Friday 6/15 - since we know our time here is drawing to an end. And we know we are going to spend time in the car driving home. We've decided to spend the next few days just hanging around the campground, enjoy the shoreline of Lake Ontario and doing some geocaching. BUT no trip is complete for this family if we don't get to visit the local race track before leaving an area. That is exactly what we did on Friday night. Just like the area locals, we brought a blanket to sit on and enjoyed the evening racing program. This track happened to be a dirt track. B had never been to a dirt track, so that was a thrill for him. We returned to the campground late and DIRTY!!! But we sure did see a good show! http://www.ransomvillespeedway.com/
Thursday 6/14 - We visited a very unique museum today. The Hershcell Carousel Museum. Who knew how these amazing creatures that we ride on ever came about?! Our photos show some of the more unique animals this company created. None of us will ever ride a carousel or merry go around again, without thinking of our time at this museum!!! http://www.carouselmuseum.org/
Wednesday 6/13 - We visited Our Lady of Fatima Shrine. http://www.fatimashrine.com/ The gardens, at one time, were probably beautiful. Unfortunately, they have kind of been let go. The statutues were amazing. We made an offering to St. Joseph, in hopes he would help us sell our house. There is a funny story to go with our St. Joseph offering. Since we left for NY I have had my phone hooked to me and on. All in hopes that T would call with an offer on our house. But NOTHING. Today the phone was on, but for some reason I left the phone laying in the back of the truck. When we were done at the Shrine we opened the back of the truck to get a few things out and there laid my phone with "1 Missed Call" on the screen. We all looked at each other and laughed about St. Joseph really working fast!!! Unfortunately, the call was just to check travel plans for the following week to IL, not a house offer :)
Tuesday 6/12 - The tourist jewel of the area - Niagara Falls!!! We spent the better part of our Tuesday exploring the falls area. It is very much a tourist trap and you get nickel and dimed for everything you do there. Including parking paid at each state park lot. And you know those .50 penny smashing machines? At Niagara Falls they cost $1. But we went to see the falls, so we didn't spend too much money. It didn't cost us a thing to take pictures!
Resources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls, http://www.niagarafallslive.com/Facts_about_Niagara_Falls.htm, http://www.niagarafallsusa.org/, http://www.city.niagarafalls.on.ca/, http://www.niagaraparks.com/
Horseshoe Falls - the Canadian Side http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_Falls_(Canada)
Bridal Veil Falls - the American Side
American Falls (with observation tower in the distance), http://www.lockport-ny.com/Tourism/AmericanFalls.htm
Both falls from the Observation Tower. In the distance is the Canandian Horseshoe Falls and just to the left is the American Falls.
After seeing the falls we went to see Niagara: Legends of Adventure Movie. It was an IMAX presentation. Frankly, I was dissappointed in the 40 minutes spent (especially compared to other IMAX movies we've seen). http://www.niagaramovie.com/press_releases/Buffalo_News_Article_2-8-07.pdf, http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/Activities_AdventureTheater.aspxMonday 6/11 - SHOPPING DAY!!!! Not just any ole shopping day. But specialty shopping. We love to visit area merchants and sample local specialties!!!! Today we definately did that. YUMMY!!! First stop - Kutter's Cheese Shop. We love our cheese and in New York, they do too. http://www.kuttercheese.com/ We sampled (and bought) some sharp cheddar, cheese spread, Maple Syrup Cream (oh, this is to kill for), and blueberry cheese. Second stop - Oliver's Candies. We love chocolate and in New York, they do too. http://www.oliverscandies.com/ We bought peanut clusters and chocolate covered cherries. We sampled a few others. Oh, our bellies were full! Last shopping stop was Yoder's Country Corner. This place was so unique. We purchased some wonderful bread, biscuit mix, spices, popcorn and oatmeal. The women were so friendly and I couldn't believe how clean a store could be!!!! I'm certain we could have eaten off the floor. But we didn't, that would have been embarrassing!!! http://www.orleanscountytourism.com/markets/shopping.htm - go to the very bottom
Sunday 6/10 - We started our Sunday underground :) The Lockport Cave tour offered us a history lesson into the history of water use for power, locks on the Erie Canal, and the history of the Erie Canal. We were the only family on the tour so we got individual attention. We also learned about the inventor of the fire hydrant, Birdsill Holly. (who's plant burned to the groun - ironically) http://www.lockportcave.com/ and http://www.lockportcave.com/lockport_eriecanal_history.html
Entry to the cave tour. Go on in, if you dare?!!!
We had not studied the Erie Canal. So today's sightseeing opened up lots of discussion. One of the places we stopped had canal maps, which allowed us to learn how the canal is used today (mostly for pleasure boaters). And then we looked up the history of the canal uses. We were most surprised to learn that the canal is drained in the winter months (even now). And that at it's deepest, it is only 12 feet deep. We walked on the tow path that the original donkeys would have used. Good history lesson! http://www.eriecanal.org/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal
Old locks in Lockport.
Before we returned to the campgroup we stopped at Whirlpool State Park. This is below Niagara Falls. The park is also the entry to the gorge trails. http://www.niagarafallslive.com/Whirlpool_State_Park_in_Niagara_Falls_New_York.htm
Saturday 6/9 - Our first day of sight seeing in NY. We decided that we'd start with a history lesson at Old Fort Niagara. https://oldfortniagara.org/ This fort was complete with docents dressed in period costume, cannons you could actually touch and roll into position, and many of the buildings were open for tour. It was perfect weather, hardly any other visitors, and we enjoyed not only the history but the beautiful views of Niagara River and Lake Ontario.
Our next stop was Science related. We visited the Niagara Power Projects Power Vista. http://www.nypa.gov/vc/niagara.htm and http://lockport-ny.com/Tourism/niagarapower.htm
Many of the concepts were review for us. But seeing the massive structure, built into the side of the river gorge was truly amazing!!!!
Friday 6/8 - due to the fact that we didn't have reservations, we had to change camp sites and campgrounds. So on Friday we moved to Four Mile Creek State Park. Our site wasn't perfect, but we did just fine. http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=110
Thursday 6/7 - Since yesterday was a travel day, today was a fun day. B worked on some nature art. He was emulating Andy Goldsworthy along the shore of Lake Ontario. Goldsworthy is B's favorite artist and B has spent hours 'copying' and playing with elements like Goldsoworthy does. Check out the originals of Goldsworthy at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Goldsworthy, http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/artartists/photoandy.html, and http://www.smarter.com/andy_goldsworthy_a_collaboration_with_nature---pd--ch-1--pi-92445.html.
Below are B's originals on the shore of Lake Ontario.
Wednesday 6/6 - after about 6 1/2 hours of driving, we arrived at the Golden Hills State Park. Our camping site was the most perfect site!!! We were only 40 feet from the edge of Lake Ontario. Our first night in NY treated us to a beautiful sunset. http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=111
