[lrt's friend]

I think one of the keys will be the improved rail link to Toronto and that is slowly coming. Trains are still way too slow and don't run often enough, but the drive is also congested so not that pleasant. On a recent trip to Toronto, I considered a side trip to Niagara but the connection is simply not good enough at the present time. Go Transit and the province of Ontario are planning to improve the rail link but will take years to complete.

I enjoy Niagara and have been there many times. The parks system along the Niagara River gorge is something special. They need to improve the interpretation of the history of the area, which featured many battles during the final war between Canada and the USA. Lundy's Lane (the main street) featured a key battle but only recently got an archway to commemorate that event. There are a number of battle parks along the Niagara parkway including Canada's oldest and tallest monument.

Niagara had a boom about 15 years ago when the Fallsview Casino opened but I think that its heyday was then and hopefully in the future. It is a fallacy to consider its Honeymoon period was its heyday. The attractions are far more diverse today than back in those days.

The tacky side of the Ontario side is something that should never be entirely lost. It is integral part of the history of the city that started with the tight rope walkers of the 19th century.

Niagara Falls will never be Las Vegas, nor should it attempt to be. It will still be an international destination because of the falls but its efforts should focus on making itself more than a weekend destination, which is currently the case to a great degree.