First Day In Yellowstone National Park

19 September 2014

Weather: Sunny and 20C

Jackson Lake Marina

We awoke to a fine day, checked out of the cabin and drove around to the marina to have a look at Jackson Lake.  We bought some food for our breakfast at the General Store and then started to drive to Yellowstone National Park.  

Not long after leaving Colter Bay Village, Justin notified me of an Elk Stag in the forest and I catch a glimpse as we kept driving.  I had read that you are not to stop on the road to take photos but one is to continue to a stopping bay which there was none on this stretch of road.  We will later learn that no-one seems to obey this rule but they are in place to prevent motor vehicle accidents and traffic jams. 

Entrance to Yellowstone National Park

We drove north to West Thumb where we stopped to see the geysers.  It was at West Thumb that some Asian tourists spotted a couple of Elk Cows in the forest, great spotting as I would have missed them.  We took some photos as the springs are very interesting because of the different shapes and colours.  At this point we did not see any geysers erupt.  

Elk Cow at West Thumb

Elk Cow at West Thumb

Me at West Thumb

Fishing Cone, West Thumb

We then headed to Canyon Village passing through Hayden Valley where we saw plenty of Bison.  The reason we travelled the long way around was because Craig Pass was closed for roadworks.  A few months before going on our trip I read about the road closure and was disappointed as it meant that we had to travel further and it would have been better for us to fly to Livingstone instead.  But the upside is we got to see the beautiful Grand Teton National Park and more of Yellowstone National Park than what we had planned.  In the Hayden Valley we got out of the car and took photos of the bison.  

Justin at Hayden Valley with Bison grazing

Continuing on our drive Justin drove to Norris and then onto Madison where we stopped to take more geyser photos.  We passed Lower, Midway, Biscuit and Upper Geyser Basins as we neared Old Faithful.  We stopped at the General Store at Old Faithfull for lunch, where I had the Chili Nachos and Justin had a burger and chips.  We checked in the Old Faithful Inn which is a very interesting place to stay, as the architect of the building is fascinating and atmospheric.  That afternoon we attended the Ranger led “Animals in the Wildlife” talk.  It is very informative and even though it is designed for children it is good for adults who have not visited Yellowstone National Park before or for some time.  Once the talk was over we strolled across to Old Faithful to see it erupt for the first time during our stay.  Yes it is truly worth the visit.  

Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful Erupting

We spent some time during the afternoon doing our laundry at the Old Faithful Lodge.  Handy note the laundry facilities are in high demand so expect to wait to use the washers and dryers.  At 7:00pm we attended the evening activity a presentation about how Yellowstone National Park came about and how it has shaped the USA.  An hour after the presentation we had tea at the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room.  I had the Smoked Bison Bratwurst and Spicy Chicken & Pheasant Sausage.  Justin had the Bison Pot Roast.  

Bison Pot Pie

Bison Bratwurst and
Chicken & Pheasant Sausage

After dinner we retired to our room for the night.  We showered and called it a night.  I was not impressed as there was no hot water when I had a shower that evening and with the cold weather it wasn't pleasant.

Our room at Old Faithful Inn

First Day In The Grand Teton National Park

18 September 2014

Weather: Thunder storms in the afternoon through to the night & 20C

This morning Justin and I got up at 4:00am to get ready to head back to the US.  We checked out of the hotel and got the Niagara Shuttle to Toronto's Pearson Airport.  We arrived over three hours before our flight and checked in with United.  It turns out that you had to pay extra for an earlier flight so we decided not to do that.  We were then informed that we had to wait in a waiting room until our flight time was called.  After an hour they announced all flights could then go through customs.  

Our tickets to Chicago and then onto Jackson Hole showed that we didn't have seats together.  On the second flight from Chicago to Jackson Hole no one was seated next to Justin so I moved one seat forward to sit next to him.  On arrival at Jackson Hole Airport we got the Alamo Shuttle to their office in Jackson Hole.  

Jackson Hole Airport

Justin decided that he would be the only one driving at this stage of the trip.  We were given a Kia and then it started to rain, so Justin was driving in a town we didn't know, in the rain, on the wrong side of the road.  He did a great job and we had no problems finding our way to Colter Bay Village stopping at most turnouts along the way to take in the views.

Grand Tetons

Elk Ranch Flats Turnout, Grand Teton National Park

After checking into a two bedroom cabin we drove back to Oxbow Turnout for the ranger led animal spotting.  We arrived early so chose a good parking spot where we could see the meadow and river. When the ranger arrived it was thundering and lightning so he advised everyone to get into their cars.  It rained and we watched the lightning for about half an hour until Justin's hunger got the best of him.  

