| So far I had already enjoyed a great day, full of | | | | for the next two days: the Kilpatrick Manor Bed and |
| action: after a tour of the tropical court yard at the | | | | Breakfast. Located on Second Street, not far from |
| Best Western Cairn Croft I had gotten a great 360 | | | | Niagara Fall's train station, I drove up to a beautiful |
| degree view over Niagara Falls from its most famous | | | | Victorian mansion and met Nance Kilpatrick, who |
| landmark: the Skylon Tower. A wonderful IMAX | | | | together with her husband Kevin, runs this impressive |
| movie "Niagara Falls: Miracles, Myths and Magic" | | | | bed and breakfast. |
| introduced me to the colourful history of this place, | | | | Nance showed me to my room for the next two |
| and the actual vessels of many daredevils who had | | | | nights: the luxuriously decorated Hunniford Room, |
| gone over the Falls (in some cases with tragic | | | | featuring a large king-size bed with a sitting area, a |
| results) sent shivers up my spine in the Daredevils | | | | fireplace, a high-definition television and a phenomenal |
| Gallery, also housed in the Niagara Falls IMAX Theatre. | | | | private bathroom with full-body jets. Slippers and |
| Then, my first hand exploration of these majestic | | | | bathrobes were waiting inside the antique armoire. No |
| waterfalls as part of the "Journey Behind The Falls" | | | | doubt I was going to be comfortable here! I just |
| experience gave me an up-close and personal | | | | wanted to fall into the imposing king-size bed and |
| impression of the sheer power of the millions of litres | | | | relax in the softness of the high-quality linens. |
| of water that tumble over the edge of the | | | | Nancy was gracious to give me an entire tour of the |
| Horseshoe Falls every second. | | | | house which included the two other guest rooms and |
| Now that I was thoroughly chilled on this grey and | | | | their magnificent bathrooms. Nance then sat down |
| clammy day, I was looking for a quieter place where | | | | with me for an interview. I am always interested in |
| I could warm up and I found the perfect spot: Bird | | | | learning the story of bed and breakfast owners, |
| Kingdom, a tropical aviary housed in the former 1907 | | | | because just as each B&B is unique, so are the |
| Spirella Corset Factory.This building, one of the first | | | | owners. Nance and Kevin's story and their |
| concrete poured buildings in Canada, housed the | | | | international hospitality experiences are indeed special, |
| Niagara Falls Museum from 1958 until 2000. | | | | and this young couple is truly passionate about |
| Bird Kingdom is a relatively new attraction in Niagara | | | | providing the best possible guest experience that |
| Falls: the building was purchased in 2000 and a new | | | | they can. Their upscale bed and breakfast has |
| 50,000 square foot addition enlarged the original | | | | enjoyed great success since its beginnings two years |
| space. Today the complex houses a number of | | | | ago, and Kevin, a professional chef, will soon start |
| different bird habitats. The first one I saw is the small | | | | offering catering services as well. Kilpatrick Manor is |
| aviary that houses more than 40 species of small | | | | also a favourite for romantic getaways and offers |
| birds, some very colourful. On the east side of the | | | | special getaway packages that include romantic |
| exhibit there is a large panorama window that | | | | massages. Nance and I spent a good hour and a half |
| overlooks the Niagara Gorge. All sorts of cheerful bird | | | | chatting before I had to rush to my next activity for |
| songs filled the air and little birds were flitting all over | | | | the day. |
| the place. | | | | My last stop of another intense day of explorations |
| From here I passed into the nocturnal area which | | | | was the famous "Oh Canada Eh?" Dinner Theatre. |
| houses all sorts of creatures that come awake at | | | | This theatre company has two locations: one in |
| night: from owls to bats to crickets and various | | | | Niagara Falls and one in the Canadian Rockies, more |
| reptiles you get a good look at animals that normally | | | | specifically in Canmore, Alberta. Since 1994, when the |
| remain hidden from us. These animals would normally | | | | Niagara Falls location opened, "Oh Canada Eh?" has |
| be asleep in the day time, but a smart strategy of | | | | put on more than 3100 performances. It has been |
| keeping the rooms dark during the day and turning | | | | voted "Attraction of the Year" a total of six times |
