Trifter

“Family Day” is a new holiday in Canada, celebrated by just three provinces so far, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The third Monday of February, this is only the second occurrence of this new and controversial perennial holiday. Because this is a provincial holiday and not a federal one, all government offices and agencies remained open for business. Only about 1/3 of the citizens of the three provinces enjoyed this holiday off. This is a bit of a concern and may be remedied in the future for all of Canada. A ‘family holiday’ that only three provinces and only one-third of its resident enjoy is hardly fair.

Niagara River Between Canada and The United States

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The visible falls on the upper-right is the American Falls. During the summer months, ferry boats ply up and down the Niagara River to the whirlpool as the base of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. I have ridden this boat ride many times from the American side, but have yet to make the trip from the Canadian side of the river. The technical border between The United States and Canada is in the middle of the Niagara River, but the boats from both sides actually cross this imaginary border on its course to the base of the Canadian Falls.

Rainbow Bridge, with the American Niagara Falls in the Distance

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Horseshoe Falls, From Just Above the Edge

Niagara Falls is several waterfalls actually. The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are on the U.S. side of the river, and the larger Horseshoe Falls is the Canadian falls. There are several islands in the river above the falls on the American ownership, the largest being Luna Island. On the American side there are footbridges that you can walk out onto the islands and get close to the Niagara River’s edge.

Horseshoe Falls, Canadian Falls

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Edge of The Horseshoe Falls, Near the Precipice

Some distance upriver we watch the water disappear over the Horseshoe Falls and continue down the Niagara River.

Tourist Haven