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Dates we were there:    7/10/99    7/11/99    7/13/99    7/14/99    7/15/99    7/16/99

    We spent a good deal of time in New York state.   Although it was mostly in upstate New York, we spent a very memorable couple of days in and around New York City. (see also New Jersey)  We really enjoyed our drive through some beautiful country and spent a night at a beautiful campground in Windsor.  And, of course, we had a wonderful time in Palmyra and Niagara Falls. 

Cities & Places we visited

    NEW YORK CITY
    Our time spent in New York City was on the evening of the 10th.   We drove into Manhattan that evening for a very interesting drive through The Big Apple.  We decided that we were not going to stop simply because we did not have time (or guts!) so we tried to find several of the most notable landmarks.  Unfortunately, no-one told us that all of the streets were one-way!  That totally messed up our planned drive and soon this little family from South Jordan, Utah was just trying to stay alive on the streets the big city.  Even though it was a white knuckle experience for Brian (the lucky driver), it turned out to be a very enjoyable experience.  And although we did not find all of the landmarks we wanted to, we were satisfied with what we did see.  We ended being there until after the sun went down (we saw a beautiful sunset in the city) and, being a Saturday night, the city came alive!  Taxi's, people, lights, horns, more taxi's, more people, more taxi's, still more taxi's and their constant horns.  Wow, an incredible experience for us westerners!   And the fact we were in a big ol' Suburban didn't help matters any, except maybe that it gave Brian a sense of power and he got quite good at switching lanes without warning, etc.  Laurisa became our movie producer as she shot some fun video's of the experience.  All in all, a VERY memorable experience for all of us.

    WINDSOR
    Pine Crest Campground was where we spent the night of the 13th.  What a beautiful campground.  We arrived late after dark and were greeted by a very friendly campground host who put us in what must have been one of the best spots in the campground as far as views were concerned.   Right in front of us was a little pond (full of bullfrogs that kept us up at night!) and beyond that, beautiful countryside.  We wanted to stay and relax but we had to get to Palmyra by that evening so we pried ourselves away.

    FAYETTE
    We stopped in Fayette on our way to Palmyra.  The Peter Whitmer Farmhouse is where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized.  The Church has a very nice visitors' center and replica of the farmhouse.  This ended up being one of the busiest church history places we visited as many tour busses arrived soon after we did.

    PALMYRA
    We arrived in Palmyra on the evening of the 14th and went and found the Wayne County Fairgrounds where we were to set up camp for the night.  We then headed back to the Hill Cumorah Pageant site to reserve the best seats we could find.  We just sat and had dinner and took in the excitement, sights and sounds of the experience.  The pageant was incredible.  Something that should not be passed up if given the opportunity.
    The next morning was one of the most memorable of the trip.  We got up early and got to the Sacred Grove before the crowds started arriving.  THIS is the way to experience the Sacred Grove.  It was literally like the hymn says, "Oh, how lovely was the morning!  Radiant beamed the sun above.  Bees were humming, sweet birds singing".  Very little else was heard.  It made for a very reverent and spiritual experience.  As we walked the paths through the grove, we felt the spirit that is there and tried to imagine what it was like that beautiful morning in 1820 when Joseph Smith knelt down to pray and had an answer to his prayers that would set the wheels in motion for the restoration of the Lord's Church.   We are so grateful that the Church is able to keep this sacred place available to see and experience.
    After the Sacred Grove, we sat on the lawn and ate our breakfast as the crowds began to arrive.  We then toured the Smith Family White Frame House and the Smith Family Log Home, which is a replica of the home Joseph Smith lived in at the time of the First Vision.  Right across the street from here is the site of the soon to be built Palmyra Temple in a beautiful wooded area.
    We then went back to the Hill Cumorah and climbed to the top.  It's beautiful country and from up there you can see out across a lot of it. 
    Our last stop in Palmyra was the Martin Harris farm just north of town.   This house is of very interesting construction.
    After a very enjoyable 24 hours in Palmyra, we headed west for Niagara Falls.

    NIAGARA FALLS
    What a sight!  You see the pictures and hear people tell of them.  But until you experience Niagara Falls as we did, you can't fully appreciate them.
    We first went to American Falls.  All of us but Becky went to the observation tower.  What a site it is!  The only thing better would have been to have seen them from the Canadian side but we had not pulled together all of our birth certificates before leaving home.  We then boarded The Maid of the Mist, a boat that takes you along the river, past American Falls and right up into the center of Horseshoe Falls.  This is a must do if you go there!  It's impossible to describe what it is like.  You have to experience it to get the full effect.
    We then went to the top of Horseshoe Falls and took some more pictures.
    After a mandatory visit to the gift shop, we headed for Buffalo to spend the night.

    BUFFALO
    Buffalo was quite smoggy when we got there.  Not a good first impression.  We checked into our hotel, rested and swam, and then had a good night's sleep after a long day.
    The next morning we again visited the laundromat and then headed for Ohio.