and commenting the post.Yes, Niagara Falls is really an amazing creation of Almighty.
Hi Abhee,
Beautifully written and lovely pictures/videos… Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much for liking the post and pictures..
Nice post Abhee.
It must have been a lifetime experience for you and nice to see your dream come true.
Missed the earlier posts and ‘ll read them today.
Look forward to read your next.
Thanks a lot.It was really an experience.I still feel that I can’t express myself very well that what I felt when I had actually seen the Falls….
Thanks again
Very well described and good photos. It is also excitement to enter US. Thanks a lot for sharing with us.
Thanks Surinder ji for liking the post and pictures.It was really a great experience.When I reached Niagara Falls I got sms that “Welcome to US” and related roaming features. I had not yet deleted that message :)
Thanks Surinder ji for liking the post and pictures.It was really a great experience.When I reached Niagara Falls I got sms that “Welcome to US” and related roaming fetaures. I had not yet deleted that message :)
Yes,
Its a great exercise to get US visa as it is very tough. I was get rejected for first time (official business Visa) but lucky to get visa in second attempt. I had been in US also visited Niagara in Sept 2011. Niagara is really a wonderful place.
Thanks Abhee for sharing your experience.
Short and sweet post Abhee. The videos are indeed giving us a good feel of the real thing. Also at USD 20, it doesn’t look like an expensive affair. Look forward to more.
Thanks NJ. Niagara Falls are free of cost admission , so Maid of the Mist don’t cost us much.Sometime I feel if the authorities start charging for admission into Niagara Falls , then also people will pay to see such a wonder of the World..so, right now we are getting it as a free…:)
Thanks again
COngratulations Abhee for another wonderful crisp post and for another travel which goes to your records!
The Niagara falls is something every tourist to the US/Canada looks forward to ! The videos embedded here really speak for the experience one can have on their tour.. Good composition of text, pictures and videos Abhee!
Cheers.
Thanks Archana for such a nice comment.Whenever I find your comment I feel very good (Smile automatically comes) as if Teacher is appreciating student efforts.
Thanks again for liking the post…
Abhirucheeji, it was nice ending. The photos are great and video was very interesting… chalo apke sath humne bhi dekh liya…f ree mein LOL
Hello Sir,
Thank you for liking the post.I am happy that you liked this virtual tour.
Thanks again.
Good Post supported by superb photographs. As there is not so much to read but photographs are enough to say. Due to some problem to watch the video but will watch later.
You used to mentioned “greening tip for day” in last of your every post but I think it is missed in this series.
Thanks for taking us on tour.
Thanks Saurabh for liking the post and pictures.Hope you were able to view videos now.The main USP of this post is just Video so without video this post is incomplete.Hope you will like it.
I used to mention greening tip in my Chennai series as Chennai series was very close to my heart so it had that special flavour :)
Thanks again.
Hi Abhee,
Nice misty post about the mighty falls. I did not know about this part that they have boat tours into the mist.
I am sure it is one of its kind of adventure which cannot be experienced anywhere else.
When are we going to hear about your encounter with the grizzly bear!?
Keep writing!
Hi,
Oh yes, they have boat tour till mist.When I read Jerry’s post on Maid of the Mist I felt that it was more deeper in mist.But our boat didn’t go much inside the mist what I was expected but still it was a lifetime experience.It was only spray of water and I was expecting full splash of water right under the falls .I think that is impossible also.
As regards to grizzly bear I am not sure that I am that much fortunate to visit such places:) .As most of my trips are family trip, so this thing I will not be able to visit and write.We had plan to visit Canada wilderness by train tour, but we cancelled.As when I was reading review I found that 8 hours train journey would be little boring for kids and they will not like even Hiking part.Plus travel to Saint Sault Marie from where tour starts was not at all worth I mean the money and time spend (Almost 10 hrs bus route ) to reach that place.So all cancelled.
Our next stop where we are planning to go is either Niagara (Few places still uncovered) and then Montreal and Quebec.
Thanks again for reading the post and commenting back.