Summer vacation day 12: Niagara Falls, Buffalo NY and Erie PA

Happy 4th of July!!

After saying bye to everyone, including Zsa Zsa, we packed up the car and headed for the border.

First we stopped at Niagara Falls.  The kids had never seen it and we had only ever been in the winter when it was frozen.  It was fun to see the contrast!  I could have stood all day watching the water (and the people!) and feeling the mist.

After crossing the border (which didn't take too long at all, thankfully) and our first peek at Lake Erie, we stopped in Buffalo for lunch.  We had intended to go to the Anchor Bar, home of the original buffalo wing, but it was closed for the 4th.  Lucky for us, Dinosaur BBQ was just down the street and open!  We hadn't eaten there since moving away from NYC and it was just as good as we remembered!

We stopped at a sports store for some shopping and to the Buffalo Bills stadium for Leighton.  Unfortunately the team store was closed for the 4th, too, but he got his souvenirs at the sports store, so we were off the hook!

There are many wineries along the drive from Buffalo, NY to Erie, PA and a wine visitors center, but so much was closed for the holiday.  We did find one winery and brewery open for tastings just across the PA border, so we stopped!

We saw this view for miles and miles ... grapes and the lake.  so pretty!

And then we arrived in Erie.  After checking into the hotel, we rested a bit and caught up on emails and news from home.  Apparently Houston was experiencing some heavy rains and flooding. I checked in with several friends, and it seemed like no homes were flooding, thankfully.  I came across this image online though ... quite fitting for the city.

We then went to explore Presque Isle.  I had thought we'd go in the morning, but the forecast was for rain, so just like in Ann Arbor, we had to pack it in before dark instead!  We all touched Erie - and this was the last of the 5 Great Lakes for me since I had been to Superior a couple times when I was younger.  Roy and the kids are now at 4, so I guess we will need to get to Superior soon for them!  There were some fun rocks and a few little pieces of beach glass.  The sunset was beautiful and we could have stayed to play for ages, but it was getting dark and we needed some dinner!

I had read about a place right at the entrance to Presque Isle that had some fun photo ops, a penny press machine, and fun food.  We weren't disappointed - and we got to enjoy some fireworks going off nearby while we ate!   There were fireworks all over the place as we drove back to the hotel, too!  So fun!