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Originally Posted by Cardus
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I grew up near Cleveland, but somehow never made it to Fort Erie. I remember my parents having postcard pics from it though. A visit they apparently made while on their honeymoon in Niagara Falls in the early 1950's.
It wasn't until about four years ago that I took one of my California kids back east with my wife and had him check "Niagara Falls" off his list. He hadn't had it on his list with his lifelong California perspective, but I told him it needed to be there.
Digression, I'm a very strong yet pragmatic environmentalist. In other words I have no trouble with companies harvesting 10 and 15 year old planting of pines to get pulp for paper....and stuff like that. In years past, I always admired the Canadians for protecting and prohibiting development on their side of The Falls. But of course, that changed.
I thought I would be angry seeing the Canadian side of the bank fully developed for the first time....and at first I was. But, as luck would have it, nearly every motel or hotel was booked the evening we were coming through. It was a weekend, so I gambled the Marriott might have a room since in days of yore Marriott's didn't ordinarily readily attract family weekend travelers.
The Marriott had one room left. A suite upgrade. I said "book it," on the phone, and we arrived about 30 minutes later.
Our room ended up being on one of the top stories, essentially looking down at the Horseshoe Falls rim, and across at the American Falls. It was spectacular. One of the best $200 I've ever spent. We could hear the Falls roar with all the windows closed. And we slept with the drapes open all night so we could see The Falls if we happened to wake up in the night. I'm not easily impressed, but it was great.....and it didn't bother me so much that the natural area had been developed....once
I had the benefit of the view.
End of digression....on the drive back, we hugged the Canadian side of the Niagara River for the first time in my life. Beautiful, peaceful almost "countryside" late Sunday summer afternoon drive.
I didn't realize we were going to be near Fort Erie Racetrack until we happened upon it. It was a nice setting, and I regret that I've never made it there for live racing. Hope I get to, someday.