Porter Summer Tour - Niagara Falls

Recently we were lucky to spend 10 wonderful days in New York and Ohio. This blog post is all about the first stop on our trip, Niagara Falls.  The lesson we learned during this portion of the trip was this: on vacations sometimes things don't go exactly as planned, and yet they turn out just right.

On Thursday, August 25th we left home for the airport at 5 a.m. and boarded a flight to Buffalo, NY, with a layover in Chicago. In the rush of packing I forgot to check into our flights on Southwest until the evening before we left, so we were one of the last groups to board and would certainly all have to sit apart (including Joseph). In desperation, Joseph and I slipped into the pre-board area so we could get on earlier with the "families with young children".  Technically, I think Joseph was supposed to be 4 or younger to qualify for this privilege, but desperate times call for desperate measures.  I just stood kind of close to a Dad and his two young kids who were traveling alone together and preboarding. When this Dad laughed and talked to his kids I smiled and tried to look related to them. Thanks to my incredible acting skills, Joseph and I were able to board early, snag a row near the back, and save one seat for Aubrey to sit next to us. Poor Dan and Bailey each sat in the middle seat next to strangers.

Below, eating really good Chicago pizza during our layover in the airport.

We arrived in Buffalo, solved a minor snafu with the rental car (the "SUV" we rented had a trunk the size of a miniature Barbie house), and then I pulled out my meticulously organized folder with all of our itinerary and vacation plans. Let's see - Comfort Suites in Niagara Falls, ONTARIO???? As in Canada? Oh no.  NO, NO, NO.  I had made a big error. Luckily for us, it was a fortuitous error . . .

While planning our trip to Niagara Falls, we learned that it's ideal to cross over into Canada to see the more spectacular view there.  But, we didn't get the kid's passports done in time so, we weren't going to be able to cross the border.  Instead I made plans for us to view the falls the best we could from the New York side.  I had researched the hotels in the area extensively online, looking for suites big enough to accommodate our family which also received high ratings. Somehow in the midst of all this research and booking the hotel I failed to notice that the #1 rated family hotel in Niagara Falls is in Canada, not in the U.S.!  As we stood in the parking garage of the airport I called the number for the hotel and they told me that the $185 charge for the room was non-refundable. So, we had no hotel booked in our own country and were stuck paying for a hotel in a country we couldn't visit.

Or, could we?  At the very last minute I had shoved our passports (mine and Dan's) and the kid's birth certificates into an envelope and put them into one of suitcases. I had read online that kids under the age of 18 might be able to cross the border with just a birth certificate.  I brought them just in case we decided to try to cross at some point, but never dreamed that doing so would be necessary! We decided to live dangerously and try to cross over (of course -  we knew it wasn't going to be too hard to get into Canada, but getting back into the U.S. might be trickier.)

We told all the kids to look happy and non-terrorist-like as we stopped our car and talked to the border agent with a really cool Canadian accent. He asked us a few questions about our car (the rental car was registered in Canada, with a Quebec license plate, which I guess is a little strange for supposed American citizens visiting Canada), and then ushered us across the border.  Wahoo! We did it!

These are some things we now know about Niagara Falls:

1.  The Canada side is WAY more impressive than the U.S. side. The water flows from the U.S. side and then crashes down almost 200 feet into Canada. So, the view of most of the falls is only possible in Canada. (If you look at the picture on the top, the American side is on the far left, with a sorta-view of American Falls, but no view at all of the much cooler Horseshoe Falls).

2.  Also, there is no other way to say this . . . the American side is just plain dumpy. It was embarrassing, actually. Good thing our car had a Canadian license plate, because this wasn't a time that we were proud to be associated with the American side of a famous landmark!  The Canadian side was really beautiful and amazing. There were some areas set back from the falls in Canada which were Las Vegas tacky (we're not sure why there were so many "Ripley's Believe It Or Not", Haunted Houses, and arcades so close to one of the great wonders of the world.) We just ignored that touristy element and enjoyed the spectacular view of the waterfalls.  For example,what exactly does this wacky looking building/museum have to do with the beautiful falls?  Can you say tourist trap?

