{Day Two} Meeting the Big Apple: Times Square

We left Niagara Falls area in the early morning and headed to New York New York. Before our trip we debated about staying in NYC and paying the extra money or staying in New Jersey & paying for transportation daily. In the end we went the NJ route. 

{Times Square}

By the time we drove the 6 hours, settled into the hotel & took public transportation to NYC it was late afternoon. We headed straight for Time Square it was everything & yet nothing I expected.

We visited Rockefeller Center

We visited the Hershey store with a dancing yellow M&M, a green statue of liberty M&M and a rainbow of yummy colors.

Amanda & I with Time Square and city lights in the background. 

{Cake Shop}

Right in Time Square is Buddy the Cake Boss' Cupcake shop. By the time we got to Buddy's we were so long past tired + exhausted and were just waiting for our scheduled bus for a ride back to NJ. 

We each got a cupcake and then sliced & diced them up so we could all have a taste. We tried Vanilla Vanilla, Carrot Cake, peanut Butter & Chocolate & a Caramel Cupcake.

It was a wonderful first day spent in New York, New York. 

{Day One} Niagara Falls

The Falls in all of their glory with Canada in the distance. 

Our first adventure in New York was visiting Niagara Falls. I have always wanted to visit the falls and I am so happy to say I have. I am an outdoor girl, give me mountains, rivers, waterfalls, forests and fresh air any day. But for the record I still enjoy the city, I just choose nature 95% of the time. I was beyond excited to view Niagara Falls and one of the wonders of the world 

{Maid of the Mist}

One of our first stops was the boat ride on Maid of the Mist. Maid of the Mist takes you out into the Niagara Basin and past the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. When you go on Maid of the Mist they give you these great {read: ugly + usless} ponchos to wear. It was so windy that day that the ponchos seemed to just want to fly off or 'collect' air that made for humorous pictures! One of the funny things about the one-size fits all ponchos is they seemed to cover Amanda, Justin & I pretty well but Tyler (our tall friend) - it barely went to the bottom of his shorts. 

The gang sporting our trendy blue ponchos. 

A beautiful view of Niagara Falls from the Maid of the Mist - it's simply breathtaking. Just look at the color of the water, a beautiful aquamarine - more beautiful that I can even describe.

{Cave of the Winds}

A view from Maid of the Mist of Cave of the Winds. 

Cave of the winds was my absolute favorite activity at Niagara. Each spring a team of builders build the stairs and deck right next to the falls and in front of the Bridal Veil Falls. As we were walking to Cave of the Winds to get our ponchos we kept seeing everyone in these attractive sandals - little did we know we would get our very own commemorative sandals and yellow ponchos to remember our time at Niagara. 

The area around cave of the winds & the 'hurricane deck' is absolutely gorgeous with water gushing all over, mossy rocks and the thundering sound of the falls just feet away to experience a tiny taste of the hurricane deck checkout the little video I made via the vine app.

 

Standing in a waterfall is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

{Goat Island}

After our wet adventures near the falls we walked around Goat Island and enjoyed the scenes. We ate a late lunch over looking the upper falls and then headed toward the aquarium (because we had time + a free pass). I loved all of the colorful flowers I found all over New York, especially since I had just left a dreary rainy Minnesota where spring was still three weeks out. 

The upper falls. 

Minnesota to New York

For a several months a few friends and I had discussed off and on a roadtrip to Niagara Falls, NY. For a while it was mainly a dream, something we would like to do but no definite plans. Fast forward to the beginning of May, one of my friends was looking to use up some vacation days and before I knew it we were all asking for time off and planning our trip. 

At some point in our planning process we decided to drive the ENTIRE trip - that's right no flying for us. The first leg of our journey was a straight drive from Minnesota to Cleveland (where we changed vehicles) and then on to Niagara Falls, NY - all in a day. There is nothing like a nice 15 + hour drive to get you in the vacation mood.  

Wisconsin was pretty, hilly & green. 

Illinois seemed like a fast blip in our drive. 

Indiana was green but full of construction on the toll roads. 

Ohio was farmland. 

Pennsylvania was very rainy but gorgeous on the drive back. 

Let's talk about toll roads for a second. 

I don't understand them. 

At all. 

They are annoying. 

They cost a lot of money.

And I don't understand why we need them. 

When we finally got to the hotel at 1 AM I think we were all relieved to finally be out of the car and I was happy to not be out numbered by boys anymore. The cookie? It was amazing, that's why you stay in Doubletree... the free warm cookie you receive. 

The next morning we started our day with breakfast at Break'n Eggs Creperie in Buffalo, NY. My breakfast was a savory chicken crepe. Funny story - I did not realize when I ordered my savory crepe that it would come with a salad. It was funny eating a salad at 8am in the morning but the crepe (and salad) were delicious.

