Hello Everyone!

David and I have discussed for a while now that we wanted to take our four children up to Canada to see Niagara Falls, the African Lion Safari and MarineLand.  Finally we had saved up enough money and chose to do this while the kids were still young enough to enjoy the trip. 

On August 24, 2006 we left for Niagara Falls.  We stayed at the Oasis Motel, located only a few streets from Victoria Ave. and Clifton Hill.  After unpacking, we took the kids down to see the falls at night.  We missed the Fireworks which we were told were done at 10pm every night.  All the kids enjoyed the changing colors and the falls themselves.  Joshwa was enthralled with all the lights and shops up and down Clifton Hill.  (Talk about a very quiet little boy!)  We walked down near where the mist came off the falls, but not close enough to get wet.  Which I believe was the Horseshoe Falls.  After a long walk back, everyone climbed into bed about 1:30am.  Joshwa woke about 3am wanting to go home.  Once I convinced him that we had lots to do the next day, he got a drink and went back to sleep.

On August 25, 2006 we woke early and headed out to the Montana Cookhouse on Victoria Ave. for breakfast.  I would say the food wasn't bad.  But the waitress wasn't too bright, setting hot coffee directly in front of Joshwa (2 years old).  Everyone had a great breakfast consisting of pancakes, eggs, sausage, french toast, bacon, orange juice, hot chocolate...depending on what each ordered.  The restaurant had beautiful benches made of wood.  Animal motif decorating the walls.  Everyone ate well that morning, except for Joshwa, who just wanted to go see the Elephants.

Off we headed to the African Lion Safari.  Directions from the site weren't clear enough, so we ended up taking a detour through one of the towns.  Which didn't set us off too far, just a waste of time and gas.  Finally after the long and rough drive down Safari Road, which they were in the process of paving in some areas and others were hard on the suspension (gravel road), we found the sign for the entrance to the Safari.  We received a 15% discount because I am a member of the Seneca Park Zoo, a map and rule guide.  When we pulled in, to our right was the bus terminal that would take you through the Safari for an additional $5.00CND per person, excluding Joshwa, he was free.  To the left was the park where all the other fun stuff was located. 

After parking and a bathroom break for those who needed it, we took a walk over to the bus terminal and found out that there was a tour coming up.  So, we paid for our tickets and headed to the back of the terminal to await the arrival of the bus.  The girls wanted us to drive through the Safari, but after all the money we've spent in the last few months for repairs, there was NO way we were going to take the chance that there would be any damage by any of the animals.  We took the bus. 

Joshwa sat with me on one side and the girls sat on the opposite side of the bus together with William and David was armed with the camera.  I would be too busy with Joshwa to be able to take decent pictures.  First off the guy driving the bus put on his mic. and started talking and Joshwa was thrilled with that.  He started to inform us about the gates and the reasons for each one and each section we came to.  One good thing about taking the tour bus was that we didn't have to drive or worry about possible damage to our van or wasting gas, but also the fact that they tell you all about the animals you are looking at, such as this giraffe is the daughter of this one and was born on and is so tall.  But they also tell you all that you would want to know while you get to ride and take pictures.  I had been worried about them not stopping long enough to watch the animals, but they did and made sure that everyone got to take their pictures or enjoy the viewing for a time before moving on.

The animals themselves were lazy during the time we went.  Most of them were lying down and sleeping or not as playful and active as we expected.  Which if you take into account it was a drab dreary day due to the rain earlier and the time we got there.  Still the kids weren't disappointed and neither was I.  I would have liked the animals more active, but I enjoyed it non-the-less.  I enjoyed the kids smiles and excitement.  That's what made my trip.

Once done with the Safari itself, we went to the park and started looking around.  There were pony rides and a boat ride, which we didn't do either, ponies because Joshwa didn't want to and the boat ride because it was too cool out.  We headed down back to find they had an Elephant ride for $5.00CND per person and Joshwa was again free and had to be accompanied by an adult.  We passed it by for the moment to go for the Elephant Round Up Show first.  They had 3 elephants that they were demonstrating their strength and their dexterity with the "fingers" on their trunks.  They also showed their talents in playing the drum and painting.  At the end of the show they walked the elephants around the edge of the show area for the kids and people to touch and pet the elephants.  David made sure to get Joshwa down there to pet them a couple of times.  The girls also got to pet them as well.

Once the show was over, we headed back to the Elephant Ride and got in line.  David and the kids chose to ride the Elephants and I stayed behind with the stroller and William to take pictures.  One of the Elephants had a baby tagging along for the walk around the area.  Joshwa wanted to ride the baby, but we had to disappoint him on that one.  He did however get to ride the mommy elephant with Daddy.  Julie, Samantha and Chanel got to ride one together.

Then we walked around to the back where they keep the rest of the elephants and back around to the birds.  I would have to say they had more birds in the park than other animals, but then the Safari was packed with all the other animals, Lions, Cheetahs, Zebras, Giraffes, Ostriches, and so many more.  They had a hatching area where mommy birds were taking care of their babies and you have to be quiet and no pictures because of the flashes.  The bird show had just started when we walked down one of the aisles and I nearly got clipped by a bird running and taking off to fly into the show.  That was COOL! 

They also have a small petting zoo where you can feed goats, deer, and llamas.  We couldn't feed the camel, but we could pet him.  They wet areas were closed or not recommended due to the coolness of the day, I know the kids were a little disappointed, but they were fine once we reached the gift shop.  Joshwa did get another elephant to remember his trip.

Joshwa fell asleep before we were back on the main road back to Niagara Falls.  But he needed the sleep and the kids were ready for dinner and to take a trip around the falls again.

