Ahoy,
Our actual final trip of the summer began over Labor Day weekend. We left LA late on a Friday to our flight that was the last flight of the day and delayed 3 hours, arriving in Chicago after 3am. Our road trip would take us from Chicago to Niagara Falls to Toronto to Montreal to Acadia in Maine and finally to Boston.
We took nearly the whole day on Saturday to drive to Niagara Falls. It's about an 8.5 hour drive, in addition to losing an hour. It was broken up by a stop for disc golf just before the border crossing. The course was at this very nice park that surrounded a school. Quick 9 holes, in the bucket. This border crossing was much faster than the Seattle/Vancouver one. The next morning we walked out to a diner for breakfast and continued walking to the Falls. It was a good day with some cloud coverage. My parents had been before a few times, but it was A's and my first time. We walked down the the horseshoe part and back pretty much, stopping for pictures. A seemed surprised by how big it is and unexpectedly impressed. There is so much more water there than in CA. We hope to see the American side sometime. My dad seemed like he wanted to go on the zipline. He kept asking me if I want to go, and if I did, he would go with me. So I think I'll have to take him ziplining eventually.
The area around Niagara Falls has that Vegas vibe, which was unexpected and not something I care for at all. We walked back to the hotel and drove to Toronto, again, stopping for disc golf on the way. Bronte Creek requires admission. It's a big park with tons to do. Disc golf here had 18 holes with a lot of variety. Probably the most technical of the places we played on this trip, but a good reason to go to the park nonetheless. Mom and dad were still into it. Dad stayed for all 18 holes, and mom tapped out when it started raining harder.
Upon arrival in Toronto, we walked around Chinatown and Kensington Market until we decided where to eat dinner. Mom and dad were happy to finally get Chinese food again. The next day, we drove out for dim sum in Scarborough. And we stopped at the Kim's Convenience shop! Probably the highlight of the day. Mom started talking to the shopowner and asking about her daughter, as if it's a reality show. She was very nice about it. In Scarborough, we also went to the botanic garden that had some really cool sculptures. And then, you guessed it, disc golf. This course was better for beginners because it was more open. A threw his disc right into a family's picnic. We got mosquito bites at this one, but a really nice park and course nonetheless. There was lots more to do at the park then disc golf. For dinner we went to, you guessed it, Chinese food. So good, so cheap - as my parents would say. The last stop was at the old Distillery District, now filled with art and cute shops.
Our next day took us 5 hours away to Montreal. We stopped at a park, but there was no disc golf. With a full day in Montreal the next day, I took us on an all day walking tour. I was also able to get French food twice before we went back to Chinese. We walked all over Montreal and up and around a mountain in the middle of the city. Kudos to my parents for keeping up with minimal complaints. They really are champs when it comes to adapting to our style of travel. We saw Chinatown, Old Montreal, Downtown, McGill, the waterfront, the royal chalet, the gay village... There is so much we still have yet to see. We were our own Chinese tour group with me as the ringleader. But I think they like having a tour guide and being led around, so they are willing to have us decide what to do. They do know how to google where Chinatown is. They got to chat with the restaurant owner at the Chinese place and remarked how impressive that the immigrants there have to learn French and English.
The next day we departed for Acadia National Park in Maine, about 6.5 hours away. If my parents are not going to be eating Chinese food, the next best thing is lobster. For dinner, we made it to a roadside lobster stand swarming with mosquitoes. I think everyone would say it was worth it. At all the places, my mom would ask what was their biggest lobster and order it. They were so concerned that A would not have enough lobster.
Our full day here would take us into Acadia National Park. One day is not enough time to accomplish all you want in Acadia. We started off at the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the east coast at a whopping 1,529 feet above sea level. We covered a lot of ground subsequently: the wild garden, a stairs hike, an ocean hike, a climbing hike, another ocean hike, and the Jordan Pond. We also stopped at the restaurant for popovers and tea. We managed to pack a lot in and get lobster again. And weather was really favorable, perfect temperatures and overcast.
The following day was super rainy, so it was really lucky for us that it did not rain the day before. Hurricane Dorian had made landfall in Maine. Fortunately, this was our departure date. We left for Boston and saw a recently flipped over RV on the way. For lunch, we stopped at a small seaside town for lobster, again. At this point, even A is tiring of lobster. Also, you guessed it, we made a stop for disc golf. A quick 9 hole forested, but not too dense course. We dropped off the rental car at the airport in Boston and got picked up by family. I was so happy to have not lobster for dinner. We hadn't been back to my aunt's house in 7 years. It was a nice evening with family. A and I flew back the next morning, and my parents stayed an extra day.