Oxbow Bend Turnout, Grand Teton National Park

Oxbow Bend Turnout View, Grand Teton National Park

We drove back to Colter Bay Village not having seen any animals and had tea at the Ranch House Restaurant.  Justin had the Rotisserie Chicken with Chips and I opted for the Sweet Potato Soup.  I had an orange tea, reminder to self, I don't like orange tea. Afterwards we retired to the cabin for the night.

The room we stayed in at
 Colter Bay Village

The two bedroom cabin we stayed
 in at Colter Bay Village

Cabins at Colter Bay Village, Grand Teton National Park

Third Day In Niagara Falls

17 September 2014

Weather: Sunny & 20C

This morning we slept in to 7:15am got up and had another buffet breakfast at the hotel. After enjoying a lovely breakfast we went to our room to get our things for the day’s adventure.  When we got back to our room, Justin remembered that he left his sunglasses on the table where we had breakfast.  He rushed straight down and discovered that our table hadn't been cleaned but his sunglasses were gone.  

Squirrel at Victoria Park, Niagara Falls

Squirrel at Victoria Park, Niagara Falls

Once we left the hotel for the morning, we walked down to Victoria Park stopping in at souvenir shops along to try to find Justin some sunglasses.  No luck in finding anything that he liked.  We walked through Victoria Park and watched the squirrels.  

We headed back to the hotel as this was our meeting place to meet mum's distant cousin. Mum and Liz share the same ancestors John McDonald and Elizabeth Hally both born around 1801 in Argyll, Scotland.  I met Liz through ancestry.com.au. On meeting Liz, Justin and I got into the car which Liz's husband Jack was driving and he drove to Doc Magilligan's Restaurant & Irish Pub on Lundy Lane for lunch.  I had Grilled Chicken with Pumpkin Sauce and Vegetables. The chicken was a good size not too big but there was plenty of vegetables.  Justin had the Ulster Burger (caramelised onion, beef patty, cheddar cheese, tomato and lettuce) with chips.

Liz, Me, Justin and Jack 

Liz and I at Doc Magilligan's

Afterwards Jack drove us to Canada One Factory Outlets Liz helped me find a nice dress to buy.  We found a blue knit and leather dress from Danier Leather.  The waitress at Doc Magilligan's told me that they are a Canadian label.  Justin had gone off to find sunglasses but he had no luck there either. After our short shopping trip we returned to the hotel again as I forgot to bring along the gifts I had bought for Liz and Jack.  I gave Jack a kangaroo wallet and Liz a red floral necklace which was made of clay containing sand from Horseshoe Bay at South West Rocks.  This making the gift special as we live about 35 minutes from South West Rocks.  The four of us looked at the waterfalls from the Fallsview Boulevard near the Marriott Hotel and talked.  Liz and Jack gave me two photo albums with pictures of all her relatives and a family history on the McDonald's.  They gave Justin Maple Leaf Fudge, I did try some and it was nice and sweet.  The day was getting away and our relatives had a two hour drive back to Kitchener.  We farewelled Liz and Jack and then went to the hotel to organise the shuttle bus for the next day, then headed out once again.

View from our room that day.  Marriott Fallsview

We caught the Wego Bus to Souvenir City as we thought they would have all the souvenirs available in the other Niagara Parks Gift Shops but this was not the case.  So we were on another bus to the Hornblower stop where Justin bought some sunnies, a Canadian flag patch, a postcard and a stamp at $2.50.  We got $5.00 off because we spent over $30 and we had been given a voucher with our Advantage Pass.  

Moose statue at Souvenir City

Souvenir City

We decided to walk back to Table Rock via Victoria Park to photograph and film the squirrels.  We then got the blue bus back to the hotel, packed our bags, used the internet in the lobby and had drinks.  Justin got a pasta dish from Tony Roma which we ate in our room while watching TV.      

Rose Garden at Victoria Park, Niagara Falls

Black Squirrel, Victoria Park

Black Squirrel, Victoria Park

Second Day In Niagara Falls

16 September 2014

19C and mostly sunny

Early mornig view from our room at the Marriott Fallsview

This morning I woke at 5:30am to get ready for the day.  Justin had a headache/migraine so I got ready and went downstairs to use the free Wi-Fi in the lobby.  Later I went back to our room and found that Justin was feeling better. We had breakfast from the buffet at the Marriott Fallsview Resort.

Incline Railway

I was dying to get out there all morning and finally we were walking across to the incline railway and took it down to the Table Rock Welcome Centre.  We took more photos of Niagara Falls and then got the printed ticket converted to the Wego Pass.  With so many Niagara Falls experiences to do in one day we quickly walked to the Hornblower Cruise, stopping only to take more photos of the falls.  

View of Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls

The boat cruise passes the American Falls and goes close to the base of Horseshoe Falls. It gave a great view of the falls, different to seeing it from above.  

