The Adventure

With word that a solar eclipse would be coming through with peak viewing around Niagara Falls, I made plans to meet a friend for the event. On April 7th, 2024, I took the train to Niagara Falls, Ontario, and spent the afternoon walking around the city, taking in the sights of the falls from the Canadian side. Niagara Falls, Canada is a unique city, its central area very much decorated like a theme park. There is a ferris wheel and fun themed museums, but even the surrounding buildings are very colourful and cartoonish. Another famous landmark in the city is the Skylon tower, which stands out on the city’s skyline. Later in the day, I walked across the Rainbow International Bridge to the American side of the falls. I spent the rest of the day walking around the city, and did a complete loop around Goat Island right by the falls. Around midnight, I met up with my friend at the hotel and we slept.

The next day we went out again to see a lot of the sights I had checked out before, spending a lot of time in Niagara Falls State Park. It was a very busy place in anticipation of the eclipse, but that also meant there was a lot going on. There were stands set up around the park with exclusive eclipse merch and food and information about the science behind the occurrence. People were all dressed up and taking photos, and it was just overall a very vibrant atmosphere. As the time of the eclipse drew nearer, we settled on Goat Island to wait. Slowly, the moon ate into the sun until it was completely covered. The whole city went dark, even though it was mid-afternoon; it looked like it was the evening. This, of course, sent the animals into a panic, and there was the constant sound of birds screeching as we all enjoyed the solar eclipse for its duration. It was over almost as soon as it had started, lasting only a couple of minutes. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience that, though short, I am glad I was able to experience. That evening we just hung out some more and got dinner at a nice buffet.

The next morning, we visited a museum with an exhibit about the area before taking the Maid of the Mist ferry right by the falls. This is a must-do when you’re in the area. Afterwards, we went on a short walk right next to them, then hung out a bit longer before crossing to the Canadian side. Unfortunately, I had to leave early while they explored the Canadian side more, but I was glad I could hang out for the time that I could.