Canyon of Wonders

When the Morehouse crew has a free weekend in October, and the leaves are just-about-peak, you can be sure we're going to go looking for adventure and beautiful views.

Found them both at Letchworth State Park.

This park, and all of its waterfalls, have been on our list for years now.  It is, after all, ALMOST right on our way to and from Farley's.  But it was always just far enough OUT of the way that we never took the time. 

Turns out, it more than deserved its very own trip.

The "Grand Canyon of the East" was magnificent. We started at the top of the  park and we were awed at our very first stop.

And it only got better from there.

At this overlook we took a detour and hiked all the way down to the river...

And then did it again at the next overlook.

I think we could have done the same for all 12 overlooks we stopped at from there on out... but we didn't because we'd set a goal to do the WHOLE PARK on this trip and gosh darn it there were more amazing views to see!

And terrific playgrounds to climb on...

And more amazing views...

I was more than a little jealous of this group of people, doing in up right with their casual circle of chairs and general air of ease.  It made me deeply nostalgic for the nowhere-else-to-be relaxation of a camping vacation.  Next time-- we rent a cabin in the park and make our own chair circle...

 Of course, no spontaneous Morehouse-day-of-adventure would be complete without a moment of two of low-blood-sugar induced exhaustion and despair.  Luckily ours hit just before we made it to Lower Lake Lodge, where there was a restaurant!  yay!  And also ALLLL of the other people in the park waiting in line for food at that restaurant!  Oh.....

But we made it through, and then made it to the waterfalls.

Niagara-like mist and glowing leaves and dapply clouds and oh my...

This place!

Magic everywhere you turn.

And that was before the balloons appeared.

Next time, a cabin AND a balloon ride! And a visit to the museum and the nature store and the amazing, time-out-of-time Inn with it's view of the middle falls and it's dreamy porch. And time to wander trails and really soak up the magic.  

16,000 steps later, two tired babies at the upper falls, ready to drive home into the night...

A good use of a free weekend, indeed.