3.  Niagara Falls is crazy expensive. The most expensive meal we ate the entire trip was eaten that first night. By the time we got checked into our hotel and drove by the unbelievable nighttime light show at the falls

it was almost 9 p.m. Eastern time (6 p.m. Washington time.) We weren't starving yet, but we realized our options were closing for food. So, we looked for a fast food place and couldn't find one. Finally, we ran into a Perkins restaurant just before closing. We ordered the most expensive pancakes in the history of the world.  Try $70 for our family, with a really annoyed waitress who just wanted to go home.

Below, this was the cookie they gave us at Perkins - half chocolate chip and half sugar cookie.  We decided it was a representation of Niagara Falls -  half Canadian/half U.S.  But maybe it's just how they make cookies at Perkins!

We thought it was super cool that everything in Canada, including the jam and hot chocolate packets, was written in both English and French!


4.  We knew this already, but we were reminded that adults can happily spend a lot more time than kids looking at spectacular natural beauty. The next morning we got up and walked to the Falls from our hotel. It was an awesome sight, and we all loved our trip on the Maid of the Mist, a boat which takes you right to the base of the falls (more on this below). We took lots of pictures from the vantage points overlooking the falls. After the boat ride Dan and I wanted to continue walking down the sidewalk to "Table Rock", where you can stand next to the thundering water rushing over the brink of Horseshoe Falls. Once in a lifetime experience, right?  Well, we gave up about halfway there. Too much whining. So, we turned around and headed back to the hotel, swam for a bit, and then checked out and headed to Palmyra.

It was raining a bit, but that's not why I looked like a drowned rat below. Actually, we were in such a hurry to get down to see the falls in the morning that I left the hotel with completely wet hair.  It was easier that way - when it rained and then when I got drenched on Maid of the Mist it was no biggie.

 The mist coming off the bottom of the falls is so thick that it looks like a big plume of smoke.

Below, our pictures from the Maid of the Mist boat tour, which was an awesome adventure. We all donned blue raincoat thingys and rode an open air boat around and very near both American and Horseshoe Falls. It's hard to even describe the power and force of the wind-driven mist close to the waterfalls.

 

  

 

Below, this is a close up of American and Bridal Veil Falls, showing the wooden walkways for the "Cave of the Winds" tour.  This tour allows you to walk very, very close to the waterfalls and feel the tropical-storm-like conditions right under Bridal Veil Falls, getting drenched in the process.

And here we are, very wet after the boat trip.

 Walking along the water to see the falls up close.

 

 Aubrey standing in front of one of the beautifully landscaped areas near the falls. Like I said, the Canadian side is very well maintained. Not quite so impressive across the border!

  Posing with a Canadian mountie on the walk back to the hotel.

 Look what we found near the hotel - a chocolate bar just the right size for me.

Oh, and by the way, we did make it back across the border into the U.S. just fine. In case you are wondering, birth certificates are a perfectly okay way for kids to cross the border, as long as they are accompanied by parents with passports. Whew!

Bailey kept track of some of the funny moments on our trip. Here a few from our day at Niagara:

*  Bailey: there's bird poop on the window!                                                                                          

   Dad: Cool! Canadian bird poop! 
   Bailey: Uh, I'm pretty sure it's New York bird poop...                                                                       
   Dad: Ew! Gross! 

*  Joseph: I don't want to go to Canada! We don't speak Canadian! Take me back to Buffalo! 

*  Joseph: Canada's a BUILDING! Take me back! (After we crossed the border we saw a building that said "Canada."  He thought that was all there was to see.) 

*  Joseph: (who was less than impressed by our plans to visit a waterfall for an entire day) Can't we just DRIVE past the Falls?  

*  Joseph: this is NOT my idea of fun.  My idea of fun is swimming! (After enjoying a really cool Maid of the Mist tour and looking at one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world.)

That's it for the Niagara Falls portion of our summer tour. Next stop, Palmyra, New York!

Remembering

It was sobering to pause on 9/11/11 to think back to the horrific events of a decade ago and the ways our lives have changed as a result.  This is the page in my scrapbook with our memories of the day.  The font is pretty small, so I'm going to retype it at the end of the post.

