167-Foot Falls

American Falls, then the tiny Bridal Veil Falls, then the grand Horseshoe Falls

If you ever get a trivia question in some dumb board game about the height of Niagara Falls, now you know the answer.

It is not known for its height, but rather its current, volumetric flow, and panoramic beauty. Niagara Falls doesn't even make a list of tallest waterfalls, as many reach thousands of feet in height. But the waters can flow up to 40 miles per hour and output 5.5 billion gallons of water per hour.

Niagara

All of Horseshoe Falls and a tourist boat getting as close as possible.

On my initial pass of the falls in my car, you can bet I muttered "wow" aloud. There's a whole tourist city around Niagara, making it a good destination for multiple days. But I merely drove through the city, heading straight for waterfront parking. You'll need your windshield wipers, rain or shine, because the splash + wind at the falls is powerful enough to reach the street. And get there early! As it is a vacation spot, and not just a off-the-beaten-path wonder, people get there early and it gets more crowded as the day progresses.

Turbulent flow above Horseshoe Falls

I don't know what I can say about this place that pictures can't, so have a look. It's beautiful and in my opinion a destination you must get to at least once. As people had told me before my visit, there is no doubt the view and experience are better from the Canadian side. Check my three videos for evidence of the flow rate above Horseshoe Falls, for a view of the whole thing with a zoom onto the rocks at American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, and to spectate two strangers doing the zipline (I'm not brave enough).

Some of you were keen enough to notice I added my first assailment to the tally without an explanation. Well, I was assailed in Niagara... by a seagull! I wasn't protective enough of my energy bar and it was snatched right out of my hand. Chinese tourists unabashedly laughed at my misfortune of feeding a seagull. I would have thought my Jersey shore upbringing taught me better to be wary of those sky-rats; I guess I've been removed from the beach for too long.

Phase two of three complete. Prepare for the final stage: Europe.

My last major destination by car!

Albany

A castle of a capitol!

In a real hurry to catch my friend's show in NYC, I took my photo of the New York State Capitol in five minutes and kept moving. Which is a shame because I think I would have liked to spend some time inside this one. I arrived after-hours anyway, regardless of whatever rush I was in. Maybe should have spent an hour less in Niagara. I'd go back to Albany sometime.

Trenton

The one decent view of the NJ State House is when it's mostly obscured by trees and a war memorial.

After spending a night in New York City again, I had one last capitol to hit: my own. It's... lame. Most disappointingly, this was the first capitol I entered with mandatory tours! You can't do anything self-guided except stand in the rotunda. If I were at all in a rush, I would have left instead of waiting for a tour I had to share with a class field trip. But I wasn't, so I decided to brave the company of school chads.

Anywhere but Trenton wouldn't stand for boarded up windows in a capitol.

The one and only self-guided room, ever since 9/11 security ramped up

NJ General Assembly

NJ Senate

How many NJ state-thingies can you find?

Wrap Up

Trenton is ugly, which I knew already. But now I know the capitol isn't worth a second look either. Unless they remove the requirement for guided tours.

Albany isn't great either, as far as I could tell from my speedy drive. But I would go back for a better look at their capitol.

Niagara was the star of this portion of my trip (obviously). I could relax there all day and do some of the attractions, like the boats, platforms under the falls, and maybe the zipline with some encouragement. And although clearly inferior, time on the US side of the falls may be worth doing once. Park on one side, walk into the other country.

Europe, here I come. Still need a haircut.

Stubborn

Root Beer

Stubborn (Riviera Beach, FL) - Like Yacht Club, this one noticeably suffers from being a demi-diet soda. However they got something right, tasting significantly better. Still doesn't best most of the root beers I have tried, but flavourful honey notes save the otherwise lite-beer taste. 5/10

On Repeat

Album: Bleachers - Gone Now

This is the not-yet-released album from Bleachers, which I remind you is due out June 2. RCA Records has trickled out four songs, which I keep finding myself playing over and over and over again. I'm up to 76 plays on Don't Take the Money. The newest tease is I Miss Those Days, which came with quite a charming music video. See how much you take away from a motionless, large paper mâché portrait of our boy, Jack.

Song: Dishwalla - Counting Blue Cars

When not fawning over Bleachers, I have still been stuck in the 90's. See if you remember this slightly controversial song from 1995. The one-hit wonder song title won't ring any bells, but I bet nostalgia kicks in if you let it get to the chorus.

An Obama cookie! This version pictures Trudeau.
Obama famously purchased this from a bakery in Ottawa, as I did.