Adirondacks, Ithaca and Niagara, NY

They're heading east, and we're heading west. Well, at least we hatched a plan to meet @big_big_trip and @big_big_trip_anna for one night in the Adirondacks. They launched in July from Seattle, and we're proud to be their first #instameet. We were not gentle. Within minutes, the kids were comparing toy stashes and wading in the lake and soon after, adults were sharing a meal and a beverage by the fire. Wish we had more time to hang, but great to cross paths with another likeminded family. #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #airstreamfriends #nomadiccommunity

5 1/2 hours of driving today but worth it for a detour to see Ann's sister in her freshman year at Union College (we saw the other one at Trinity a couple weeks ago!). As luck would have it, we passed @ithacabeer about a mile before the campground and just as we were getting hungry for dinner. After glimpsing the Ithaca Commons on the way in, we're now deciding whether to spend an extra night in town which would mean we'd only have one full day to explore Niagara. Thoughts? Where would you spend your extra day, Ithaca or Niagara? #theybothsoundlikepharmaceuticals #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #beertravel #beertourism #ithaca #askyourfollowersifniagaraisrightforyou

Ithaca has gorges! Wait, that's not it. Ithaca engorges! No. Lots of Georges? Whatever, our hike along the Gorge Trail in the Robert H. Treman State Park was gorgeous. Even Gorilla got to come. #yeswehaveadog #ithaca #newyorkstateparks

With the kids happily playing with the thin shards of slate lining the trail carved into the side of the gorge walls, I seized a rare opportunity to get a picture alone with @advodna_ann. I slung my backpack onto one shoulder and clumsily extracted the small portable tripod from the front pocket, a task made all the more challenging while holding the bag of dog poo we'd collected behind Gorilla on the way down. With the iPhone in the tripod balanced on a rock wall, I selected the self-timer setting and pressed the shutter. With only 10 seconds to get in the shot, I dropped everything in my hands, scooped up Gorilla (she's rarely in pictures either) and stepped towards the... POP! Uh, yeah, we're laughing in the shot because I stepped on the bag of dog poo and the air inside blew up the bag. 😂 Luckily, there was no "collateral damage" and we had a spare! #yeswehaveadog #alwayscarrytwobags @earthrated

Even with the water levels low, the gorge in the Robert H. Treman State Park is impressive. Parking at the upper lot makes it a great hike for kids, about a mile round trip down to a big falls and only a few sections of these awesome stairs (tho a lot of sections don't have railings!). #ithaca #gorges #newyorkstateparks #hikingwithkids #babywearingwithoutacarrier #piggybackrides #fitmom

@ithacabeer the first night, a gorge hike followed by @ithacacommons and @moosewood_restaurant the next day, @ithacabakery and @ithacafarmersmarket today. I think we've had a pretty good visit! #ithaca #ithacafarmersmarket #pumpkinshoppinginatutu #ithacahasgourdsyes

"Me do iiiitttt!!!" We're moving today and will dump and fill before we leave. Enjoy your independence and use all the water you want, little one. #airstreamwithkids #toddlerlife #verticallychallenged

Impromptu stop at the Women's Rights Historical Site in Seneca Falls. It's a good sign that it took us about an hour to explain to Wynne that people used to think women couldn't do anything men could do. I'm not sure she ever quite got it. #womensrightsnationalhistoricalpark #womensrightsnationalpark #senecafalls

We only got to hang with @emilyelainee and @danielpoint1 for a quick toddler-chasing visit in Acadia, so were excited when we found out that their route down from Montreal would intersect with ours at Niagara Falls. Today, we loaded up the SUV's and strollers, crossed the border into Canada and stuffed our kids in plastic bags for a boat ride to the base of the falls. #airstreamfriends #littleairstreamfriends #niagarafalls #hornblowercruises

Builds character. #roadschool #niagarafalls #hornblowerniagaracruises #inthemist #travelwithkids #familytravel

Fun but too short stay shared with @emilyelainee and @danielpoint1 and kids on the shores of "wait, that's a lake?" Lake Ontario. A full day of adventure and play ended with salted meat seared on a skewer over a fire by a Brazilian (as all days should). #airstreamfriends #littleairstreamfriends #airstream #airstreamwithkids #airstreamwithmeat #liveriveted #myrivetedlife