It was a fun trip filled with firsts for all of us. My parents are great to travel with. I'm really glad they let me arrange these adventures. They are willing to disc golf and walk all day. Dad is so adventurous and mom is tolerant of my antics in exchange for a personal travel agent.
happy trails,
jt
Our actual final trip of the summer began over Labor Day weekend. We left LA late on a Friday to our flight that was the last flight of the day and delayed 3 hours, arriving in Chicago after 3am. Our road trip would take us from Chicago to Niagara Falls to Toronto to Montreal to Acadia in Maine and finally to Boston.
We took nearly the whole day on Saturday to drive to Niagara Falls. It's about an 8.5 hour drive, in addition to losing an hour. It was broken up by a stop for disc golf just before the border crossing. The course was at this very nice park that surrounded a school. Quick 9 holes, in the bucket. This border crossing was much faster than the Seattle/Vancouver one. The next morning we walked out to a diner for breakfast and continued walking to the Falls. It was a good day with some cloud coverage. My parents had been before a few times, but it was A's and my first time. We walked down the the horseshoe part and back pretty much, stopping for pictures. A seemed surprised by how big it is and unexpectedly impressed. There is so much more water there than in CA. We hope to see the American side sometime. My dad seemed like he wanted to go on the zipline. He kept asking me if I want to go, and if I did, he would go with me. So I think I'll have to take him ziplining eventually.
The area around Niagara Falls has that Vegas vibe, which was unexpected and not something I care for at all. We walked back to the hotel and drove to Toronto, again, stopping for disc golf on the way. Bronte Creek requires admission. It's a big park with tons to do. Disc golf here had 18 holes with a lot of variety. Probably the most technical of the places we played on this trip, but a good reason to go to the park nonetheless. Mom and dad were still into it. Dad stayed for all 18 holes, and mom tapped out when it started raining harder.
Upon arrival in Toronto, we walked around Chinatown and Kensington Market until we decided where to eat dinner. Mom and dad were happy to finally get Chinese food again. The next day, we drove out for dim sum in Scarborough. And we stopped at the Kim's Convenience shop! Probably the highlight of the day. Mom started talking to the shopowner and asking about her daughter, as if it's a reality show. She was very nice about it. In Scarborough, we also went to the botanic garden that had some really cool sculptures. And then, you guessed it, disc golf. This course was better for beginners because it was more open. A threw his disc right into a family's picnic. We got mosquito bites at this one, but a really nice park and course nonetheless. There was lots more to do at the park then disc golf. For dinner we went to, you guessed it, Chinese food. So good, so cheap - as my parents would say. The last stop was at the old Distillery District, now filled with art and cute shops.
Our next day took us 5 hours away to Montreal. We stopped at a park, but there was no disc golf. With a full day in Montreal the next day, I took us on an all day walking tour. I was also able to get French food twice before we went back to Chinese. We walked all over Montreal and up and around a mountain in the middle of the city. Kudos to my parents for keeping up with minimal complaints. They really are champs when it comes to adapting to our style of travel. We saw Chinatown, Old Montreal, Downtown, McGill, the waterfront, the royal chalet, the gay village... There is so much we still have yet to see. We were our own Chinese tour group with me as the ringleader. But I think they like having a tour guide and being led around, so they are willing to have us decide what to do. They do know how to google where Chinatown is. They got to chat with the restaurant owner at the Chinese place and remarked how impressive that the immigrants there have to learn French and English.
The next day we departed for Acadia National Park in Maine, about 6.5 hours away. If my parents are not going to be eating Chinese food, the next best thing is lobster. For dinner, we made it to a roadside lobster stand swarming with mosquitoes. I think everyone would say it was worth it. At all the places, my mom would ask what was their biggest lobster and order it. They were so concerned that A would not have enough lobster.
Our full day here would take us into Acadia National Park. One day is not enough time to accomplish all you want in Acadia. We started off at the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the east coast at a whopping 1,529 feet above sea level. We covered a lot of ground subsequently: the wild garden, a stairs hike, an ocean hike, a climbing hike, another ocean hike, and the Jordan Pond. We also stopped at the restaurant for popovers and tea. We managed to pack a lot in and get lobster again. And weather was really favorable, perfect temperatures and overcast.
The following day was super rainy, so it was really lucky for us that it did not rain the day before. Hurricane Dorian had made landfall in Maine. Fortunately, this was our departure date. We left for Boston and saw a recently flipped over RV on the way. For lunch, we stopped at a small seaside town for lobster, again. At this point, even A is tiring of lobster. Also, you guessed it, we made a stop for disc golf. A quick 9 hole forested, but not too dense course. We dropped off the rental car at the airport in Boston and got picked up by family. I was so happy to have not lobster for dinner. We hadn't been back to my aunt's house in 7 years. It was a nice evening with family. A and I flew back the next morning, and my parents stayed an extra day.
It was a fun trip filled with firsts for all of us. My parents are great to travel with. I'm really glad they let me arrange these adventures. They are willing to disc golf and walk all day. Dad is so adventurous and mom is tolerant of my antics in exchange for a personal travel agent.
happy trails,
jt
