All things Niagara Falls tourism…
So the billboard I’ve been posting about is advertising for the Clifton Hill attractions. These are the HOCO Limited properties. I can’t imagine they’re too happy with the right billboard. The Movieland sign is missing the top, and almost all of Elvis’ head is missing.
Today the Drabbles are still crossing the border after leaving Niagara Falls. They say the wrong thing and get pulled over.
See a larger version of the comic at http://www.comics.com/comics/drabble/archive/drabble-20050820.html
These stats were gathered from the Tower Information and Facts & Stats pages of the Skylon Tower website. This is only a sampling of the stats I found most interesting. Be sure to visit those pages for more.
| Construction time | Construction on the Tower was started in May, 1964 |
| Grand Opening | October 6, 1965 |
| Number of observation decks | 3 (2 dining rooms, 1 indoor/outdoor observation deck) |
| Total height of tower from base to top of flashing beacon | 520 feet (160m) |
| Height of tower above Maid of the Mist pool | 775 feet (236m) |
| Weight of concrete for tower | 48,000,000 lbs. (21,772,800 kilograms) |
| Weight of concrete for base of Tower | 13,200,000 lbs. (5,987,520 kilograms) |
| Thickness of grey glass at Observatory Level (All windows in the three level Dome are washed monthly by steeple jacks using free suspension from the outside) |
3/8 inch |
| Number of elevators | 3 |
| Time it take the elevators to get to the top | 52 seconds |
| Number of steps in each of the two stairways from lower exhibition floor to observation floor | 662 steps |
| Electrical wire and cable used in complex at time of construction | 3,200 miles (5,150km) |
| Revolving Dining Room - Seating capacity | 276 persons |
| Revolving Dining Room - Speed | 1 complete revolution per hour, 3 h.p. motor required to turn floor |
| Visibility of Observation on clear day | 80 miles (129km) |
| Number of bulbs on “Tree” | 5,000 bulbs |
| Power Consumption | 54,450 watts |
| Number of strands | 30 strands |
Be sure to check out the Niagara’s most famous landmark … next to the Falls post to read about our impressions when we went up the tower. Also be sure to check out the Summer 2005 Skylon Tower gallery to see all the beautiful pictures I took while we were up the tower.
Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of going up the Skylon Tower. In all my years living in the Niagara Region, I had never been up before. I have been up the CN Tower in Toronto, but for some reason I had never gone up the Skylon Tower. It was amazing! If you come to the Falls to see the Falls, there is no better place than from the Skylon Tower.
It appears tall, maybe too tall when you look up the tower from its base, but it is just the right size. Both the American and Horseshoe Falls are huge, so the height of the tower gives you the perfect view. It isn’t so high that the Falls look small. You really appreciate their size, and get a good view of the rivers that leave to the Falls. And of course you can see for miles and miles.
As you walk around the 360° observation deck, you can see all the attractions in the area, along with the beauty of Queen Victoria Park and other sites along the parkway. You get a great view of the new Fallsview Casino (it’s huge!), and we could even see Toronto faintly in the distance.
The Skylon Tower website has great general information at http://www.skylon.com/general/tower.html and facts at http://www.skylon.com/general/facts.html. I have reproduced some of this in the Skylon Tower Facts post.
The Skylon Tower costs $11.50 CDN or $9.55 US for adults, $6.00 US or $5.20 US for children (12 and under) and $9.50 CDN or $8.25 US for seniors.
Be sure to check out the Summer 2005 Skylon Tower gallery to see all the beautiful pictures I took while we were up the tower.
As I’ve been posting, the cartoon Drabble family has been on vacation this week in Niagara Falls. I contacted the artist, Kevin Fagan, and asked him a few questions (had he ever been to the falls? why did they come to Niagara Falls? where else might they go?, etc). Below is his response:
I live in California, and came to Niagara Falls for the first time in early July. We were taking a family vacation around New York and in addition to the Falls, went to NYC and Cooperstown and everywhere in between.
It was our first visit to Niagara Falls, but not the last. We were only able to spend a couple of days there.When I got back to my studio after 2 weeks, I immediately started a series with the Drabbles on vacation, which will run for 3 weeks (but only this week at the Falls). They will next go to NYC, and yes, will have problems at the border crossing!
The drawings of the Falls were fairly easy, since they’re so recognizable!
We enjoyed walking around town and seeing the whirlpool. Niagara Falls is a remarkable place!
Thanks for coming to Niagara Falls, Kevin, and for helping to promote Niagara Falls. Come back anytime!
Today the Drabbles are leaving Niagara Falls and crossing at the border. Norm reacts the way many people react.
See a larger version of the comic at http://www.comics.com/comics/drabble/archive/drabble-20050819.html
From Yahoo! News:
The Canadian tourism industry coalition expressed concern that new rules requiring Americans to obtain passports before traveling abroad will significantly reduce northbound travel out of the United States.
“The publicity surrounding the new passport requirements is already having a deterrent effect on cross-border travel,” Randy Williams, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, said on behalf of 20 groups with a stake in cross-border travel.
“Travelers are confused and anxious — and more likely to stay home or choose another destination,” he said in a news release.
Today the Drabbles are trying to sleep in a fallsview room. Unfortunately Mrs. Drabble is having a hard time sleeping because the Falls are so loud.
You know, you’d be surprised at the number of people who think they can turn the Falls off and on at will!
See a larger version of the comic at http://www.comics.com/comics/drabble/archive/drabble-20050818.html
From The Globe and Mail:
Ontario Power Generation has granted a contract to an Austrian company to build a new 10.4-kilometre-long tunnel to increase electricity generation from the Niagara River, it announced Thursday.
The announcement comes during a time that Ontario is struggling to meet its energy needs as it shuts down its coal-fired plants.Strabag AG was chosen along with several other subcontractors to begin construction of the tunnel, named the Niagara Tunnel Project — which will supply additional water from above Niagara Falls to the generating complex at Queenston Heights.
All it needs now is an actual image… Or maybe it’s a Home Depot billboard trying to get us to buy wood?
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