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After visiting Gateway arch which is nearby Mississippi river,  we went for a ferry ride. There were two steam boat style ferries named "Tom Sawyer" and "Becky Thatcher". We got into Tom Sawyer.

The ferry went about 2 miles down the river and came back. It was right before winter. Therefore the surrounding was not that beautiful. It could have been much better if we visited there in Fall or Summer.
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We visited Gateway Arch in Labor day 2011. It was 4 hr drive from Bloomington, IN. So we decided to make it a one day trip.

We crossed Illinois state and reached the border of Illinois and Missouri (the Mississippi river). The Gateway arch is built beside the river.

We had reserved tickets but had to wait in a queue for security checks. Ticket price for an adult was $10. Finally we got into small elevators and stayed seated till the elevators reach the top of the arch. The view from the top was beautiful. We could see the river and state of Illinois on one side and state of Missouri on the other side.

We had to wait in a queue to get down too. The staff said it's because it was Labor day. Then we headed towards the Mississippi river to take a Ferry ride.
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On the way back home from Niagara, we visited Cleveland, OH. We stopped there for lunch and thought of visiting Lake Erie as it was near by. We could find an entrance to lake near the Lakefront airport. There was an air show as it was Labor day. So we could see that too.

However it was too cold there because of the lake breeze. So we didn't spent much time there. We wanted to get back home (Bloomington, IN) before late night. 

After visiting Cave of the Winds, we hurried for the Maid of the Mist boat ride. There was a long queue for the ride.

After waiting about an hour in the queue, we reached the elevator which takes people down to the boat. The boat was very crowded. I wish if they didn't pack people like packing salmons to the boat. Anyway we could find a small space to stand still but it was not that comfortable.

The ride was really amazing. We could see the front view of American falls. The only way to see it, is this boat ride unless you are visiting from Canada side.

The boat passed the American fall and went under the Horseshoe fall. Basically it got lost in the mist maid by the fall. It was an amazing experience.

Though we got the tickets for the aquarium and etc (5 events altogether) we didn't have time for those. I think it is enough to buy tickets for Cave of the Winds and Maid of the Mist, if I am visiting again.

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As we spent the night in Cleveland, OH we had around 300 miles to cover yet. So after having breakfast from a McDonalds we started driving towards Niagara. It was bit rainy that day but the sky started to get brighten when we reach Niagara .

 First we found parking in Goat island. Then headed to a ticket counter thinking to visit Cave of the Winds. We got an option to buy one ticket for 5 items for a discount price. However it is good to buy this ticket only if you plan to visit all the 5 places. Otherwise it is a waste I guess.

After buying the tickets we visited Cave of the Winds. It is a wooden stair way which runs under the American Fall of Niagara.  We got yellow colored rain coats to wear. It was an amazing feeling to go under the water fall and be covered with the mist and droplets.

Whole American falls is not visible here. The stripe like fall here, is the Bridal veil falls. Cave of the Winds was a nice experience and I think anyone who is visiting Niagara should not miss this.

Then we had lunch form the Niagara fall's restaurant near Horseshoe falls and hurried to take the Maid of the Mist tour.
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We visited Niagara falls in early September, 2011. There are about 600 miles to Niagara, NY from Bloomington, IN. So we decided to spend a night on the way.

We left Bloomington around 10 a.m. This was our route via Ohio and Pennsylvania.


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We had planned to stay the night in Cleveland, OH. So there was no hurry. We stopped by the Beaver lake to have our home made lunch. The lake was nice and full of ducks and other birds. There was a beautiful bike route around the lake. However we couldn't see around the lake because only bikes and walkers could enter that route.  Hear are some pictures of the lake.

After having lunch, we headed to Cleveland to spend the night at Crown Plaza hotel.

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Bluespring caverns is an underground cave system formed by limestone. It is located somewhere near Bedford, Indiana. So it takes around 30 minutes from here, Bloomington IN.

There is a river which flows through the cave. They provide a boat tour on that underground river. The tour takes about an hour. Inside of the cave is really dark  so that you can't see an inch away from your eyes when the boat lights are off. I believe you should visit an underground cave to feel what real darkness is. I experienced the same when we visit Mammoth cave too.

Bluespring cave is not a large and interesting cave like Mammoth cave but it was nice to have a boat ride along an underground river. You can picture it like few people on a boat lightened by a lantern, crawling on a dark, mysterious underground river which flows toward centre of earth.

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