28 July 2013 - Joanne's birthday/Trip to Canada

After we flew back to Pittsburgh from the funeral, Joanne and Jessica picked us up and we drove to Palmyra to begin our planned vacation.  Our first stop was the Palmyra Temple.

The Smith family log home.

Together in the Sacred Grove.

At the top of the Hill Cumorah.

After our time in Palmyra, we drove northwest, crossing into Canada at Niagara Falls.

Here are the girls with American Falls in the background.

We took the "Behind the Falls" tour, where you can walk through tunnels dug behind the horseshoe and look out through observation windows.

We also took a ride on The Maid of the Mist, getting fairly well soaked in the process.

Fortunately it was a warm day and we were able to dry off quickly.

We also rode the Whirlpool Cable Car, which is about four miles downstream from the falls.

I took this panoramic view of the falls from atop the Skylon Tower, where we had dinner for Joanne's birthday.

This of the view of the falls we had from our hotel window.  It was actually better than the photo does justice.

We were in Niagara falls for two day, then headed around Lake Ontario to Toronto.  We decided we wanted to go out to Toronto Island, so we hopped a ferry.  The girls' hair is flying because the breeze was quite brisk.

We got a family photo of us obeying the sign.

We rented bikes and spent most of the day riding all over the island.  This was an awesome activity, but if you ever decide to do it, remember to bring Canadian cash with you -- finding it on the island was a pain.

We rode to this lighthouse, which like all good lighthouses, is haunted.  Fortunately, we visited during the day.

The girls with the city of Toronto in the background.

That night we attended a Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre.  Once the sun went down it got really cold, but we lasted until the 8th inning before we decided to leave.

The next day we drove to Montreal where we stayed in the Old Town.  Here are the girls on the monument plaza.

The family in front of the cathedral.

The flower gardens throughout the Old Town area were beautiful for the summer.

After a week on the road with lots of miles in the car, we spent one long day driving from Montreal to Karl and Jolene's house in Delaware.  It was an excellent trip, lots of fun, and ending it by getting back together with family was the perfect conclusion.