The Las Vegas of Canada, aka Niagara Falls

Legend has it that a maiden princess, dresses in a beautiful white doeskin outfit, rode over the falls in a birch bark canoe as a sacrifice to the river god to save her tribe from dying. She now lives under the waterfall, in the mist.
It is interesting to see the juxtaposition of the incredible natural wonder of Niagara Falls and the commercialization of modern society. It's like having an amusement park and casino at the rim of the grand canyon. We had mixed emotions. It was breath taking to ride into the mist and walk beneath the falls. It was also nice to be on the 48th floor of the Hilton, with a breathtaking view of both falls. However, everywhere we went, it seemed the goal was to wring out as much money from the tourist as possible. From the forced running of the gauntlet of the gift stores to the mandatory photo taking sessions at each event. They do it front of a green screen so you can customize your experience, much like ordering your burger at McDonalds. You can have it your way. For us and the kids, the most memorable experience was our direct contact with the water of Niagara Falls, from getting drenched on the boat ride to capturing the rainbow at the bottom of the Horse Shoe Falls. We made it through without buying any chach, just some postcards and photos.