We just got home from a much needed vacation to the beautiful, and amazing Niagara Falls! We stayed in a very nice hotel (usually our accomodations are in a time-share that is alot like a home away from home with full kitchen and laundry in house), that we had a 2-room suite in, we shared a bathroom with the kids, and we had a small fridge and microwave, other than that it was like staying in a hotel. It did have its perks however, with full valet parking, complimentary buffet breakfast each morning (eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns...etc) and also a managers reception each afternoon with free beverages (alcoholic included) and snacks for all...so we definitely made sure we made it to breakfast each morning and were back to the hotel in time for snacks and drinks each afternoon! We also had view of the falls from our room, which was a nice touch!
On Monday we took a 5 hour tour around the area on a bus, it was nice, however the kids got tired of it and being on the bus you couldn't leave with them, and we were on a pretty tight schedule, so in the future we would probally not do that again, plus it also took you to all these places in one-day, where if we would have done it on our own it would have taken longer and given us more to do (we kind0f ran out of activities long about Wednesday!)
The one night Tony and I hired a babysitter for the kids for 3 hours, and we headed out to the Casino (newly built) and played some slots and the backjack table, we actaully won back all our money PLUS enough to pay for the babysitter, so we were pretty happy about that! Plus it was our first time ever in a casino, so we were both a bit "gun shy" on how things worked and how much money we should spend. After we played there for awhile we went to eat at the Grand Buffet next door to the Casino, they had everything your heart could desire, from seafood, to steaks, to pasta, it was heaven...and best of all we did not have to deal with kids throwing food on the floor!
The one day we drove thru the wine country and up to Toronto. When we take vacations we like to get out away from the tourist areas and see where people live and work, so we got ourselves lost for awhile before finally stopping for directions at a gas station.
We did receive lots of phone calls from home while we were away, but at least we have employees that are dedicated to the creamery, along with family to step in to lend a hand so that we can take these MUCH needed trips away.
As always it was fun to get away for a short time but it is always nice to come home again!
