Niagara Falls is one of those places that made it on our itinerary before we actually had an itinerary. I had never been and really wanted to see it! I heard from some who loved it and from others who thought it was overrated. For me, it was absolutely breathtaking! Our visit was magnificent!

Before I share our favorite pics from the falls, I will also say that we spent day 9 traveling through Ohio on our way there. We had some miles to make up and were going to be arriving in the Cleveland area in the evening. I remembered that one of my friends and former co-workers from my DC days lived in the area, in a very charming nearby town. I contacted her, hoping we could come by and say hi. She enthusiastically invited us over and we ended up spending the night at her place. Our connections with "old friends" has been a great highlight of our adventure.

When we got to Niagara Falls State Park the next afternoon, we first came to the American Falls. I was stunned to be there in person. Hearing the roar of the water, seeing it all, feeling the spray is a multi-sensory experience that is hard to describe!

So happy to be seeing the Falls with my girl!

I thought the American Falls were so beautiful and we really stayed a while and enjoyed the view. However, it's the Horseshoe Falls which are considered the most impressive falls of Niagara, and when I saw those...

...yes, there were tears.

Petunia and I heading in for a closer view.

Mark was taking some amazing pictures, but we got him in a few.

Every once in a while Petunia would ask to take our picture. I think she has the gene.

While being up close to the falls is the place to be for sensing the power and majesty of the rushing water, the best view, one could say, is a little farther away so you have a better perspective on the whole scope of the falls.

So we walked to: