Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Whirlpool State Park, New York

When we were visiting George's daughter and hubby in the Buffalo area recently,  they took us to Whirlpool State Park so that we could see the gorgeous Niagara River.  We have visited Niagara Falls twice before --so didn't go there on this trip... But we certainly did enjoy seeing the whirlpool and the Niagara River.

The picture above shows you this wild and raging river from our overlook above.  Don't you love the color of this river?   Below are more!




The Spanish Aero Car (called the Whirlpool Aero Car now) takes people across the river where they can see the whirlpool from above.  George and I rode this car in 2002 --and enjoyed the ride so much!!!!  We were on the Canadian side.  Our ride took us across to the American side and then back to the Canadian side. 




Here's a close-up of the whirlpool...  NOBODY can live if they venture into that whirlpool... It is very strong and dangerous.  It will suck you into that water --never to appear again!  Yipes!

Here are some statistics about the whirlpool.  The depth is 35 feet;  water speed is 22 mph;  descent is 52 feet in 1.2 miles...  There is just so much water here --as the river narrows and is moving so fast, that it doesn't have anywhere to go... Hence---the whirlpool!!!




This picture is looking the other direction toward Niagara Falls. 




While we were visiting the Whirlpool State Park,  a boat (with tourists) came into view.




Here's that boat ---getting close to the whirlpool.. However,  they are smart enough NOT to enter into the whirlpool...  BUT--they do get close.   We did NOT ride on this boat when we came to Niagara Falls in 2002---but we'd love to ride it sometime... See all of the people sitting there (with their life jackets on)?????   That would be so much fun!  BUT--I wouldn't want to get too close to that whirlpool for sure!!!!




Finally,  Kelly took a picture of us at the Whirlpool State Park....

Hope you enjoyed our photos.   IF you ever get to Niagara Falls,  be sure and drive down to see the Whirlpool... AND--be sure to ride the Aero Car and that other boat --if you dare!!!!!

Have a wonderful day.
Hugs,
Betsy
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51 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 11, 2011 at 4:19 AM

    Very nice to look at but I would not want to be on that tour boat! Great pic of you and George.

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  2. SnapOctober 11, 2011 at 4:54 AM

    wowowowowowow! Pretty, too!

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  3. Ruth HiebertOctober 11, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    Amazing pictures. The force of that water is something else. I know that I would NOT ride that boat,too much of a chicken. LOL

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  4. Arkansas PattiOctober 11, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    Amazing photos and that is some scary looking water. Not me on either the Aero car or the boat. Yikes.

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  5. Big DudeOctober 11, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    It's unusual to see riverwater so blue. Great shots as always.

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  6. UnknownOctober 11, 2011 at 7:26 AM

    Hi Betsy, we enjoyed the visit to the Niagara region through your words and photos. Makes us think that it’s been a long while since we have been there. Isn’t it just an amazing work of nature?

    John
    connectedtothevinephotography.blogspot.com

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  7. MadSnapperOctober 11, 2011 at 7:26 AM

    that first shot shows how gorgeous the color is and how raging it is. I can't believe, knowing if you fall in that pool, you are gone, that your rode a cable car over it, that if the cable broke, bye bye B and G. I would never ever never ride that boat OR that cable car. i freaked out in the cable car over Disney and swore never to get in one again. but these are beautiful shots of a beautiful river. i would like to see it from the shore.

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  8. DorothyOctober 11, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    Beautiful water but I wouldn't want to go in the car or the boat!
    I would just enjoy it from afar!!!

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  9. TexWisGirlOctober 11, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    those waters sure are powerful! beautiful from afar!

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  10. Out on the prairieOctober 11, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    I have never heard of this park, you have my investigative thoughts going. The color of the water is great.

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  11. Chatty CroneOctober 11, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    You and your hubby are so cute. Loved seeing that I have never been there. I wonder what makes that color of water so gorgeous and different? And I don;t think I'd get in that boat either!

    sandie

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  12. DeniseinVAOctober 11, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    Oh my gosh what an amazing sight that must be. Lovely photos too, especially the one of you and George. Thanks for stopping by Betsy, I am back to trying to catch up on visiting since my friend left.

