Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls – Explore the Roar

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.

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.

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.

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 !!!!