Sara and I had a late start from Lansing due to last-minute car maintenance (a tire needed replacing). We were pretty excited to actually get on the road.

I hadn't realized that Sara had never been to Canada before, never left the US. Going over the border, answering the Customs agents, was a new experience for her. She was a bit disappointed that she couldn't get to her camera in time to take a picture of the Blue Water Bridge which connects Port Huron, Michigan, USA and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. It felt as though once we'd crossed the border, our adventure had begun in earnest.

We found the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, with no trouble at all, but I'd somehow left the map of how to get to the hotel on my desk at home. I travel a lot so this didn't bother me too much but Sara did her best to not worry. Sure enough, finding the hotel wasn't too hard, it was on the main drag where many hotels have been for decades.

We checked in and immediately headed out for the falls. Finding parking close to the falls was a chore, the signs all pointed us odd directions. Eventually we found a public parking spot and we walked to the falls. It was a lovely night, and the colored spotlights on the falls really were spectacular.

On the way back to our room, we decided to check out a dessert place we'd seen, which was open 24 hours. It was a bit disappointing, not a restaurant as much as a donut counter (better than Dunkin' Donuts anyway).

Sara had her heart set on apple pie and she was able to get it, not fabulous but not bad. I tried a "butter tart," something we don't have at home. It was like a tiny pecan pie without the pecans, very tasty but very rich. At least they had good tea. I always appreciate Canada for that: an appreciation of tea much more than in Michigan. Tea is my comfort food, and depending where I travel, I sometimes find it it hard to get good tea.

In the morning we decided we just had to try "Mom's Place" for breakfast. It was tiny and dated on the outside, but just my style... I love old breakfast spots which still have their personality from years past. There was no disappointment here. Good breakfast, and good people-watching.

This was the kind of place where regular customers leave their favorite coffee mug, to be hung behind the cash register. Some local folks came in while we were there, got their mugs and their coffee, and sat down to chat with the folks who worked at Mom's. It was the real thing, in a town full of hype. I was delighted.

Next: Day 2