Once we finished the cruise we got the Wego bus to White Water Walk where we took a lift down the cliff to the water’s edge.  There is a timber boardwalk which you follow to see some of the largest rapids in the world, which are class 6 rated.  Travelling to the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls on the Hornblower was much more fun for me.  

White Water Walk

From White Water Walk we got the bus to Whirlpool Aero Car where we crossed over the whirlpool, but on the day of our visit there was not much of a whirlpool, this was sad but the view was still good.

Whirlpool Aero Car

Next we got the bus back to Table Rock and had lunch at Edgewaters at Queen Victoria Place.  I had the Mushroom Ravioli and Justin had a Burger, there was a free dessert with each main so I went the Four Flavour Terrine and Justin had the White Choc Burlee.  The food was very enjoyable and we had a view of the falls from our table on the verandah.  

Edgewaters at Queen Victoria Place

Four Flavours Terrine

No more time to sit around eating, we headed to Journey Behind the Falls.  One travels by a lift to the tunnel behind the falls.  Not long after getting out of the lift there was a viewing area but we decided to continue along the tunnel which opens up to the back of Horseshoe Falls.  All you could see was white and mist and I was very disappointed.  

We then went to the first viewing platform and this was awesome being near the very edge of Horseshoe Falls.  There was a viewing area down near the base of the falls as well as a higher viewing platform. This is worth doing as the angle is amazing and you are closer than on the cruise.  

Journey Behind the Falls

View of Horseshoe Falls from Journey Behind the Falls 

Last of all we went to do the Niagara Fury, this is a 4D film on how the Niagara Falls were created using a cartoon beaver as the main character.  I found it very cute.  Another extra cute thing is all the stuffed toys in the gift shop including the huge stuffed Bear, Beaver, Polar Bear and Moose.  After the 4D film you move into another room where you experience changes that led to the creation of the falls.  It was pretty good but more movement and vibrations should have been used.

Justin waiting to go in for Niagara Fury

That night we went to Fallsview Casino Resort to get money out at the ATM, so we decided to stay for the buffet dinner at $22 per person.  It was good value and non-alcoholic drinks are included.  

Fallsview Casino Resort

First Day In Niagara Falls

15 September 2014

19C and some showers

As suggested by our travel agent we asked for a shuttle bus to get us to LaGuardia Airport three hours before the check in time for our flight.  We met the shuttle bus a little after 5:20am and made it to the airport in about 40 minutes.  We found the Air Canada check in desk and the staffer put us on the 7:30am flight instead of 10:30am.  This was fantastic, it took us just over 1 hour to fly to Toronto and we waited no more than an hour to get a shuttle bus to Niagara Falls.  The drive itself took two hours so it was a good opportunity to get some sleep in.  

Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa

On arriving at Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa we checked into the hotel and got a room on the 17th floor.  The view was amazing!!!  We changed and headed out for the rest of the day.

Our room at Marriott Fallsview

The view from our room of Niagara Falls

We took the funicular down to the Table Rock Welcome Centre and bought hot dogs which we ate in front of the falls.  

Incline Rail or Funicular to Table Rock Welcome Centre

On finishing our lunch we got our Wego Pass and got the bus to Niagara Glen.  I had seen a picture of the walking track from the Niagara Falls, Canada brochure and had to do it. The walk through Niagara Glen was so much fun as we kept losing the trail even though we had taken a photo of the map to use.  To get back onto the track we walked through unmarked areas not on purpose and then climbed over rocks/rock walls.  No idea where we went wrong and how we managed to find the track again? 

Looking down onto the Cliffside Path

Niagara Glen Walking Tracks

Justin and I hiking at Niagara Glen

Justin and I hiking at Niagara Glen

During the walk we saw two chipmunks, plenty of black squirrels and an unknown animal maybe a marmot?  

Maybe a marmot at Niagara Falls

We managed to get the last Wego bus back.  Then decided to go for a walk and then got another Wego bus to find somewhere to have tea for the night.  We went to Al Mac's Buffet, with their all you can eat, since we saw it from the bus.  It was very quiet when we arrived but there was a large selection of food.  It was cheap but sadly due to the quietness some of the food had been sitting out for a while and was hard to eat.  We were concerned that we would get food poisoning but luckily this was not the case.  If it had been busier the food would have been hot and better.  I can say that they had the best mussels I have ever eaten.  I am not usually a mussel eater as most times I find them over cooked, but this was not the case at Al Mac's Buffet.  I had two servings.  We had four plates full of food and then walked back to the hotel in the dark, getting lost along the way but managed to work out the direction we should have been going in.  

In our room we watched the illumination of Niagara Falls from the window. 

View of Niagara Falls Illuminated and Table Rock Welcome Centre from our room at Marriott Fallsview