Belle Isle

We live in an old house which has no air conditioning, except for one window unit in our bedroom and since we can't hang out there all of the time we try to be out doing things as much as we can. Michigan summers can be pretty warm and with the added effect of the humidity, we can experience some unbearable heat.

One day when it was super hot in our house we decided to check out Belle Isle. It is an island on the Detroit River, which runs between Michigan and Canada. This isn't the cleanest of places, but it was really green with lots of flowers, plus it had some fabulous trees which provided for some nice shade from the heat.



Detroit is on the right and Canada is on the left side of the river.






The edge of the river was SO yucky! There were several dead fish washed up...what does that tell you?



I don't think we will go back, but at least we have checked it out.

Coney Dog Showdown

Back in town we wanted to get a taste of pure Michigan...Coney Island hot dogs!(Matt was back in the game for this trip downtown.) There are two family owned restaurants that are next to each other and they each think that they came up with the idea for the Coney Dog. They have been on a show called Food Wars, which ironically was on the day after we had our own "food war".



First up, Lafayette Coney Island. This place has a fast pace and is a little like "Soup Nazi" feeling. The guy hollers out the order and threw the drinks on the table along with the food.




These hot dogs had great flavor and the chili was mighty tasty!



Up next: American Coney Island



This one had the diner feel to it and was much calmer! Quite tasty also.




I don't know why we didn't take any pictures of the actual food we ate, but we had a clear winner in our taste test. Lafayette 3 to 1 American. The major difference for us was the chili on top. (On Food Wars, American won.)



Bonus: Some sights of Detroit.




Thanks Dad and Mom for a fun visit!

Last day on the road

We took the tour of the Kirtland temple, but the church that owns it doesn't allow you to take any pictures in the temple or visitor's center. So, this is what we have to show from our tour.



This is a beautiful painting at the Kirtland Visitors's Center.



Kirtland has restored and replicated lots of the buildings that you would have seen at the time the Saints lived in Ohio.




What a fun and very fast trip!

Day 2: Palmyra, New York

We couldn't get away from toll roads this trip. Oh well, not much we can do about it. Enjoy the road, I guess.





This is the Christus at the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center. I love that the background is the Sacred Grove.



Hill Cumorah



Breathing in the lilac bushes!






Palmyra Temple



Sacred Grove



Book of Mormon printing office



One of the first 5,000 Book of Mormon's ever printed cost $1.25. Pretty pricy for them!



Random cows, but mom wanted to get a picture.



Next stop: Kirtland, Ohio

Road Trip with Dad and Mom - Day 1

Living in Michigan puts us that much closer to some fun places to visit...my parents decided to come for a road trip to check out what is around us. (Matt is working like crazy in the ICU right now so he didn't get to come with us.) Our first destination was: Niagara Falls!



Did you know that when they say "Bridge to Canada", that it really is a bridge? My mom hates bridges, but she made it.;)




Canada...the best view of the falls is from the Canada side!





Our hotel was the tallest one!





Maid of the Mist...we were about to get on this boat for our front row view of the falls.




Geared up for the boat ride. Hot!






The view from our hotel window...absolutely beautiful!




Bye Canada. Next destination: Palmyra, New York

Polish Villiage

My parents came for a visit and so we wanted to show them a gem of a place that we found.



My dad loves this kind of place so we went for a real polish dinner!



Taking a stroll down the neighborhood streets.