Niagara Falls State Park and the Maid of the Mist

The carful of kids are in Niagara Falls, New York, to explore one of the top waterfalls in the world. The first activity on everyone's list is a ride on the legendary Maid of the Mist.

The Maid of the Mist's maiden voyage was in 1846 to ferry passengers, parcels and mail across the Niagara River between Canada and the US. Today close to two million passengers don the blue ponchos to get an up-close look at the three falls that make up Niagara Falls.

The carful of kids are here early for the Maid of the Mist ($17 adults, $9.90 kids 6 to 12) does not take reservations but you can order your tickets online. The first trip of the day is at 9:15 a.m. and the carful of kids hop right on board, no waiting.

We put on our blue ponchos and jockey for a spot on the railing to feel the power and the mist of the falls.  The carful of kids are not disappointed--the Maid of the Mist lurches and growls against the power of 750,000 gallons of water per second that fall over the three falls, remember 20% of the US's drinking water passes through here.

You will get wet, but don't miss it. The ride is quick and before you know it the carful of kids are docking but you can explore the falls on foot.

Follow the slippery stairs up for some great photo opportunities, including a rainbow. The carful of kids ride the elevator up from the dock to the observation deck for more pictures.

The Maid of the Mist has a complex of activities, including a theater, aquarium, discovery center and the Cave of the Wind; it is located adjacent to the Niagara Falls State Park. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it.

The carful of kids watch Niagara: Legends of Adventure in the theater. This along with the displays explain the history of the falls and its use in generating electricity for the East Coast.

If you are here later in the day, be sure check out the falls at night; they are lit in a rainbow of color every night until 11 pm. The carful of kids spend the morning exploring Niagara Falls but are anxious to get to our final destination of the day--Rutland, Vermont.

On our way to Vermont, the carful of kids make a stop at the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York. Within this building, the National Park Service tells the story of Women's Rights Movement that started in this area in 1848.

With another Junior Ranger Badge on our caps, the carful of kids continue onto Vermont.

Up next: Vermont.

Hershey's Chocolate World and Niagara Falls at Night

The carful of kids spent yesterday in Virginia at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and Shenandoah National Park. After a packed day, I loaded the kids into the SUV and drove 260 miles (approximately four hours) to Hershey, Pennsylvania, so we could visit Hershey's Chocolate World, first thing in the morning.

Hershey's Chocolate World has been on my list of places to visit since I lived in New York City fifteen years ago. The carful of kids hit the parking lot at this popular attraction early--specifically when they open (9 am) for there are several attractions in this complex.  Hershey's Chocolate World is the Hershey's Factory Tour and huge gift shop but there is the amusement park, HersheyPark with a water park The Boardwalk as well.

The town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, is a chocoholic headquarters and has enough attractions for a long weekend. The carful of kids start at chocolate central, Hershey's Chocolate World--the tour itself is free and this includes an amusement ride-type tour of the chocolate making process. It's entertaining for the carful of kids; we grab some chocolate to nibble on later in the SUV before we leave. We don't have enough time for a visit to the amusement park but we do drive across the street to the Hershey Gardens.

Hershey Gardens, a 23-acre botanical garden that opened in 1937 as a rose garden, is a great place to visit with a carful of kids. There is plenty of space for them to run around and the garden-lovers, Melissa and myself, look for inspiration. Hershey Gardens incorporates their chocolate heritage into their landscaping as well.

After a few hours exploring Hershey, Pennsylvania, the carful of kids are antsy to see the next attraction--Niagara Falls near Buffalo, New York. Back in the SUV, we head north 320 miles so we can have wings for dinner. A little over five hours later, we arrive in Buffalo at the Anchor Bar--home of the original buffalo wings where they have been frying them up since 1964.

After gorging ourselves on wings, the carful of kids want to see Niagara Falls at night. If you are visiting Niagara Falls, make the effort to see it at night. The falls are completely lit (until 11 pm most nights) along with the Niagara River that feeds the falls. You can even ride on the legendary Maid of the Mist (open from May until October) until 8 pm.

Up next: Touring the Niagara Falls State Park with a ride on the Maid of the Mist.