SURPRISE!!!

Monday was Skip's birthday - not one of those milestone birthdays but certainly a day for celebration.

I found us a hotel/dinner/breakfast deal at the Hilton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls in a two bedroom suite with a king bed and TV in each bedroom. There was a huge Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom and a fireplace in one of the bedrooms.

At 6:30am on Monday, my alarm clock rang. Skip wondered what the heck was going on because I normally don't get up that early. I handed him his birthday card in the dark and said, "Here's your card. Turn on the light and find your glasses so you can read it". Inside I had a gift card for him and a message to get packed because we were going to Niagara Falls for a day or two.

We both ran around preparing for our departure. I had made sure to get all our clothes laundered the day before and for someone to come in to feed the cat during our absence. We got on the road by about 10am and after a lunch break along the way, got to the Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls by about 1pm. It had been recommended to me by my friend, Pam, knowing that we were avid birders.  Skip got in free because it was his birthday and I had printed a discounted coupon before we left. We pretty much had the place to ourselves.

There are several areas to Bird Kingdom - a reptile exhibit, a small bird enclosure and a three storey open large bird area which includes a lorikeet cage and an indoor tropical paradise for the other large birds.

African Grey Parrot

Blue-cheeked Toucan

Golden Pheasant

Scarlet Ibis

Love Birds ♥

After that, we made our way to the Hilton. Pam had given us the tip to take the Fallsview Casino self-park entrance and go up to the 5th level where we could walk across the walkway to the Mezzanine of the Hilton. That way parking cost $5 instead of $20 for valet parking. We then checked in and got accustomed to our environs.

Skip with his new MacBook by the fireplace and TV

Skip watching Don Paul, the WDIV (Buffalo) meteorologist

The Galleria of shops at the Fallsview Casino

Skip at the fountain under the dome at  the Fallsview Casino

♫ "Oh the weather outside is frightful"♫ (on the walkway over Fallsview Ave.)

View of the American Falls from our 32nd floor suite

Our view of the Fallsview Casino/Hotel and Horseshoe Falls

Finally the sun makes an appearance!

One striking thing about our time there is the absence of people. It was a weekday but there was only a handful of people everywhere we went - at the hotel, casino, coffee shops, restaurants and stores.  Niagara Falls is really hurting in this current economic climate, given that the US dollar isn't strong in Canada right now, and it's more difficult to get into Canada from the US now as passports are needed. I sure hope things pick up for them.

We had a very luxurious and restful couple of days. I think I had as much fun for Skip's birthday as he did. I already have a couple of ideas for the next 'surprise' getaway. Tee hee.