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  13. Tami AKA My Kid's MomOctober 11, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    I can't seem to stop reading your blog. The pictures remind me so much of home! I saw somewhere that you love waterfalls - have you been to Elrod falls in Sneedville, TN. It's really pretty but in the middle of nowhere.

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  14. Lady Di TnOctober 11, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    Betsy
    Thanks for the visit to Whirlpool State Park. I think I will stay on dry ground if I ever go. Love the color of the river. Peace

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  15. Cheryl @ TFDOctober 11, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    That is an amazing river, Betsy, but I think I would just view it from a nice, safe distance! The color is an amazing blue. Nice photos and I love the shot of you and George. Have a great day!

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  16. RoseOctober 11, 2011 at 8:51 AM

    I'm not sure I would want to even be in the boat--that place looks filled with danger.

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  17. KarinOctober 11, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    Had quite forgotten how gorgeous the color is! One has to see it to believe it - even the noise of the rushing waters. You do have some amazing adventures! Great photo of the two of you! And into the boat? NEVER!

    Thanks for your prayers! Hubby got some medication for an infection - trusting it will do its work quickly!

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  18. Janice KOctober 11, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    The color of that water is beautiful indeed, and your close-up of the whirlpool is really neat to see. I don't think I'd care to get too close.

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  19. Linda at To Behold The BeautyOctober 11, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    This one is new to me, Betsy; but it looks like a neat place to visit. Thanks for telling us about it with such lovely photos.

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  20. BarbaraOctober 11, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    Beautiful raging river, such a breath of fresh air in that area, I do love it, we spent about a month in Belfast NY about 50 miles from Buffalo, it was quite the experience and we so loved it.

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  21. Lisa @ Two Bears FarmOctober 11, 2011 at 9:55 AM

    I would totally ride that boat - fun!

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  22. I Am WoodyOctober 11, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Great pic of you and George! I have always wanted to ride that boat!!

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  23. DianeOctober 11, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    Beautiful color of the water. Diane

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  24. Busy Bee SuzOctober 11, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    The water looks like a spring!
    You could not pay me to ride in that Aero Car...no way jose!!!!
    I love the photo of you and your sweetheart!

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  25. AnonymousOctober 11, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    This post shows 2 things I'm scared of... heights & water! =0 I could probably force myself to take the ride, but I'm not sure I'd be able to look down during the ride! =0

    Great shots you have & love the color of the water =)

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  26. AnonymousOctober 11, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    Hubby and I would LOVE to be in that cable car as well as that boat. What is life without risks? lol.

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  27. ConnieOctober 11, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    Neat to see all that water swirling around down there. It is a pretty color too. Great picture of you and George, Betsy! :D

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  28. AnonymousOctober 11, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    Hi Betsy, Looks scary! Glad you got such good pictures and have those wonderful memories of the beauty of the place! Have a fine day and enjoy the sprinkles.

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  29. AnonymousOctober 11, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    It's beautiful but heck no! It looks very scary.

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  30. Ginny HartzlerOctober 11, 2011 at 12:32 PM

    YIKES! I loved reading all about this! The water is just so pretty, I was going to comment that I would love to get in! Are those tourists CRAZY??? What if a big gust of wind came along and enlarged the whirlpool to swallow them, what if.....well, you get the picture. I see all those tourists sitting there like sitting ducks, QUACK!! And finally I get to see the Aero CAR, YEAH! I enlarged the picture as much as I could, it is so cute! Your flowers in yesterday's post are lovely, I especially like the picture of them in front of your love cottage!

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  31. ChristineOctober 11, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    That river is just gorgeous; love the color of the water. So glad you had a wonderful time.

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  32. HappyKOctober 11, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    Yes, the water is a beautiful color!!

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  33. Fred AltonOctober 11, 2011 at 2:38 PM

    Looks as tho you and George had a wonderful time over the Whirlpool! Beautiful aqua blue waters too!

