This was our last official day in NY and we made sure that we packed as much in as we could!
We started our day out bright and early and we drove to Niagara Falls. It's never really been a thing on my bucket list
but I since going there, I have added it to my list just to check it off because I loved it that much.
We bought the pass for everything to do while we were there, but we think only 2 things are actually worth doing. When
we go back to the falls (because we are going back someday!) I would only do Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds.
Maid of the Mist was incredible because they took you to the base of the biggest falls. We stayed on the United States side
the whole time for time issues (we did not want to wait in lines for customs) and Maid of the Mist defiantly showed us
the falls in all their glory- up close and personal.
After the boat ride there is a walk that you can do near some of the smaller falls.
And funny story.
Dennis was our photographer for a lot of the pictures and he wanted us to have some good pictures with the least amount of people
in the background and sidelines as possible so he loudly announced that the "newlyweds" wanted a picture and we were on our honeymoon! " haha. What a hoot! And I think his plan worked! People were more willing to move and hardly any people are
in the sidelines. We got a lot of words of congratulations that day.
^I look great here (not) but we just loved the rainbow behind us^
Our favorite thing ever of Niagara was Cave of the Winds. We loved this one because we were able to walk in a different area
near the smaller falls and we literally were able to feel the power of the water! It is described as the "hurricane." It's an incredible
experience that cannot be put into words. We literally had a BLAST! (pun totally intend.) And we got matching sandals.
^We did a live photo and this is the result we got.^
The water would cover the camera and sometimes it would even change what we wanted such as a photo or video.
The water was that strong!
Andrew and I did a small walk to Canada on the bridge. We got to the Canada side took a few pictures then walked
back. We did not wait in that customs line. Now I have been to Canada. Kinda, if only being on a bridge counts.
^Andrew is in the USA and I am in Canada.^
Our relationship can last even when we are in separate countries.
^As far into Canada as we got^
We went to the aquarium that was on our pass and that was lame. I would not recommend it because it was so small.
The best thing there were the seals that you can see from the outside and the rest were basic fish and some penguins.
Someday we are going back and I want to spend an entire day at the falls. It was so beautiful and then at night they do
a color water show. I want to go to Canada and see them from that view and then explore the area a bit. Next time
we will tour the area more!
We drove back to Palmyra and had dinner at this popular place. Totally recommend.
Good food and ice cream. It's impossible to go wrong!
Shortly after we got to Palmyra we went to the Hill Cumorah which was a good call because it was closing soon before the
pageant started. Guys, knowing what happened on this hill and knowing who walked this area was such an incredible feeling!
We went to the Visitor's Center and we found the missionaries that had been helping Dennis learn more about the church.
These two sisters were amazing for him. We loved them!
We tried to visit as many church sites as possible and we got most of them in.
^This is the stone that the house is made of. So unique^
To learn more about the Book of Mormon
CLICK HERE.
This is the Palmyra Temple and it's so beautiful. When we come back to upstate I want to go inside. Back when the
church was getting organized in the 1800's who would have imagined that a temple would be built here? This gospel is amazing.
To learn more about temples and why we have them
CLICK HERE.
We went to the pageant and I always love getting pictures with the cast. Dennis thought so too. He went up the man
on the right (in the red and yellow outfit) and loudly says, "Hello ladies! Will you take a picture for us?" We about died!
It was a man! It's not normal to see men in old fashioned biblical clothes, so you can see how he made the mistake.
And as you can see we got our picture.
^I was walking around and I realized I knew her! She watched me grow up.
What are the odds to see here there? ^
^One of the wise men who brought gifts to Christ^
The Hill Cumorah Pageant and it was excellent!
One of the church history sites that we were not able to see was Alvin Smith's grave. Alvin Smith was a brother of
Joseph Smith who died in his mid twenties. Since we were in Palmyra I really wanted to go and see it even in the dark
because we were leaving the next day. We climbed up the steps to the cemetery and we had our phone flashlights on looking
for a headstone and we had no clue where it was.
Andrew found it and just so you know when you walk up the stairs it will be on your left side.
This is the original headstone and they placed it in a new one to perserve it.
This is the other side and here they copied what it says on the original.
We walked through the Sacred Grove a little bit and it was neat to go back at night. I wish we had more time to walk
through it in the daytime. Once again, next time we travel to upstate New York I have a whole lot of things we are doing!
We did most of the church sites and there were only 2 things we missed on the Smith family farm but we saw the two
homes and the Sacred Grove and those are the best things there!
The next day Andrew and I said goodbye to New York and caught our flight to Utah. We absolutely loved our NY adventure
and both of us cannot wait to do it again! The city was incredible because things like that are just not in Utah and then
to end it in the beauty of upstate NY with included church history sites was perfect.
There you have it, 4102 pictures later, condensed as much as possible for blog posting from our NY trip.
I totally recommend every part of NY but upstate was probably my favorite!