Finally, we arrived back at the hotel and dropped off our things and took a bathroom break and decided what we were going to do for the rest of the night.  We were definitely going to make it down to the falls for the fireworks this time.  We checked out a couple of shops and then went to Burger King for dinner.  Joshwa finally ate more than a couple of bites, finally.  We headed out to the falls.

Finding a good seat, we waited for the fireworks and decided we were going to do our shopping afterwards.  Julie had wanted to do the Maid of the Mist and go behind the falls, but we weren't in Niagara Falls enough during the day to do them. 

The Hershey Store, the best place ever, we bought a few things, of course, the fudge!  We headed out and walked around and Julie asked to do one of the Haunted Houses, which all three of the girls and William did, while David and I took Joshwa into one of the stores. 

Finally, shopping done, we arrived back at the hotel and bed about 1:30am again. 

August 26, 2006 we woke a little later and let Joshwa sleep in.  He was the last to wake up even with all the noise going on around him.  We packed up our things and checked out of the hotel.  We decided not to stay Saturday night because the rates were nearly double the cost of Thursday night.  Once packed, we finished shopping and headed out for MarineLand.  Very short drive from the hotel, but the parking was hell.  We were parked a distance from the entrance and had to walk.  So, wear your walking shoes if you're going to go. 

This, I believe, is where we spent the most money.  No discount here.  We decided we would catch the show at King Waldorf's Stadium later because one had already started when we got there.  We found the Family Ride area and Joshwa got to ride on a boat.  He rode another ride with the three girls and then off we went to the Friendly Cove.

This is where we found the Orcas.  Three orcas and one of them had just turned two.  Joshwa was content to stay there leaning against the wall watching the whales swim around the tank.  A Splash Session was coming up so we stayed for that.  David took the stroller and the camera to the back and stayed there trying to get the pictures.  Not very successful on that, but no problem there.  I stayed with all four kids up front.  I held on to Joshwa, didn't think he should be that low when the whale splashed.  I will tell you, if you don't want to get wet, then stay back!  The first time the whale splashed it was a little one.  But the second time, we got hit.  Joshwa got hit in the side of the head because I had turned just enough, I'm glad I did, because he would have gotten hit square in the face.  All three girls got soaked and so did I.  William was smart enough to stay to the back with David.  We decided to go down to the viewing area and took some pictures of the one whale there. 

We went to eat after that and David wasn't thrilled with the prices or the smell of the picnic area.  $74.00CND for 6 hot dog platters and drinks.  The area smell like a garbage dump.  It was nice and plenty of tables and trees for shade, but the smell was a big turn off as well as the prices.

From there we headed to the Deer Park.  This was something I hadn't expected.  You walk through two gates and stroll down a path around where the deer are.  There was a highly populated area that we were told to get back on the path because the deer had young that they were protecting and they didn't want an accident or provoke the deer into doing something to protect their young.  So, we walked around the area to where you could buy food and there you could basically go where you wanted.  Those deer were there to be fed and wouldn't have bothered you. 

Poor Joshwa, the deer's heads reached higher than he could stretch out his hands.  He was surrounded several times with deer in search of food.  Chanel got to pet a pregnant deer and they each got to feed the deer some food.  One kept trying to eat David's shirt looking for more food.  I caught one trying to pilfer into the diaper bag I had hanging on the back of the stroller for food. From there we head towards the Sky Screamer.

Julie and William rode the Sky Screamer and Julie froze.  Scared her good.  The walk was a killer, up and around to this ride.  Julie and William were the only ones that went on that one.  We chose to walk and see what else was ahead instead and found where you could buy food to feed some small bears.  They were adorable and were sitting in the water directly against the wall so that you could drop the food straight down into their mouths. 

Julie and William caught up to us at the feeding area for the Buffalo, Deer, and Elk.  We didn't buy food there, we just let the kids pet the animals instead.  On the way back down the path David found a small snake.  I wasn't impressed with him when he wanted to pick it up, although Joshwa wanted it to hold it.  I kept him a distance and David took the snake to the grass impressing a group of young adults that saw him with the snake. 

We stopped at Dragon Mountain for William, Julie and Samantha to ride it.  Chanel wasn't into the adult rides and enjoyed the family rides better.  We waited and headed back to find the Arctic Cove.  In between Julie, William and Samantha rode another ride. 

At the Arctic Cove, we found they were feeding the Beluga Whales.  After finding out that it was $8.00CND per person to feed them and the wait in line was at least 30 minutes just to get the tickets, we decided not to.  Instead, we just let them watch the whales and heard the weird noises they make.  We went into the view area beneath the area and took some pictures.

From there we headed back around and found a ride that Chanel should have watched before she rode.  She went with Julie and William and decided almost immediately that she didn't like it.  Pirate ship that rocked and then went up and stopped and swung back down.  Didn't like that one at all.  Told her that she simply wasn't ready for the bigger rides yet and there was nothing wrong with that.  She was more than welcome to ask about them and we would tell her whether we would ride them or not. 

Off we went and David rode the Swings with Chanel and then Chanel rode it with Julie, Samantha and William, who spent the ride on the phone.  How he managed to get a signal is beyond me.

We passed the fish feeding area, we weren't interested in feeding the fish, but we did look and they were huge and ready to eat.  Around to the family rides again and Joshwa rode the pirate ship two more times and I got a great picture of daddy and Joshwa in his boat.  We finally headed out and spent a fortune at the gift shop.

We didn't even get out of the parking lot and Joshwa was sound asleep.  He woke periodically on the ride home looking for his new orca stuffed animal and his elephant.  All the kids slept on and off on the way home.

Finally, pulled in at home about 1:30am, exhausted and sore.  But we had fun and enjoyed the trip.