4 week northeast trip suggestions July 2015

Robenz70 wrote:
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Watkins Glen/finger lakes (can we do day trip to Niagra Falls from here or should we plan a few days there on Canada side?)
End up in the Poconos
Thoughts on this trip and any other suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

To make the trip to Niagara worthwhile you really do need to cross into Canada (take passports!).
Due to the freak of nature that created the Falls, the view really is a lot better from the Canadian side.
While you are there you need to take the "Maid of the Mist" boat tour and take the ride down behind the Falls themselves (oil-skins provided!)
Then you could take the Spanish cable car ride across the river over the Whirlpool rapids a little bit downriver from the Falls. Both ends of the ride are in Canada.
If you are adventurous (and/or need to cool off on a hot day!) you could take the jet-boat ride through the Whirlpool rapids, it runs from a beautiful little village called Niagara-on-the-Lake - worth a visit in itself.

While at the Falls themselves you do need to turn your back on the towering blocks of hotels that have been built in the last 20-30 years that (IMHO) have destroyed what used to be a beautiful park location.

You need to be there during an evening as the Falls are lit up with multi-colored lasers/floodlights after dark.

Right on the brink of the Falls is a restaurant called Table Rock. Reservations are required, ask for a window seat.

You will not do the round trip plus do justice to the Falls in one day. You really need to make it at least a two day trip.

Edit: Forgot to mention the highlight of one of my Niagara trips - the helicopter ride over the Falls.
They leave from just downriver (near the Butterfly Conservatory) and the flight lasts about 20 minutes. It's amazing how much water there is in that area!!
Cost around $75 maybe 10 years ago, probably double that by now,