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While Niagara Falls has long been considered place for lovers - particularly for honeymooners - developers are broadening appeal as a destination resort for families and retirees. But at heart of it, it's still a spectacular setting to find, celebrate, or renew romance for any age.

My wife and I spent a couple days in late September exploring Canadian side of falls and hosted at on of area's premier hotels, The Sheraton On The Falls. (The Sheraton offers great off-season rates around Valentine's Day.

After a drive from Toronto, where I had been n business, we were ready to relax and we couldn't have picked a better location. The hotel booked us into one of their premium suites, complete with sitting area and fireplace, king-size bed, jetted tub, and unparalleled views of both famous Horseshoe Falls and American Falls. Whether it's nightly man-made light show of colors splashed on falls or a sunrise playing in mist, hotel offers a front-row seat.

We arrived in afternoon and by that eveneing we explored shops, restaurants and attractions on Falls Avenue and Clifton Hill. The Sheraton is at heart of Falls Avenue development, featureing a Planet Hollywood restaurant, Hard Rock Café, Rainforest Café, and attractions, including a simulated "Ride Over Falls," "Dino Island 3D" ride, "Elvira's Haunted Coaster," a Hershey chocolate shop, and Casino Niagara.

Inside Casino Niagara, it's evident that this is no longer Niagara Falls popularized in Marilyn Monroe movie, 'Niagara.' The over-60 crowd lined blackjack tables and filled seats in front of slot machines. In fact, it's casino and a steady stream of retirees driving development on Canadian side; enough so, that Canadians are planning a second casino and their envious American neighbors hope to open one of their own to revitalize Niagara Falls, New York's depressed tourist district.

Around corner from casino, Clifton Hill-area streets are brimming with attractions and tourist traps, including souvenir shops, arcades, small thrill rides, fun houses, and fast food joints. If your wallet's fat enough, you can spend entire day at places like Guiness World Records Museum, a Ripley's Believe it or Not museum and theater, haunted houses, a thrill ride accompanied by a 70mm film, and Movieland Wax Museum.

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Gazing out through covered arches to shrubbery and swimming pool beyond, I sipped my iced tea and listened to Mel Haber talk about one of his favorite subjects, Palm Springs' Ingleside Inn.

"When I arrived here there was an ambiance about this place. What I did was, I didn't destroy it. I kept it, maintained it. But it was already here."

The Ingleside Inn has been Haber's life since he discovered place in 1975. He was instantly charmed by history of secluded estate, located just one block from tree-lined avenues of Palm Springs.

"I don't have a clue what I'm doing. I put my foot in my mouth and somehow it works out." Haber adds that he doesn't think he could repeat his success building Ingleside Inn in today's market.

"A Frenchman and his wife who stayed here said they've traveled millions of miles and this was best place they'd ever been," he says with a disarming smile. "I don't have a clue why he would say that."

'Haber's modesty belies his accomplishment. Some of things hes "maintained" over years include orchid trees and 70-year-old vines. The latticed ceiling over our heads is laced with pothos vines.

The tangled trunk of a mesquite tree dominating grassy front yard looks like it could have been planted by Humphrey Birge family, who built original Spanish-style estate at foot of Mt. San Jacinto in 1925. The Birges owned Pierce Arrow Motor Company. Haber says they traveled a lot and lovingly filled their home with antiques and priceless furniture from around world.

Ten years later, at demise of Birge matriarch, property was sold to Ruth Hardy, a lady from Indiana who turned estate into a little hotel just for "invited." Operating it as a private club and closing six months of year, she held high standards for both her establishment and her guests. If you were invited by one of guests, you had to first obtain Mrs. Hardy's approval.

Thus began veritable "Who's Who" of show business, finance, and political guests. Haber says Ruth Hardy also left her mark on Palm Springs as a City Councilwoman, responsible for lighting trees on Palm Canyon Drive, and a park in town was named after her.

"She passed on in 1965. When I discovered it, property was owned by a former guest from a prominent San Francisco banking family." Haber, a New York businessman at time, discovered Inn during a stroll around town.

After purchasing The Ingleside Inn, Haber completely renovated entire property, but not without consulting people who already worked there. "I put great value on objectivity," Haber explains. "I listened to everybody who had anything to say, because I had no knowledge."