Fort Erie, Fort George and the Niagara Parkway-Canada

The past few years I have traveled in areas where I visited old forts, which were usually Civil War forts, but out here in the northeast, most of the forts I have been visiting are much earlier, such as the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. On the Canadian side of the Niagara River, at each end, stand forts which played a large part in these early wars, and the drive between is claimed to be the most scenic in the world. I'm not sure I would agree it was THE most scenic I've ever seen, but it was pretty.

Waiting to cross into Canada on the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, NY.

 

Fort Erie, located at the mouth of the Niagara River and Lake Erie, was built in 1764 by the British.

Looking across to Buffalo there was this building in the middle of the river. Later we found out it was a water intake for the drinking water for Buffalo.

A British soldier in front of Fort Erie.

As we headed north on Niagara Parkway we spotted this sign. Max has a dance club named after him. Wow. It was closed and we never made it back in the evening to see what it was like. Maybe next time.

Just south of Niagara Falls on the parkway is the town of Chippawa. Near this site was a famous battle during the War of 1812.

The monument at the Chippawa Battle Site.

We stopped for lunch in the town of Chippewa and the restaurant turned out to be Greek. Great food.

The Aerocar which crosses the Niagara River at the Whirlpool site. The Aerocar was built in 1903 and is still operating today. At this spot the Niagara River makes a 90 degree turn and creates a huge whirlpool. They say if you get caught it can take you down 200 feet and keep you there for up to 30 days. While we were in the area a lady fell in, but luckily she was rescued by one of the tourist jet boats before she got swept into the whirlpool. She was still severly injured and in critical condition in the hospital just from the turbulence she went through in the river.

You can see on of the tourist jet boats coming up to the whirlpool.

At Niagara-on-the-Lake is the site of Ft. George, built by the British in 1796 and was the site of several battles during the War of 1812. The tents are not part of the fort itself, but they were getting ready for a reenactment, which was going on over the upcoming weekend.

We had an English maiden greet us at the entry to the fort.

Several British soldiers were riding in the area too.

Although the Queens Landing Hotel looks like it was built in the 1800s, since it is a Georgian style architecture, it was actually built in 1990.

Looking across the Niagara River towards Fort Niagara.

The Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, truly is a historic landmark, built in 1864.

On the way we stopped and bought some fresh Canadian peaches and cherries.

Waiting in line to cross back into the U.S. at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, we were able to see some of the crazy buildings in the area. The candy bar is centered around the doorway into the Hershey Store.

Planet Hollywood looks more like a planeterium or science museum, instead of a restaurant.