March 11, 2015

Elisa's Daily Scoop

Niagara Falls/Toronto Trip Planning

Hello, hello hello!

Here we are on another mid-week point.  Happy to report our temperatures here on Long Island have risen and with daylight savings time, it's easier to feel a little more upbeat.

As part of Travelin' Tuesday yesterday, Tanya and I got working on a few of our upcoming trips together.  

It's amazing how much we get accomplished together without even speaking on the phone - it was all by text!!!

Here's what we came up with:

Niagara Falls & Toronto Cousins Road Trip
* Originally, we were planning to leave for this trip on a Monday and meet in Albany and then caravan to Niagara falls. So, we booked our hotels beginning on Monday.

* Then, we then decided to leave two days earlier (Saturday), so we could all leave from New York City and caravan all the way to Niagara together. So, we re-booked our hotel for arrival on Saturday.

* Finally, Tanya had the idea that if we leave Friday, we could 
a) caravan to Niagara together 
AND 
b) get to Toronto by Sunday and as an added bonus - go to see a Toronto Blue Jays game!!

I think this is the final plan!!

Now as far as the rest of the trip goes - we will be spending 3 nights in Toronto where we will catch a Blue Jays game, visit the city sights and CN Tower and then spend our last day in St. Jacob's Country.

From there, we will head back south and stop in Albany to spend one night.  After a night in the Capital of New York, our plan is to continue to the Berkshires and visit Ramblewild Aerial Park for some outdoor fun!

(courtesy Niagara Falls State Park)

15 for '15 Facts about Niagara Falls

1. Niagara Falls is the name for all three waterfalls that are on the international border between the United States and Canada.
 
2. It is believed that Niagara Falls was formed 12,000 years ago at the end of the glacial period.

3. The names of the three waterfalls are called American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls.

4. The Falls were first discovered by French explorer Father Louis Hennepin in December 1678. 

5.  Commercial Hydro -Electric power was born in Niagara Falls by Nicola Tesla and in 1895, the world's first commercial hydropower plant was constructed.
 
6. In the Summer and Fall, more than 700,000 gallons of water per second pour over Niagara Falls.

7. Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest State Park in the United States.

8. The Power facilities along the Niagara River supply more than a quarter of all power used in New York State and Ontario.    

9.  The historic village of Lewiston, located 7 miles north of Niagara Falls was the site of the first battle of the War of 1812 and the last stop for slaves.

10. One of the oldest surviving United States flags, captured by the British in the War of 1812, is permanently on display at Fort Niagara.

11. 4 of the 5 Great Lakes drain into the Niagara River. These are Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior). 

12.  Niagara Falls does not freeze in the Winter. 

13.  The Cave of the Winds attraction at the Falls is torn down and re-built every year.

14. The first person to go over the Falls in a barrel was Annie Edson Taylor, a 63-year-old school teacher. 

15. There are about 500 other waterfalls in the world that are "taller" than Niagara, which is 185 feet.  The Angel Falls in Venezuela is tallest at 970 meters. 

Here's to an Amazing Day!! 
Please remember to vote--->>>-->>>-->>>

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop

Changes ahead...

Well Hello There!
How's everyone faring of this fine hump day?

I personally can't tell how I feel about this week...is it going by fast, is it going by slow, or is it going by just right? 
I dunno, but can tell ya that it just feels kinda odd...Maybe because of the time change. 
Which by the way is screwing me up! WTH 

I deal with not getting the jet lag of a several hour time difference throughout the year and then this lousy 1 hour change has me all screwed up??? 
What gives?!

So hopefully you've read Elisa's side and you are all caught up with the changes made to our Niagara Falls & Toronto Cousins Road Trip! 
I gotta tell ya, I was just all over the place on that one! 

But I am soooo happy with the final plan and that we'll be able to go see a MLB Toronto Blue Jays baseball game! 

Knowing me, I'm a long time baseball fan, have done baseball road trips, and have made special additions to other vacations to go catch baseball games and see the stadiums that I've never been to. 
Well I've never been to the Rogers Centre in Toronto and am totally stoked that we can manage this on our road trip!

Speaking of baseball games and baseball stadiums, I will be going to 3 "new" stadiums this year!!!
Visiting the:
Toronto Blue Jays
Miami Marlins
and 
Texas Rangers
 
Leaving me with 5 stadiums left until they are all checked off of my list!
Atlanta Braves
Washington Nationals
Kansas City Royals
Minnesota Twins
and 
Tampa Rays

And speaking of adjustments to trips...
Prior to the Niagara Falls and Toronto Cousins Road Trip and After the Cousins Eastern Europe Rail Trip, Dave B, Dominic and myself will be Road Trippin' it to Cincinnati for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game, and along the way I've added a stop in Pittsburgh to catch a Pirates game! 

While I've already been there and done that, I still just love going to baseball games and if I can manage to squeeze one in while I'm traveling - then all the better!
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME!!!

Standing in front of the Baseball Hall of Fame

Now, back to today...It's Wednesday and I'm taking Cosette for a horseback riding lesson, along with the rest of my usual Wednesday errands/chores. 


What I am going to add is going shopping for my Birthday Wear! Yup my Birthday is only 8 days away and every year I need a new Birthday outfit, so hopefully I'll find one today!

And finally being that it's Wednesday, we all should know what that means...

It's W2GW (Where to Go Wednesday), and here is the short list of what I've compiled for you to do in Southern California:

WHAT: Festival of Whales
WHERE: Dana Point Harbor, Dana Point
WHEN: March 7th & 8th and 14th & 15th, 2015


The 44th annual Dana Point Festival of Whales celebrates the return of the once-endangered California Gray Whale with a leviathan-size event. In addition to whale watching at the height of whale watching season, festival includes a kick-off parade, Sand Sculpting, Ocean Awareness Day, musical entertainment, on-the-water Concert, Whale of a Block Party, Art Shows, Pancake Breakfast, BBQs, Kids Interpretive Crafts, Classic Car Exhibits, Lectures/Seminars at multiple venues including the Ocean Institute, Historic Walking Tours, Paddling Events, Sailing/Rowing/Kayak/SUP Demos, plus much more!
FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

I'll be at this one below, as the kids will be performing and opening the event on both days with the International Peace Choir!

WHAT: International Children's Day Festival
WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, California 90802
WHEN: 10:00am-4:00pm March 14th & 15th, 2015 

Celebrating the amazing talents of children of all cultures, this festival features West African, Mexican, Pacific Islander, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Persian dance performances. Enjoy performances by a children’s choir and martial arts demonstrations. Kids of all ages can partake in an international percussion circle, face painting, and Native American and Pacific Islander traditional children’s crafts and games.

The Aquarium will also honor a local youth with its annual Young Hero Award in recognition of his or her efforts to make our planet a better place. During the weekend a musical theater show for all ages called Honu by the Sea will be presented in the Ocean Theater. This Hawai’i-originated musical is about a young Hawaiian surfer who finds a magical sea star that makes his wish to spend a day underwater come true. He meets ocean friends while discovering the need to protect the ocean. Original songs, dances, and colorful costumes inspire viewers to become guardians of the ocean.

FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

That's all she wrote!

Catch ya back here for more fun of TBT (Throwback Thursday), where it's my turn to tell you a travelin' story from my past! 

Have a good one!
-T