Day 3 - Niagara Falls, U.S. & Canada!

We had a relaxing morning after sleeping late so didn't get to Niagara Falls State Park until nearly noon. Luckily it was not a busy day so we walked right on the next Maid of the Mist boat. It was mostly sunny and in the 60s; I could not ask for a more perfect day. The kids were enthralled with the boat ride past the American and Bridal Veil Falls to the base of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Leaving the U.S. for the first time and getting to have lunch, shop, and take a scenic drive in Ontario, Canada was so exciting for them too. I love seeing the world through their eyes and hearing their comments!

Raincoats on and ready to board!

On the Maid of the Mist...ready, set, go!

Passing American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls

Approaching Horseshoe Falls

Our boat was this close to the base of Horseshoe Falls!

The churning waters at the base of Horseshoe Falls.

My poor camera, it was so wet!

But, my camera survived!

We came back in very wet and very happy to have had this great experience!

This is the Maid of the Mist Observation Tower, taken from the boat as we pulled in to the dock.

Time for a 'hood ornament pose' photo, with Rainbow Bridge in the background, before we leave the boat.

On top of the Maid of the Mist Observation Tower with all the Niagara Falls in the background.

American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls

Rainbow Bridge behind the kids from the Maid of the Mist Observation Tower. We drove across the Rainbow Bridge to enter Ontario, Canada.

Crossing the border into Canada.

Shelby at Horseshoe Falls in Canada

Jackson and Dylan in Canada with American Falls in background 

We had lunch at the Table Rock Welcome Centre where I took this photo.

Horseshoe Falls in Canada

 Horseshoe Falls in Canada

There was a vivid rainbow in the water when viewed from Canada.

We have lots of shots of this and as Shelby said we "could have watched this all day!"

We drove along the Niagara Parkway from the Rainbow Bridge to the Peace Bridge near Fort Erie. That is such a beautiful drive. Shelby and I were having too much fun oohing and aahing over the mansions on that drive to even take any photos. Here we entered the U.S. after crossing the Niagara River, where it begins at Lake Erie, on the Peace Bridge.

When we got back, Dylan and Shelby still had so much energy that they rented banana bikes and cruised around this big campground for nearly an hour while Jackson did his workout routine in the RV. Oh, to be young again...I'm thrilled to still be walking unassisted after all our activity last evening and today!

Lovin' Life ~~ Seeing the Kids Thrill to New Experiences

Day 2 - Niagara Falls, NY

We didn't have time to stop in Cleveland on the way east so we drove to Pennsylvania and stopped for lunch just past the state line. The kids didn't even get dressed, actually the boys only got up long enough to move from the sofa bed back to our bed before we left the campground this morning.

There were miles of vineyards in Pennsylvania. Hmmm, maybe not as many as I made that sound like since the state is only 46 miles across at the top.

Look, Look! We are in New York state!

These bridges cross the Niagara River onto Grand Island where we are staying.

After getting set up for our two night stay, the kids had a blast on a paddleboat in the small pond here at the campground. I called this PJ Paddleboating...can you guess why?

They also talked me into buying this table football game that they were roaring and tussling over like they were at an Alabama game!

At 8:00 we drove to Niagara Falls State Park for a first look at the falls. The kids LOVED seeing them and the fireworks display was a special bonus! Notice...even though Shelby had to get dressed because it was a quite chilly evening, the boys wore their PJs to the Falls...it was just that kind of laid back day.

Spectacular!

Rich and the kids.

The kids and I.

Rich and the kids watching the fireworks display over the Niagara River at the Falls.

The falls are lighted at night!

This was yet another great day. After a boring ride, everyone perked up and we were all dazzled by the sights at Niagara Falls this evening.

Lovin' Life ~~ Sharing Our World

Day 1 - To Ohio

Our adventure actually began yesterday when the kids arrived at Midway!

But today we left at 9:00 a.m. for a three week trip to the northeast. Today is the first day of this most exciting adventure! We had loaded just about everything yesterday so this morning we were ready to go. We traveled through Indiana on I80/I90 stopping for lunch in the RV at the Gene Stratton Porter Travel Plaza in Indiana. Gene Stratton Porter wrote two of my favorite childhood books! Ohio is the first new state for the kids this trip; we continued across Ohio on I80/I90. The kids were great on this long boring driving day and luckily the evening was NOT boring.

We spent the night at the Sandusky KOA, arriving at 5:00. Our spot was #82 Crane St. How cool is that?

We kept busy all evening on the giant Jumping Pillow, playing basketball, enjoying the playground, taking the KOA train ride, attending an ice cream social, and back to the Jumping Pillow…what an evening!

 

I cannot imagine a better start to the trip we have planned!

Lovin' Life ~~ Travelin' With Our Grands