Next up Niagara Falls.

Let's talk travel

I am adventure bound and so excited! I'm heading out east with a few friends. I have never traveled east so I am very excited to see another part of the world and broaden my horizons! We are planning on road trippin' it and spending a lot of time in the car so I packed some great tunes and am excited to nap, dive into some summer reading and chat with friends.  

I cannot wait to share some of my adventures with you. If you would like to follow along the ride you can find me on instagram, my name is Becca_OneGirl.

Am I the only crazy who likes to road trip it still? If not share some of your road trip secrets with me or just some travel tips in general!

Candlelight Snowshoeing, Split Rock + Goosebury

As I am heading out this weekend for another fun weekend getaway and it's finally turning into spring in Minnesota I thought I should share my past adventures in February (finally).

L and I headed way up north in February for a fun weekend getaway in the snow. We visited Two Harbors along the way, then spent some time in Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock. 

{Gooseberry Falls}

Saturday Afternoon L and I visited Gooseberry falls - the falls were not much to see as the fresh snow fall for Fridays storm covered the frozen falls. We did wander down by the lake shore and marveled at the crashing waves.

Lovely snow covered trees

{Snowshoeing by Candlelight}

Saturday evening L and I went snowshoeing at Split Rock - it was a lot of fun. It was also a lot of work - we hiked 3 miles

{Split Rock Lighthouse}

Sunday morning we headed back to Split Rock State Park to take in the grounds.

We hiked over to a beautiful island - an island that usually is inaccessible in the summer months. The island was beautiful and full of little rock pools, crashing waves and a stunning view of Split Rock lighthouse.

I loved the ice crusted rocks and round ice 'pebbles' littering the shore everywhere.

Glimpses of the North Shore

This past weekend my friend L and I headed to northern Minnesota to spend a weekend on the North Shore along Lake Superior. Waves were crashing against the shore and seagulls were chirping.

Fresh snowfall covering the trees. I love that nature's greens are all so different, none the same. 

We stayed in a cute hotel in a small town that had these road signs on each door signifying your room number. I loved this sweet red bus with elk antlers - it was just begging for a picture. I wish I could see it in the summer as it is similar to a party bus for the restaurant.

{toffee cream pie // cherry rhubarb}

Lunch at the original Betty's Pies. The food was terrific and the pies fantastic.

A few selfies... I tend to take many.

Banning State Park

There is nothing more beautiful that a Minnesota hike in the snow. 

Any season in Minnesota is a beautiful time to hike. 

Spring is full of fresh growth, budding trees and the reawakening of life

Summer is lush and green,

Fall is full of crisp days, vibrant colors and crunching leaves,

and Winter is full of raw black and white beauty with fluffy snow making everything new and 'fresh'.

Winter hiking is my favorite. 

Chasing Fall

{Phelps Mill, Fergus Falls | Minnesota}

Like many Minnesotans I spent the weekend, and the better part of October chasing after fall. Summer comes and goes in a blink of an eye, fall sometimes is non-existant in Minnesota and Winter - well winter is here for months. I still cannot believe it's the middle of October already. 

Friday evening I drove several hours to meet a college friend and spend the majority of Saturday with her. It was wonderful. We had plans to roadtrip {for the day} around central Minnesota. 

Saturday we started the day with pumpkin pancakes and a country side stand selling pumpkins, gourds and vegetables -- everything was on the honor system {no joke, that is trust folks or Minnesota Nice}. We climbed Inspiration Peak, took many ridiculous pictures, bought country side pumpkins, laughed, talked and enjoyed life together. 

{Inspiration Peak, Urbank | Minnesota}

Most of the leaves are done changing and have fallen, apple season is almost over and Halloween is in a few days. But you can still find me sipping pumpkin spice latte's carving pumpkins and enjoying 'sweatshirt and jean weather' before it becomes boots, parkas and mitten weather. 

Are you still chasing fall?

{Dear Monday} North Edition

It is Monday and I am linking up again with Megan at Happy Day for Dear Monday. Head on over to Megan's blog and check out her own exciting news and leave her some love!

Dear Monday, I rejoice that I had today off. Four day weeks are really the best. 

Dear Girls Weekend, thank you for being so wonderful. Your days were filled with coffee, beautiful northern sights, and many fun talks. 

Dear L & Curly Locks, thank you for always being up for an adventure, laughing with me, reliving the 'college years' and understanding my love of photography (and never thinking it's silly that I need to stop for ANOTHER photo). You're the best. 

Dear Minnesota, You are an addiction that I never plan to give up. 

Dear Self, I am sorry that I did not have good eating habits this weekend, that burger was just so good, and those fries... don't get me started on those delights! I promise to get back to the basics and eat better this week and thus forward. 

Happy Monday to you!