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  34. Together We SaveOctober 11, 2011 at 2:46 PM

    You pirctures are amazing but I would not want to get as close as that boat did, but flying over would be fun.

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  35. ShugOctober 11, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    I love these pictures..So pretty!
    and yes, the colors of the water are gorgeous... I would want to ride across the river, but would be so scared...surely they make you wear life jackets?

    Enjoyed this post.
    Hugs,
    Shug

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  36. DarOctober 11, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    Aqua water is captivating but I will keep my distance...looks so dangerous but captivating.
    You let me know what the boat ride is like next time...cause I'll watch from shore.lol Sweet Photo of you and your George
    BlessYourHearts

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  37. AnnOctober 11, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Gorgeous photos as always. I've never heard of this place although I've been to Niagra falls several times. I think it would be rather scary getting that close to the whirlpool

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  38. ElettraOctober 11, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Suggestive photos of a spectacular place!

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  39. imacOctober 11, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    Thanks for the enjoyable trip Betsy. most enjoyable and great shots.

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  40. PCovi October 11, 2011 at 4:38 PM

    I had never heard of the whirlpool there! It is an awesome sight to see, huh? Pretty pretty blue water.
    I love the photo of you two!

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  41. Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪October 11, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    BUT--I wouldn't want to get too close to that whirlpool for sure!!!!

    I don't want to do that either. 1976, when I was in my early 20s, I looked down the Niagara Falls at the boats and was glad I was on solid land.

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  42. HolleyGardenOctober 11, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    Looks like that boat's a little too close for me! But the color of that water is absolutely gorgeous.

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  43. Laura LynnOctober 11, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    Beautiful photos!

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  44. AndreaOctober 11, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    I love your photo with George, it is always good to see the happiness flowing from a photo. Somehow, I've seen a lot of so many things in Niagara through Donna or Gardenwalk Gardentalk. However, the photos are always different from the tourist, as she is not one but a resident. If you will take me to ride on that cable car, my phobia on heights will not allow me! I will just content myself in looking at those people. That is also the reason why i didn't take the zipline here even if that means overlooking one of the highest waterfalls, and there are 6 other smaller ones. Just seeing the top of the gorge make my head spin!

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  45. CatherineOctober 11, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    The water is a beautiful color. And it looks fresh and clean! Lovely!
    xo Catherine

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  46. Ms. AOctober 11, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    Not sure I could ride the Aero Car, or the boat. I don't trust my luck very much, plus, I wouldn't want to embarrass myself, by pooping my pants! That water is beautiful!

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  47. Christmas-etc...October 12, 2011 at 12:11 AM

    So neat! I have a photo of when I was just a little girl riding that boat! I remembering wearing the raincoats and the running waters! It was loud!
    Such a great trip!

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  48. SquirrelQueenOctober 12, 2011 at 1:42 AM

    The color of the water is just amazing. The whirlpool does loos very dangerous, I would certainly not venture too close. I would love to try the Aero car and the boat.

    I love the last photo of you two lovebirds.

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  49. A Colorful WorldOctober 12, 2011 at 2:05 AM

    You two are so adventurous! I am really impressed! What lovely water like green sea-glass. I've never been to that area but would sure enjoy going!

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  50. AnonymousOctober 12, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    Never heard of this place. Wow! That must have been quite a sight. The photo of you and George is very nice. Also, love your header photo -- so pretty!

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  51. LorenOctober 19, 2011 at 10:34 PM

    Goodness Sakes!! Such beauty and yet, such power too! I can't believe that boat actually gets close to the whirlpool! I would be freaking out for sure!

    One of my best friends is visiting their son in Canada. He is attending the University of Toronto and then they were going to Niagra Falls. I am sooo glad I got to see these pics so that I have an idea of what they are doing and seeing :)

    Ok. That is the BEST picture of you & George!! You all are just adorable and your love is sooo evident! You both beam like newlyweds!! ♥

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