Our 1st "Hiccup"

Well -- our 1st little "hiccup" has happened in our "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" trip. We decided that we would camp @ Niagara Falls over the next 2-3 days. Well, a few days ago, we saw it online, but while playing in other cities the camp-ground got booked up for Monday night! UGH! We were not ready to pay the prices we found @ hotels near Niagara and since Tuesday & Wednesday were still open, we decided to stay another day in the city we arrived in last night (Binghamton, NY) So, we booked our hotel another night, (A very nice hotel for a good price, so I was not upset...) and decided that we would find something to do.

Well -- we found out that the city had a zoo, and since it was only going to be about $20 for the three of us we decided that would be our "outing" today. Well, when we got there I had "one of those feeling". You know where you say " I think this is going to be one of those times I am going to get mad that I spent $20 on this". Well, Mike looked at me and had the EXACT same feeling. So, we decided to start walking the other direction. Which confused Anne Marie, until we noticed that there was a carousel 10 steps outside the zoo. It said "free rides"... so we headed over to see if we could get a ride. ..............................

We did! It was quite a long ride too -- and Anne Marie was just thrilled!! We were able to get on with her (or I'm sure she would not have done it) and she was able to pick from 25 or more horses (there were only 3 other riders ... and at least 30 horses!!) It took her mind off the zoo, and gave Mike and I time to think about our next move without letting her know we were going to change our plans about going to the zoo.

Just then, I remembered seeing something like a play-ground just a street up from the zoo and told Mike we should just walk there.....it made her think we had a "plan"........ Well, we were pleasantly surprised!! (VERY much so!!!)

It was a community garden / park / playground for kids that is fully funded by different people and businesses in the community. this was one of the signs greeting us on our way in.

This was @ the entrance -- letting us know it was free to the public -- and many cute little signs all through the park thanking different supporters for their funding of the park.

The entrance to "The Story Garden".... soooooo sweet!

"Tree of Knowledge"

There was a flower / food garden. It was set up like a little farm. You could ride the tractor (the 1st picture) You could use a watering can provided & pump the "frog" to help him fill up your watering can -- so then you could water the gardens. Anne Marie was THRILLED with this part -- and she watered most every plant in the garden.

There were many little "metal-garden-friends" all around....from lizards, to butter-flies, to turtles...there were birds, owls, dragon-flies, along with many others.

There were cute little play-houses scattered throughout the gardens. There were cute little houses, thatched-roof cottages, and even log-cabins. Each had little furniture in it. Mike and I were required to "have tea & snacks" at the table in each one!

There was even a tree house (a HUGE tree-house) that was set up with cute little butter-fly & dragon-fly wind-socks flying around it. Anne Marie was quite taken by these.

There were SOOOO many things to do...we could have spent more time there (we had already been playing there for about an hour & 1/2). Then, something made me gather my family up & head out......can you see what Anne Marie is trying to take a picture of??? Hidden in the rocks??

UGHGHGHGHGHGHGH!!!! No, I did NOT get that close -- I had my BIG lens on my camera today -- so I could stand back far enough, but still get this picture. All the kids @ the park were excited about this -- some even ran up & tried to touch it (and it DID snap @ them!!!) But as soon as Anne Marie got "her shot" (she was at a VERY SAFE distance) I gathered my family up and we left!!! I just wasn't sure what kind of snake it was -- or how many more there might be. He was not big...so was he a baby? Was mommy around? I didn't care to find out. Where is my friend Robin when I need her? (We were somewhere one time & she was telling me how to tell bad snakes from good snakes -- but I can't remember, so I was playing it safe!)

We ended up playing at a near-by playground & heading back to the hotel. We got to use our buy-one-dinner-get-one-free coupon @ Outbk tonight, have cookies @ the hotel after dinner & take a dip in the pool. Tomorrow we're headed for the camp-ground near Niagara -- Mike's been waiting for this part of the trip all week!!