Platte River State Park 2018

Nebraska Day Trip! We went to the Platte River State Park in Louisville, Nebraska. As the name implies, it's right along the Platte River which intersects with the Missouri River.

It's legit here.

To the waterfall!

Bridge or fashion runway?

Posing with the waterfall- lots of people down there doing a photoshoot

Peekaboo creepy model under the waterfall

Hiked to the Platte River but couldn't get close because a train runs in front of it

Headed back

Miranda got a hold of the map and is navigating now

 

Pawnee Teepee Village!

Each Teepee had a name, this one was Standing Bear

Visiting inside

 

Teepee #2: "Man Chief" teepee

 

Teepee #3: "Crooked Hand"

Miranda directed us to the last one

Teepee #4: Big Spotted Horse

A better view of the Platte River

Watkins Glen State Park, NY 2017

On Sunday, we packed up the house and started driving back with plans to go to Watkins Glen State Park on the way. It's a beautiful walk around a gorge with the Glen Creek stream and waterfalls.

James, Miranda, and Kevin on the bridge

Looking down into the gorge

Miranda thinks this is what you're supposed to do on a hike

Miranda and James getting very muddy on the trail

In front of rainbow falls maybe? It was very wet but the waterfall wasn't full.

Down in the gorge

James in the gorge

More little water falls

State Park Selfie

Miranda being a little trooper (false)

There was also a playground there for the kids so we let them get some energy out before we got back in the car to drive back home.

Fire Engine together

Spiderjames

It's cute how fun they think these are.

Dinner at Friendly's on the way home

Naples, NY 2017

We were pretty tired by Friday, so we decided to stay near the house. I had tried Hazlitt Red Cat's fun cold red wine, which is sort of sangria-like, when we were at the 3 Legged Pig, so we decided to go to the vineyard and get some wine. Afterwards we checked out Grimes Glen. And yeah, we went back to the 3 Legged Pig for dinner because it was delicious.

Hazlitt's Red Cat

Hazlitt's Red Cat

Hazlitt's Red Cat

Grimes Glen

Grimes Glen

Grimes Glen

Grimes Glen

Letchworth State Park 2017

Letchworth State Park was awesome. We visited last Wednesday. It's a large state park with three large waterfalls — the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls — on the Genesee River.

Our family at the Middle Falls

 

Near the park entrance

James taking pictures at the overlook

Upper Falls is blocked off by a fence because it's they've had issues with people falling in. It's basically out-of-order for the time being. I had my zoom lens though and I got an almost-decent picture through the fence while my children looked on and shook their heads.

Upper Falls

Next, we went to Middle Falls which were the best I saw in the entire Finger Lakes.

James enjoying nature, his youth, and the security of parents who love him

Middle Falls!

My loved ones have SO much personality

Next, we went to the Lower Falls which Kevin told us would involve a short hike.

James reading the signs.

Miranda decided she didn't want to hike.

This is when James told us he saw a sign that said to stop. We basically ignored him. I noticed that we could get kind of a good shot here though so I took this picture.

James, telling us to stop now.

Continuing the hike

Still hiking

Finally, Miranda and I stopped, James and Kevin went up ahead and discovered that the views didn't improve but the hike got too steep for kids. In other words, James was right about where to stop. I told him he was right and that next time we'll listen better.

Going back to the car. Children being crazy.

Then we left the diaper bag in the middle of the road. We didn't realize we did that, so we drove to Penn Yan and went to a bookstore. After the bookstore, we realized we were missing the diaper bag which had James's Kindle and various toys. Disaster. We looked around while growing more panicked and depressed, and then found an information center, and they had the bag! Happy happy day!

Burlingham Books in Penn Yan

Finally, we went to dinner. We saw the 3-Legged Pig and we couldn't resist BBQ, It was so good! Especially the brisket. And they gave the kids piggy noses. Hilarity ensued.

3 Legged Pig BBQ

Cheers to an awesome vacation in progress!