Darien Lake

Six Flags Darien Lake was really cool.

Quick Tips:

The best way to visit this spot is to stay at The Lodge on the Lake.

Best Way To Get Around:

The only way to get around is by car.

The hotel was really nice. They have a pool in the back and behind the pool is the lake. There is a path that leads you directly into Six Flags and by staying here you have an unlimited all day pass to the amusement park.

I got so sick of watching everyone gorge themselves with Buffalo Wings. They claimed that they were the best that they have ever had and there was an apple crisp that was unbelievable. The locals are a bit strange but nice and can be found at the bar watching sports or just drinking themselves into oblivion. We took food out one night and borrowed the silverware ... we promised to return it but I recall packing for my next trip and stabbing myself with a fork. Oh well, maybe if I ever get back there I'll leave the stolen cutlery at the bar.

The whole purpose for my staying at Darien Lake was to check out Niagra Falls. It's about a 25 minute drive and it's just one of those things that you want to see before you die.
The New York side of the falls was pretty but boring. You walk through a huge park and there is a railing alongside the rapids that lead to the actual falls. If you walk down to the actual waterfalls on the New York side you can get a side-view and climb up a huge staircase that basically leads you to nothing but a higher side-view. Then you can take a ride on The Maid of the Mist and sail right next to the falls. They equip you with a big blue slicker (kinda like a big garbage bag with a hood and arm holes) and then they proceed to drench you and make you a little sea-sick. It was the coolest part of the New York side though and it was worth 7 bucks.
The Canadian side of the falls is a million times better. The park that leads you down from the bridge to the street was beautiful. It is packed with trees and rose gardens. I have a nice picture under a trellis with roses all around my head. Anyway, they have nice restaurants there and alot of places to go drinking. They have a casino called Casino Niagara and one person on my trip stayed there all night instead of trekking around with his wife and three kids. They have a million tourist-trap giftshops and the only cool things I found were huge shot glasses that had the speed of the falls at different heights along the side of the glass (50,000 gallons per min, etc...) The gift shops are cool if you want keychains and maple syrup but they are all pretty much the same. They have a cute photo service that takes a picture of you in a phony barrel and makes like you went over the falls in it... cute, but campy. At night, the Canadians have a light show on the falls... changing the water's color by projecting lights across. Don't waste your film on this though, it's too dark to get a nice picture and none of mine came out. All in all, Canada by the Falls was cool and the beers they have are great.