Remembering September 11th, 2001

On Sept. 11 '02, 3,003 flags were displayed n er the City Hall in Sandy. One flag was flown for each person killed in the terrorist attacks which occurred one year before. It was a very moving sight. Bailey and Aubrey posed for a picture among the flags. Here are our memories about the day of the infamous terrorist attacks . .

Dan - I was in California for business meetings.  I woke up early and turned on the TV. I heard that a plane had hit a World Trade tower in NY, and that it was thought to be an accident. While I was watching, a live video showed the second plane hitting the other tower. I was in shock. This was obviously a terrorist attack. I was worried about getting home from CA. The airports were closed until Friday, when I flew home to Utah. It was hard to focus on work that week. We wanted to listen to the news and try to make sense of the unanswerable questions. It seemed to me this was the beginning of things to come.

Tiffany - After driving Brandon to school, I drove to Costco with Bailey, Ashlyn (who was spending the night), and Aubrey. When we walked in, everyone in the store was gathered around the TV displays, watching the news. We were curious, an watched as the second plane hit the towers. I felt sick. The girls didn't understand the significance of what we were watching. I had a hard time finishing our shopping, and spent most of the day sneaking peeks at the news, without letting the kids see disturbing images.

Brandon - I had no idea what had happened until I got to school and heard kids joking bout how planes crashed. I thought they were joking. When I walked in, my teacher had the TV news on, showing what happened. I had mixed feelings. I was confused and wondered if they just made it up. I was sad to know that probably it did happen. I was angry because kids were joking about it. I was wondering if they would do it again - the next day, next year, or maybe attack my school. Also, I thought about how this was something really big that would be in the history books, and I was 9 years old and would remember that I lived through it.

Bailey (age 4) - I remember one day I was taking up piles of clothes for Mom and they were talking about the towers. It made me feel bad because some people even got dead. When I went to bed that night I dreamed that I was in the buildings and died.

The List

I love to travel. There is so much I love about traveling, and there are so many places I want to see and experience. We have been lucky to visit some favorite vacation spots a number of times - the beautiful Oregon Coast and Disneyland in CA.

At least 15 years ago Dan and I had a conversation about "other trips we want to take with the kids before they leave home."  Here is the list we made, showing the progress we have made so far.

Trips to Take as a Family

1.  Washington D.C./Williamsburg, VA - U.S. History sites (March 2009)
2.  Hawaii (November 2009)
3.  Nauvoo/Missouri/Wyoming church history sites (July 2000)
4.  Disneyworld  (December 2007)
5.  Boston, Philadelphia, etc.
6.  NYC, New York - while there see some Broadway shows
7.  Palmyra, NY/Kirtland OH church sites and Niagara Falls (August 2011)

That was the original list, but we add other ideas all the time.  Glacier National Park, The Redwoods in CA, Vancouver, Canada; Chicago, a trip to Texas to see the sites and relatives, another trip to San Diego.  And, my favorite addition to the list:  A Disney cruise.  Oh yeah, I'm dreaming big time about this one. Dan isn't convinced yet, but he will be.

There is another list I have in my head.  It looks something like this:

Places I want to go without young children:

1.  Europe - anywhere on the continent
2. Anywhere else in the U.S. or abroad  (I might exclude a few third world countries, but I'm open to most places)

It's fun to dream.

First Day of School Snapshots

Bailey - freshman in high school.

Joseph - 1st grade

 

 

 

 Joseph - studiously working on his first 1st grade assignment.  Too cute.

 Aubrey - 6th grade (Middle School)

  

Above, Aubrey waiting at the bus stop with her friend Laura. She is the only one of our kids who wants to take the bus.  I have been dropping off and picking up the other two.

As the kids came into the house they sat at the table and told me about their day while they ate their afterschool treat (rice krispy treat apples). First Bailey at 2 p.m., then Joseph at 3 p.m., and finally Aubrey at 5 p.m.

The Kissing Hand

 It was the night before school started. Everyone's clothes were laid out for the week, backpacks were packed with new school supplies, and Dan had given the kids amazing and comforting priesthood father's blessings.  I had a sad moment realizing that, for the first time in 19 1/2 years, I would have no child home during the day. Not that I mind a little more time to get things done, but I miss interactions with my kids throughout the day. I'm not a big fan of compressing all of our talking and being together into a few chaotic and crazy hours between the end of school and bedtime.