| the lights on during the night reverses the body clock | | | | since its inception and has done road shows in |
| of these elusive creatures so visitors can actually | | | | Toronto, Buffalo, Cleveland and even as far away as |
| experience them. | | | | Palm Beach. |
| The darkness of the nocturnal area opened up into | | | | This dinner theatre performs a variety of shows, |
| the large bright expanse of the Main Aviary which | | | | including "The Rocky Horror Show" and "I Love You, |
| impresses with its 35 foot tall palm trees and a 40 | | | | You're Perfect, Now Change". The longest running |
| foot waterfall. This space is the world's largest free | | | | performance is the "Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show", |
| flying aviary. The architectural jewel of this area is | | | | which features a variety of Canadian icons, including |
| the Java House, an authentic hand carved teak | | | | singing Mounties, lumberjacks, a hockey player and |
| nobleman's house from the Island of Java that is 125 | | | | many other typically Canadian characters. |
| years old. The intricately carved details of this unique | | | | Ready to enjoy tonight's performance, "You're A |
| structure captured my attention and I took a bit of | | | | Good Man, Charlie Brown", I sat down at my table |
| time to relax in this inviting space. Coffees, teas and | | | | inside the large, chalet-like building. The hearty dinner |
| iced drinks are on offer inside the Java House and | | | | featuring French Canadian split pea soup, roast beef, |
| invite visitors to sit down for a while. | | | | Atlantic haddock, roasted chicken with roasted |
| Outside again I admired some of the large and | | | | potatoes, vegetables and salad was very tasty and |
| colourful birds that live in the Main Aviary. More than | | | | filling, and I enjoyed my conversation with my |
| 35 species are represented here, and one of the | | | | neighbours at the table: a retired couple from |
| most eye-catching is the intensely red coloured | | | | Brampton who took their granddaughter on a special |
| Scarlet Ibis, a resident of tropical South America and | | | | trip to Niagara Falls. Over maple chocolate cake they |
| incidentally the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago. | | | | told me that they regularly book outings in Niagara |
| The Scarlet Ibis only turns red from its original grey | | | | Falls with their grandkids since there are so many |
| white colouration once it ingests red crabs in tropical | | | | things to do for young children. |
| swamps. | | | | After dinner the entire cast of the Peanuts came to |
| Curious Blue and Gold Macaws peaked down at me | | | | life and re-enacted a day in the life of Charlie Brown. |
| from their high perches and a large Pied Imperial | | | | Enthusiastic performances and great singing by young |
| Pigeon, indigenous to the Indian Ocean and Australia, | | | | actors and great costumes evoked all the famous |
| was just starting to feed and slowly walked around | | | | characters - Charlie Brown himself, Lucy, Schroeder, |
| the ground, picking up kernels. I also spotted a | | | | Linus, Sally and Snoopy. Ultimately, Charlie's quest for |
| Red-billed Toucan, normally a resident of Central and | | | | what it means to be a good man is resolved - simply |
| South America and one of the most colourful | | | | trying your best and making the most out of what |
| specimens of the aviary. | | | | life gives you. The entire audience, old and young, |
| On my way out of the Bird Kingdom I briefly | | | | could relate and had a good time, and their |
| stopped off at the Macaw Market, a shopping area | | | | enthusiastic applause confirmed it. |
| on the main floor that offers all sorts of bird-related | | | | Another day full of new impressions had passed and |
| collectables. A visit to Niagara Fall's Bird Kingdom was | | | | Niagara Falls had shown its multi-faceted face to me. |
| a great way of warming up in a tropical environment, | | | | As I fell asleep, wrapped into the soft linens at the |
| surrounded by exotic feathered creatures and a | | | | Kilpatrick Manor, I was thinking that I had only one |
| jungle-like environment. | | | | more full-day left in Niagara Falls, and this day would |
| It was now late afternoon and I decided to catch a | | | | be dedicated to exploring one of the most popular |
| rest for a couple of hours. I drove to my new home | | | | tourist areas in this town: Clifton Hill... |