Upstate New York

We left Kenisee Lake Thousand Trails traveled along lake Erie to upstate New York and stopped in a KOA in Medina, New York.  

This was unusual for us.  We very seldom stay in KOAs since they seem to be vacation resorts that have and do a lot of things we don't necessarily want.  KOA are also mucho dinero.   This one was no exception.  It was very nice and we enjoyed the park, but it really was setup for families with kids on vacation.  

While exploring the area, we discovered Golden Hill State Park on the shores of Lake Ontario.  In the future when we travel to this area, we will stay there rather than the KOA.

This is near the Eire Canal and we spent a fascinating day exploring the locks and canal museum in Lockport N.Y.  and took a ride along the canal in a paddle wheeler.

The primary reason to stay in this particular area was to hook up with family in nearby Rochester NY.  We did so and had a very pleasant evening with them.  Thank you Wyatt and Jess.

We stayed a couple of days and then headed out along Lake Ontario towards Niagara Falls.

We stayed a little bit out of Niagara Falls in a little town of Grand Isle at the Cinderella Motel and RV park.  This worthwhile institution is a small, family run semi-residential motel with a full hookup RV park in the back.

Niagara Falls has two sides:  American and Canadian.  We elected not to enter Canada due to Covid Restrictions (it was possible, just a hassle) and visited the Niagara Falls State Park.  Unfortunately a restaurant where we wanted to eat at the Falls was closed due to "Lack of Inventory" (supply chain issues?), but the rest of the falls was open.  We did both Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist tour.

Cave of the Winds doesn't exactly exist anymore.  Originally it was a cave behind the falls and you could go behind the falls and experience the power of Niagara that way.  

The cave collapsed in the 1930s.   So what the state did was build an elevator and a set of platforms near the base of the falls (on rather rickety looking 2x4s) for tourists to get close to and sprayed by the falls.  Sprayed to the extent that they give you a poncho and a set of flip-flops to wear on the excursion.

We thought the money spent on the experience was well worth it.

We also took the Maid of the Mist boat trip to the foot of the falls.  This is also a traditional Niagara Falls thing.  The boat also issues ponchos.

 We thought this was also worth the money.

One thing they do not really advertise is the free Niagara at Night light show.  Probably because they don't have to.

We only spent a couple of days in Niagara, but it was certainly eventful.  We are planning to go back someday.