NEW ENGLAND: PART 1

      Sam and I have gotten SO lucky this summer with these amazing trips we have been able to go on! Jess, my sister-in-law, has always ALWAYS wanted to make a trip up to Maine and so this year, she finally got her wish! It was SO fun. And my official first family vacation as an actual part of the family, since last year I was just a lowly girlfriend to Sam on our trip to the Outer Banks, North Carolina. 

      Rhode Island: The land of gorgeous little towns, random colleges no one has ever heard of, pedestrians who don't obey any laws (much like good ol' Rexburg), and just tons and tons of mansions. We enjoyed playing around in Newport during the day and at night we traveled up to the state capital, Providence, where we watched a fire show on the river walk with about 20 million people along side us. Safe to say, we enjoyed the littlest state of the great U.S.

A sign with my big brother's nickname on it. Had to take a pic.

      Massachusetts: Up next was one of my favorite part of the trips: BOSTON. In my top 3 favorite cities for sure. We followed the Freedom Trial path that goes throughout the city and saw all sorts of monuments, historical buildings, cemeteries, street dancers, and a big old boat. And of course stopped for some mid day slurps. THEN, to top off the already 5 mile hike throughout the city we ventured up to Bunker Hill (that looks exactly like the Washington needle) and walked up 300 steps to the top. We got stuck behind a poor little Asian man who stopped every 10 steps or so for a breath and eventually... and I mean eventually made it up there to the most gorgeous view of Boston. We quickly made our way down because the room at the top is about as big as a master size bathroom and there were about 20 sweaty tourists stinking up the place.

      We made it out and found our way to the U.S.S. Constitution where I had to fake that I was 17 since I didn't have an I.D. and was flattered when it actually worked. After looking around that massive ship, we caught the ferry back towards where we parked and got another great view of the skyline.

It was a day well spent, and my legs were feeling it for the rest of the trip.

      The last little bit of our time in Massachusetts was spent in SALEM. The funniest part of our trip I think. Jess, (that cute sis pictured above) and I were laughing our heads off at the history of the place and the dozens and dozens of witch things and actual witches around. Many witch jokes were made and Hocus Pocus quotes were a plenty. Oh, and there was a Dunkin Donuts literally every half mile in that town. Witches love their pastries. 

      In order to spare myself from writing too much and to spare you the hassle of reading a forever long post, I'll split this up into two posts. But, until then.. Enjoy this little pic of Sam and I almost dying and get excited for the story that goes along with this just ever so gorgeous pic of us. 

     

TOURING

This last week, my parents drove all the way from Corona, California to Baltimore, Maryland to come see me and Sam. If that doesn't deserve some type of parenting award, I don't know what does. We flew out to Akron, Ohio and met up with them for the last little leg of the trip. If you aren't familiar with Ohio (like I wasn't), Akron/Canton is where Lebron James is from and where the NFL Hall of Fame is. My dad and Sam are alike in a lot of ways, and one of the biggest similarities is their love for all things sports and history. So the Hall of Fame was the perfect place for the two of them.

They were like kids in a candy shop. 

After Canton, we drove a short little ways up to Kirtland, Ohio to see some church sites. We started off with a tour of the temple and although the temple is not owned by the church and the tour was a little different then expected, the spirit felt inside the temple was so powerful. To be where the first latter-day saints were and to imagine Joseph Smith at the front of the room was an amazing experience. As was touring around where Joseph and Emma lived and learning about some of the most faithful saints in that time. Such a blessing to be there. I recommend it to all!

We finished up in Kirtland and made our way to Niagra Falls! Something I have always wanted to see. A highlight from that day was going onto the Maid of the Mist. (Just like Jim + Pam. Who Sam and I were for Halloween!) It was SO fun. You literally go right up to the falls and you have to yell to hear each other and you get soaked and can barely see when the wind picks up, but you just cannot beat that view!

Palmyra was the last stop on our road trip back to Baltimore and we came at the perfect time for the Hill Cumorah  Pageant, which is another thing I would highly recommend seeing! But, my favorite part was being able to walk into the sacred grove and to be where Joseph was when the Father and the Son appeared to him and brought him the knowledge of the gospel. Many of our church leaders have said that our faith depends so deeply on whether or not Joseph saw them. Either he did, or he didn't. I know that he did and how grateful I am that I was able to be there and feel of the special spirit that lingers in those trees.

We finally made it back to Baltimore and were able to score some awesome seats at an Orioles game! My dad grew up loving Brooks Robinson and it was an item on his bucket list to watch a game at Camden Yards! So the perfect (belated) father's day gift came to mind! They played the Yankees and they have only lost to the Yankees once in that series and we unluckily were at that game. And if I hear another chant of "Der-ek Jet-er" in that annoying NY accent. I think I'll puke.

The next two days were spent at our nation's capitol which is about 45 minutes away from Baltimore. I had done DC already and Sam has done it half a dozen times, but I swear you could go back every year and still not see everything there is to see there. So much history and so much to read! We spent 4 hours in the Holocaust Museum alone! On the way home, we stopped by the DC Temple, which is so so gorgeous. Not as pretty as my San Diego Temple, but a close second. 

We finished up our trip in the blue ridge mountains of West Virginia just relaxing, playing tennis, swimming, and playing lots and lots of Mexican Train. It was such a great vacation and I may have shed a tear or two when I said goodbye to my parents. We will see them in a little over a month but even if I say goodbye to any of my family members for even just 1 week, I always miss them. 

So we are entering our last 6 weeks living in Maryland and in preparation for the few weddings I am shooting this year, we bought a DSLR, and we are excited to document this gorgeous state and our last few adventures on the east coast. At least for now. ;)