Awhile ago, we had this dream to do a big road trip through the eastern church historical sites. and Niagra Falls is on my bucket list so next thing you know (well not next thing you know...there was great planning and talking involved) but here we are finally on that trip. And it was perfect! The whole trip as just one big memory forever in my heart.
Here we are ready to embark.
Day 1: 8 hours in the car (plus one for eating and stops)
You probably have already caught on to this, but stopping on the side of the road to eat is MUCH better than going into fast food restaurants and eating junk. You get to run and play and save money and not eat fat.
Chloe led me by the hand to show me this gorgeous view at one of our stops. I love that our kids point out pretty things to me. EZ is always the first to point out a sunset.
We planned the trip to coincide with the leaves changing.
First night we stayed with our awesome friends in Michigan. These two were buddies from the get go.
The kids all had such a fun time. Too short, but so worth the stop.
My friend...someone who has inspired me from when I first met her way back in med school.
Then...Niagra Falls. Seriously, Niagra Falls is so pretty. They are not over rated. We were all truly mystified.
Here we are viewing the falls from the Canada side.
The next day we woke up and drove across the border and saw more of the falls from the American side. Everyone told us the Canada side was better for viewing, but I think we all really enjoyed getting up close to the falls on the American side. You paid $1 and could go on this over look platform and then take the elevator down and walk right by the falls. See those steps there? I told the family to go over there for a picture. Once they got there the winds shifted and I turned my head to my camera didn't get wet and all the while this was happening...(see below)
The water...all that fall water...was drenching them. They appreared from around the corner soaked. One was crying, two were laughing, and the other was just clearly unspeakably impressed by her mother's idea.
From the American side. I have so many pictures but these were so highlights. Other highlights were the imax movie and daredevil exhibit. The first lady went over the falls in a barrel in the 1800s. And several others have done it since her and survived. There was one 6 year old boy in 1969 who fell over the falls by accident and survived to tell the tale. Many suicides and accidental falls each year but they keep those hush hush. It was just a cool place. Go see it is you ever can.
We made time on the trip to just stop wherever we felt like it. This was Brad and the kids getting out to see some ducks on the water and being blow around in the wind.
My friend had told us about the dairy in Pittsford, New York. Ridiculously good icecream and chocolate milk. In fact, we went twice!
Palmyra, New York. We wandered the Sacred Grove early one morning.
Such a special place.
Then we toured the Smith farm. It was quaint and full of the feeling of the spirit.
Then we hiked up to the Hill Cumorah.
I had no idea it was such a steep hill. I love history. All things history. And to be in some sacred historical sites was so neat.
We decided to stay in a bed and breakfast for the two nights in Palmyra. It was totally worth it. The kids loved the special breakfast and Chloe kept telling us she wished she lived there.
We made time to stop and pick some apples at one of the many orchards.
Then we headed to Kirtland Ohio which was about 5 hours in the car. I pulled out the trusty atlast (which is love. Who doesn't love maps??) and we decided to check out this place in Pennsylvania called Presque Isle, right in Erie PA. We arrived just as the sun was tipping her light on the trees and casting deep shadows-my absolute favorite time of day. The kids ran straight for the water. We collected rocks and swam and just lazed around.
The next morning we headed for the Kirtland historic sites. This store was just how it looked back then. I didn't realize how important the Whitney family was. Joseph and Emma lived upstairs in the shop. Many sections from the D&C were received in Kirtland. And the first temple was built here.
And then persecutions came and they were told by their prophet that it was time to leave. In the movie you see The Whitney family just faithfully pick up and leave. She said, "the temple is built...we have accomplished our work here!"Those saints were so so so strong.
The day in Kirtland was magical as we drove around and saw the parks and stopped at parks and saw all the pretty trees.
The next morning we drove a short way to Cleveland and stopped at this gem. The Christmas Story house. Facts worthy of note:
The original bunny suit is owned by the boy who played Ralphie. He thinks it will be put in the smithsonian one day. Er..maybe not.
The story was set in Indiana but Indiana looked to 80's when they filmed and they wanted a setting that looked the part of to 30's and 40's. So they found a street in Clevelend.
The man who bought the house started out by making these fragile boxes below and his neighbors in Florida thought they were cool and eventually it seems like he kind of became obsessed, or smart, and bought the original house and turned it into a museum and now there are tours running dialy. I wouldn't miss it if you are ever in the great Cleveland area.
And then we had to drive 8 hours home, which turned into more like 10 hours.
And here is the ham and cheese bags that fed us for 5 lunches along the way!
