Mathew Foxcroft has embarked on the journey of a lifetime, travelling across America by train. This is one of his weekly reports: WE left Cleveland later than planned and arrived in Niagara on Wednesday, after taking the Greyhound coach rather than the train.

This was due to a six hour delay in Buffalo on the train, whereas the bus only had a 15 minute delay.

Although it was not as comfortable as the train it worked out a lot less expensive, at only $20, compared to $42 on the train.

There are two sides to Niagara Falls on the American side, known as the American Falls, and the Canadian side, which is called the Horseshoe Falls.

We arrived on the Canadian side which we are told gives perfect views of both of the falls.

After falling asleep on the bus into Niagara, I awoke as we approached Niagara town. On first sight I thought I'd been flown back to England and was arriving, in lovely Blackpool.

Yes, that's right. Blackpool minus the tower and the ocean and adding a waterfall. OK, that might be over simplifying it but on first sight (I hadn't seen the falls yet) it looked just like a smaller version of Blackpool - amusements, fast-food outlets and tourist orientated shops.

We decided to splash out on a hotel for the night and are staying just a short walk away from the falls, in the centre of Niagara at the Comfort Inn.

Throwing the bags in the hotel room, we walked down for our first viewing of the falls.

You can hear the roar of the water before actually arriving at the falls, then it hits you, the first glance. Standing at 52 meters high a fearsome white arc, shrouded in clouds of dense spray.

Nothing can really prepare you for that first sight, this is what travelling is all about.

The Niagara river below was frozen and the surrounding rocks covered in thick snow, with razor tipped icicles hanging from them. You could almost be standing in the middle of Antarctica, it looks like a scene of untrammelled nature.

As we walked closer it seemed to get even more impressive. Standing at the edge of the horseshoe, there is nothing stopping you from jumping over the surprising small wall. You have perfect views of the falls.

Being able to stand so close really enables you to get a feel of the real power in the waterfall, it really is an awesome spectacle.

Reading the various books before coming to Niagara, I consistently read the falls were "too gimmicky and no commercial opening had been left unexploited". Even Oscar Wilde once quipped that he would have been more impressed if the falls ran upwards; at least no one has tried that yet.

I would recommend anyone coming close to Niagara to take the time out and see a true natural wonder of the world.

Next week we arrive in Toronto before heading to Chicago.