orchid,
I feel as if I just took a mini vacation. What fantastic pictures.
Hannelore,
I'm 30 minutes from Niagara Falls and both sides, the Canadian and American, have restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, etc. There are major theme parks in surrounding areas. Southward, there are quaint villages. The Lucy 'n Desi Museum in Jamestown is closeby. Elbert Hubbard built the Roycroft Arts 'n Crafts Village & Hotel in my hometown; the 13th US President lived here; Fisher-Price Factory and Museum and Viddlers' 5 & 10 are here, too. The Tea Cozy, tea shop is fun. There are horse ranches and wild life sanctuaries. I've family working for and at the Buffalo Bills stadium. There's Marine Land, Fantasy Island, Fort Erie and Crystal Beach.