Spring Travels 2016 – #3

After traveling in the west for so many years, we found the Catskills a much different experience. As so often happens in our travels they are calling us to come back. Now that the family visit is done our thoughts move to Michigan and what awaits us at home base. Our next stop is one that have tried to make work several times without success. Several of our go to vegetarian cook books comes from Moosewood located in Ithaca, New York. Since we have used their cookbooks for so many years we want to try out their restaurant. Finally, we made it happen with a nice dinner along with a walk in the downtown. Now we can say been there and done that. The food and experience was ok but not sure there is any reason to go back. There is a new Moosewood cookbook which is now on the list to buy.

Moosewood Restaurant Ithaca, New York

Moosewood Restaurant Ithaca, New York

The Ithaca area has a great number of waterfalls. We had one day and explored as many as we could. Being early in the season we did not see a lot of people and we had the RV park to ourselves for the most part.

Ithaca Old Mill on the River Ithaca New York

Ithaca Old Mill on the River Ithaca New York

Buttermilk Falls State Park

Buttermilk Falls State Park

Park trail, it is spring and things are just waking up

Park trail, it is spring and things are just waking up

Trilliums it must be spring

Trilliums it must be spring

Trail bridge Buttermilk Falls State Park

Trail bridge Buttermilk Falls State Park

Ithaca area falls

Ithaca area falls

Ithaca area falls

Ithaca area falls

Ithaca area falls

Ithaca area falls

Ithaca area falls

Ithaca area falls

Ithaca area falls

Ithaca area falls

We had this RV park mostly to ourselves

We had this RV park mostly to ourselves

The last time we stopped at Niagara Falls the boys were really young. When we stopped to calculate when it was determined it must be almost 35 years ago. The postmortem this time it was a good experience and we enjoyed our day checking it out. Lots of construction on the US side so it was hard to get around. Actually the views are better from the Canada side anyway. You walk the bridge across the river to get to the Canadian side. Interestingly the Canadian charge a 50 cent toll to walk from their side.

The day started out cloudy. But by noon there was lots of sun and blue sky. There lots of photos and sharing just a few.

Niagara Falls State Park

Niagara Falls State Park

Major construction on the US side of the river

Major construction on the US side of the river

Larry at Niagara Falls

Larry at Niagara Falls

Niagara River

Niagara River

Taken from the tower  looking down

Taken from the tower looking down

Walking the bridge to Canada

Walking the bridge to Canada

Canadian garden established in the 30's

Canadian garden established in the 30’s

Niagara Falls a two country adventure

Niagara Falls a two country adventure

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls Canada

Niagara Falls Canada

Niagara Falls Canada

Niagara Falls Canada

Niagara Falls from Canada

Niagara Falls from Canada

Niagara Falls from Canada

Niagara Falls from Canada

Niagara Falls from Canada

Niagara Falls from Canada

Our plan was to come back through Canada. However, in talking with others both the US and Canada Customs were giving everyone with an RV a hard time. Also we realized that we had live plants traveling with us which is a no no so we bailed and drove the additional 150 miles using the Ohio Turnpike.

Back in Michigan

Back in Michigan

The Bronner’s Christmas store experience is something else. We only do this when it works into our travels. However, we find the city of Frankenmuth is a good experience beyond the Christmas theme.

Bronner's Christmas Store Frankenmuth, Michigan

Bronner’s Christmas Store Frankenmuth, Michigan

Jan is posing with her cousin Irene Bronner. Jan’s parents are both second generation German descendants. The German community in Central Michigan was a close knit community for many years. Frankenmuth has capitalized on the German Heritage and made it their theme for many years. Over the years it has been Americanized but they still try.

Jan and Irene Bronner

Jan and Irene Bronner

Christmas all year in Frankenmuth

Christmas all year in Frankenmuth

Iconic distance sign

Iconic distance sign

Would you believe over seven acres of Christmas opportunities? It is an amazing place to visit, you could even say spectacular. They have a strong religious presentation. There is so much it is hard to believe that the demand would be there. They have grown from a humble beginning with a small store on the main street to where they are today in the last 40 years.

Christmas display

Christmas display

Christmas display

Christmas display

Christmas display

Christmas display

Colorful Christmas display

Colorful Christmas display

Frankenmuth Street Art

Frankenmuth Street Art

Frankenmuth covered wooden bridge over the Cass River

Frankenmuth covered wooden bridge over the Cass River

We often stay at the Jellystone park in Frankenmuth then the last leg of the trip is an easy one. The city is also known for its Chicken Dinners. Jan and I both grew up about 40 miles from there. The first time I ate there was the early 50s with my parents. We would come there on very special occasions. Yes, that was before the Bronners we know today.

Zender Traditional German Chicken Dinners

Zender Traditional German Chicken Dinners

Bavarian Inn German Chicken Dinners

Bavarian Inn German Chicken Dinners

The Frankenmuth Brewery has been around for 150 years. Their beer is very good and they also have very good food. This is the last meal on the road now back to “real” life.

Frankenmuth Brewery has been around for 150 years

Frankenmuth Brewery has been around for 150 years

Yogi with Larry at Jellystone RV Park

Yogi with Larry at Jellystone RV Park

After a stop to see my brother Ray and his wife Jill in Bay City we make it back on a Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning we were welcomed by a wet snow. However, it soon melted and spring was back.

Traverse City is still as we left it. Enjoy walking the downtown streets and seeing all the familiar sights like the old bank building and the Boardman River. We love being here. That being said we love being on the road too. The summer here will be way too short….

Michigan welcomed us home with this white "stuff".

Michigan welcomed us home with this white “stuff”.

Spring rebounds by the end of the day

Spring rebounds by the end of the day

Downtown Traverse City in the Spring

Downtown Traverse City in the Spring

The old bank Building is well over 100 Years old

The old bank Building is well over 100 Years old

Boardman River Union Street, a play ground for us for many years

Boardman River Union Street, a play ground for us for many years

Now on to the rest of the summer here and then the trip out west…

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

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