From New York to Niagara Falls by road

What surprised me most about that trip was not only the Niagara Falls, but also the route to get there.

Together with my daughter Madelyn we decided to travel by bus from New York, an experience that allowed us to discover a different facet of the United States, far from the skyscrapers of Manhattan and much closer to the daily life of small towns and cities in the north of the country.

As we moved north the landscape slowly changed. There were vast forests, farms, rolling hills and communities that looked like something out of a movie.

I especially remember towns like Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, cities with a strong industrial and historical tradition that marked the development of the Great Lakes region.

We also crossed small towns where the houses with perfectly manicured gardens, churches with traditional architecture and quiet streets conveyed a feeling of calm that is difficult to find in large cities.

Each stop had its own charm.

Some towns seemed frozen in time, with historic brick buildings, family-owned coffee shops, and local businesses that retained that typically American spirit.

That tour also had a peculiarity that I still remember with a smile.

The tour bus was almost completely occupied by Chinese tourists. Madelyn and I were practically the only Western passengers in the group, which made the trip even more interesting.

The language barrier was evident. We made efforts with our English, they with theirs, and many times we ended up communicating with gestures, smiles and a few single words. It wasn’t always easy to understand each other, but that was never an obstacle to sharing the journey.

Somehow, the road to Niagara Falls not only allowed us to discover new landscapes, but also share a multicultural experience that made the trip even more enriching.

On the contrary, we met very kind and respectful people and on more than one occasion we exchanged greetings, photographs and small moments that showed that cordiality does not need translation.

That coexistence for several days on the road reminded us of something that travel tends to teach over and over again: although we come from very different cultures and speak different languages, it is always possible to connect with other people through good will and curiosity to get to know others.

Before reaching Niagara Falls, the excursion included a visit that was as interesting as it was unexpected: Old Fort Niagara.

Located in the town of Youngstown, a short distance from the falls, this historic fort is located on the shores of Lake Ontario, in a strategic location that was disputed for centuries by the French, British and Americans.

Touring its stone walls, its old military buildings and its carefully preserved spaces was like traveling several centuries into the past. The fort, whose origins date back to the 18th century, allows you to understand the importance that this region had in the history of North America.

As we walked through the place, we imagined what life would have been like for the soldiers and settlers who inhabited these lands when they were still frontiers. The cannons pointing towards the water, the stone constructions and the views over the lake create a very special atmosphere.

It was a different stop on the trip, which combined history, landscapes and the possibility of visiting an unusual place for those who visit the region only attracted by the famous waterfalls.

When we finally reached Niagara Falls, we understood why millions of people visit it every year. But we also knew that part of the magic had been in the journey, in those quiet and welcoming towns that we discovered along the way.