Day 2: Old Fort Niagara & Whirlpool State Park
Last week I shared with you Part 1 of my series 3 Days at Niagara Falls with Kids. We spent day 1 exploring Niagara Falls State Park and Cave of the Winds. Today we continue with Part 2 as we delve into Old Fort Niagara and Whirlpool State Park.
Old Fort Niagara
Bright and early, we drove up to Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York. It is about 25 minutes north of Niagara Falls State Park. The fort’s history spans over 300 years and its location on the Great Lakes has led it to play a crucial role in many wars.
Old Fort Niagara is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. During July and August, it stays open until 7:00 pm. Admission is $13 for adults and $9 for children. Kids 5 and under get in free. There are discounts available for AAA, military, and seniors.
When you first arrive make sure to watch the 16-minute orientation film and visit the small museum. Both will help you understand the fort’s role in shaping the area’s history. Next, head outside to tour the grounds of the fort. Our kids loved exploring the redoubts, battery, storehouse, and French Castle. The French Castle is the oldest building at the fort and was originally the only structure.
Whirlpool State Park
Next, we headed south to Whirlpool State Park to have a picnic lunch. This state park is completely free. It has picnic tables, a playground, restrooms, and hiking trails. Whirlpool State Park consists of 2 levels. At the street level, you will find breathtaking views of the whirlpool and rapids below. This level is paved and stroller-friendly. The river level is accessed by lots of stone stairs. Once at the bottom, you can take one of the trails or return up the stairs.
Niagara Gorge Rim Trail
From there we chose to take a portion of the Niagara Gorge Rim Trail, which runs for 6.2 miles from Niagara Falls State Park to the Robert Moses Power Plant. Starting out at Whirlpool State Park we hiked the easy and mostly flat trail south. Unfortunately, because of construction, the trail ended just north of the Whirlpool Bridges. There were no signs warning us of this closure. So we turned around and headed back to our van. If you are interested in the Gorge Rim Trail, make sure to consult a ranger first.
Discovery Center
After a short drive south, we parked at the Aquarium of Niagara. Parking is $10 a day. We then headed across the pedestrian bridge to the Discovery Center. The only reason we went inside of the Discovery Center was that it was part of our Discovery Pass. Otherwise, I don’t recommend stopping here. The entire center is small and outdated. My crew found it boring.
Schoellkopf Power Station
About 10 minutes later we were riding the elevator down to the Schoellkopf Power Station and Maid of the Mist Winter Storage Facility. This is a cool little spot! There is no cost to ride the elevator and it is open seasonally. At the bottom, you will find a display describing the history of the power station. During the winter, Maid of the Mist stores their boats here.
Great Gorge Railway Trail
After consulting with a ranger, we hiked north on the Great Gorge Railway Trail. The trail is 1.1 miles. At the time of our visit, you had to return the way you came. So it ended up being 2.2 miles total.
Trail guides list this trail as easy with a gradual grade. On your way out you hardly notice the downhill grade. On the return trip, you definitely feel it going uphill. This trail has some great views of the Niagara River Gorge. I’m glad we chose it!
That hike closed out our visit to Niagara Falls for the day. The kids were ready for a change of pace. Hotel pool to the rescue!
Up next at Niagara Falls
Next week I’ll finish up our 3 Days at Niagara Falls with Kids. Part 3 finds us riding the Maid of the Mist and walking into Canada. Day 3 is what our kids talk about the most. It was a highlight for them.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I was not compensated for this post.
3 Comment