But the kids were excited for school, and they should be (when I was a kid I always felt like the night before school started was ALMOST as exciting as Christmas Eve!). School is great. And I am so excited for them. I see great growth in them every year as they try new things, have new experiences, and learn more and more.  School and a return to structure is a good thing. But I can still sigh a little.

And then I remembered a favorite tradition. When Bailey was starting 1st grade I discovered the book The Kissing Hand.  I read it to her before her first day of school, and then I read it to Aubrey before her first day of school. It is a special tradition and memory . . . . or so I thought.  When I found the book and announced that we were now going to include Joseph in our tradition, the girls looked at me blankly.

"What??" I said. "You don't remember our special tradition?  We would cuddle together the night before you started all-day school and I would read you this comforting book about how everything was going to be okay and how you could always feel your Mama's love throughout the day when you put your hand to your cheek?  You don't remember?"

More blank stares.  "Uhhhh, sure Mom. If you say so."  Giggles and laughs and even some eye rolling about the "cheesy book." How is it that the kids don't even remember something I felt was so important and significant?

After thinking it through, I believe I get it. On the eve of 1st grade, the kids are excited, but really have no idea what a momentous transition it is. They don't know that they will be in school all day until they leave the home to live on their own. They don't realize that nothing will be the same again, even though it's a wonderful and necessary transition in life. But I know this, so I marked those moments in my memory and did my own quiet letting-go as the kids started school. So the book The Kissing Hand is really for me, I guess. 

By the way, I was undeterred by their laughter and eye rolling. Not only did I cuddle with Joseph and read the book and go through the ritual of kissing his hand and him kissing mine so that we would have love to get us through the day, I then visited both of the girl's bedrooms (despite their protests) and read them the same book. And kissed their hand. And tried to get them to kiss mine.  Because each of them was making an important transition.  Bailey starting high school. Aubrey starting middle school. Joseph starting full-day elementary school. And you are never too old to have your Mom kiss your hand and tell you that everything is going to be okay and you are loved by your Mama.

So, in honor of our tradition (which apparently didn't really impact on my children, but is important to me), I am going to share some of my favorite lines from The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, which tells the story about a raccoon named Chester as he begins school for the first time.

Chester Raccoon stood at the edge of the forest and cried.

"I don't want to go to school" he told his mother.  "I want to stay home with you.  I want to play with my friends. And play with my toys. And read my books. And swing on my swing. Please may I stay home with you?"

Mrs. Raccoon took Chester by the hand and nuzzled him on the ear.

"Sometimes we all have to do things we don't want to do," she told him gently.  "Even if they seem strange and scary at first. But you will love school once you start."

And then Mrs. Raccoon shared a very old secret called the Kissing Hand. She took his hand and kissed it, right in the center of his palm.

And Chester felt his mother's kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart.

Mrs. Raccoon smiled.  "Now," she told Chester, "whenever you feel lonely and need a little loving from home, just press your hand to your cheek and think, 'Mommy loves you. Mommy loves you.' And that very kiss will jump to your face and fill you with toasty warm thoughts."

Chester loved his Kissing Hand. Now he knew his mother's love would go with him wherever he went. Even to school. 

As Chester prepared to enter his school, he stopped and asked his mother for her hand. He kissed her hand right in the center of the palm.

"Now you have Kissing Hand, too." he told her.  And with a gentle "Good-bye" and "I love you," Chester turned and danced away.

Mrs. Raccoon watched Chester scamper across a tree limb and enter school. And as the hoot owl rang in the new school year, she pressed her left hand to her cheek and smiled. The warmth of Chester's kiss filled heart with special words.

"Chester loves you," it sang.  "Chester loves you."


p.s.  Look at what Joseph brought home from from school on his first day of school. Looks like his teacher is a Kissing Hand fan, too!

It says:
It's the first day of school
And the Kissing Hand is what we read.
It's about a raccoon
Who did just as his parents said.
Like the raccoon's first day of school
I was scared and a little shy.
But because of what you said
I was brave and I got by.

All through the year
I'll make more things for you.
So as I change and as I learn
You can see my growth, too!

Love, Joseph Porter