500 Adrenaline Adventures (Frommer's) - Lois Friedland [55]
Although kayaking through Alaska’s icy blue water can be cold, the strong sun—not to mention your adrenaline—helps ward off a major chill. You’ll be wowed by the spectacular Harriman Fjord and, depending on the weather, you might even be able to paddle farther off the beaten path toward Chenega Glacier, one of the largest tidewater glaciers in Prince William Sound. Wherever you go, you’ll be awestruck by the landscape. Skyscraping mountains and massive ice formations surround you, as you cruise past adorable harbor seals, sea lions, and sea otters resting on floating chunks of ice. Salmon and halibut swim underwater, and a whale spouts in the distance. Then, just when you’re completely relaxed, enjoying the pristine setting, a giant piece of a glacier plummets into the sound. Your heart pounds so hard and fast you think it’s going to jump out of your chest. This awesome sight and thunderous sound is truly mind blowing.
When you’re ready to rest your paddling arms, there are ample opportunities to stretch your legs on dry land. The surrounding Chugach National Forest is home to brown and black bears, deer, and a variety of birds including bald eagles. But the main event is on the water. As Dean Rand, the captain of Discovery Voyages, says, “When people first witness [glacier calving], they almost always say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know it would be like this!’ There’s nothing else in the world to compare it to.” —JS
Travel Alaska, 524 W 4th Ave., Anchorage ( 800/478-1255;www.travelalaska.com). Chugach National Forest (www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach).
Tour: Discovery Voyages, P.O. Box 688, Whittier ( 800/324-7602;www.discoveryvoyages.com).
When to Go: May–Sept.
Ted Stevens Anchorage Airport.
107
Niagara Falls
The Big Spill
New York, U.S.A. & Ontario, Canada
Everyone’s seen a Kodachrome photo of Niagara Falls, that stupendous curve of cascading water that lies between the United States and Canada. It’s one of those sites, however, to which postcards will never do justice: To stand on a viewing platform and see, really see, how big it is, to hear the thunder of falling water, to feel the mist spritzing your face and the earth shaking under your feet, is another thing altogether. You don’t understand how amazing it is until you’re actually there.
There are actually two waterfalls here, both of them doozies: the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls. Both are around 175 feet high (53m), although Horseshoe Falls, at 2,500 feet (762m) wide, is more than twice as wide as its sibling. The Canadian shore has the real panoramic view; both falls can be seen from the American side, but not together (Prospect Point for the American Falls, Terrapin Point for Horseshoe Falls). The Canadian side tends to have better hotels and more attractions, as well. No matter where you stay, you can easily visit both, by crossing the Rainbow Bridge, preferably on foot—it’s only the length of a couple city blocks. Bring a passport (or other secure, accepted documents, which may include a driver’s license and original birth certificate; you’ll need birth certificates for the kids as well).
Be prepared to get wet on a Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour at Niagara Falls.
On the U.S. shore, head for Niagara Falls State Park ( 716/278-1796;www.niagarafallsstatepark.com) to explore the falls: An Observation Tower overlooks the river, and the Cave of the Winds tour (Apr–Oct; 716/278-1730) takes you by elevator down onto boardwalks, where you can walk around the base of the American Falls. Canada’s 236m (775-ft.-high) Skylon Tower, 5200 Robinson St. ( 905/356-2651;www.skylon.com), has a revolving restaurant on top, and the Journey Behind the Falls ( 905/354-1551;www.niagaraparks.com) allows you to descend via elevator