Niagara Falls’ Dual Nature

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Niagara Falls’ Dual Nature
by Mary Quinley | Booth News Service
Sunday June 29, 2008, 2:55 AM
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y — Nearly three decades had passed when my husband yearned to return to Niagara Falls. At first, I resisted: I’m not fond of wax figurines and bizarre collections.
However, I admit the falls themselves never fail to impress.
So, I reconsidered. My partner and I would go back to the falls. This time, our mission was to scour both sides of the U.S.-Canada border in search of elegant and atypical gems.
The New York side
We decided on historic Lewiston as our home base on the American side. Near the fringes of the Niagara River, Lewiston is minutes north of the Falls.
On a sun-drenched morning, after a restful snooze at the Barton Hill Hotel and Spa, we lounged in the lobby of the newly opened inn. Munching scones bursting with blueberries, we chatted with locals who shared tales of rum-running tunnels, the region’s long heritage with France and Britain and the town’s claim as the birthplace of the cocktail.  (more…)