As far as natural landmarks go, Niagara Falls may not be as awe-inspiring as the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone, but it is a thrilling sight nonetheless. It's a very crowded and commercialized tourist-friendly site, but still an enjoyable and beautiful travel destination. It's often said that you get a better view from the Canadian side, and I certainly agree. The drive from Toronto to Buffalo is nice too. You pass through a lot of quaint, scenic towns along the way. Stop at a Tim Horton's and get yourself a doughnut. Niagara Falls, NY itself is a charming, laid-back town, once you get away from the busy mass of hotels within a quarter mile of the falls. I had the best slice of pizza I've ever eaten at a place called Rocket's Little Italy. It's not hard to find. Little Italy in Nigara Falls is about two blocks long.

A good place to go hiking is Whirlpool State Park, a few miles north of the Falls, on the New York side of the river. The trails here offer great scenery of thick woods and rocky riverbank, as well as up close views of the rapids of the mighty Niagara River.

I didn't get to see as much of Buffalo as I would have liked, but I was impressed by what I did see. They have a fantastic art museum, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, which contains an excellent collection of artworks, particularly by 20th-century masters. Anyone who has ever taken an art history course will most likely recognize several of the masterpieces on display here. The changing exhibitions are excellent as well. Allow a little extra time when you visit, because the musuem is adjacent to a beautifully landscaped park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, which is well worth a stroll.

One other fond memory of Buffalo are the wings. I recommend them in large quantities.

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