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the Great Lakes, so I approached with childlike enthusiasm. Oh, who am I kidding? My kids were screaming to find the closest McDonalds playground. Their enthusiasm is reserved solely for Happy Meal toys. If you've never seen any of the Great Lakes, I highly recommend it...if you live within twenty minutes of one. There was a cold wind, a sharp rain and frankly, there's some strange stank coming from the water. Not really worth a detour unless you want to watch your kids chucking a dozen new Happy Meal toys into the water. Speaking of watery attractions, I shuddered slightly at the thought of our next stop, Niagra Falls and pictured a Ronald McDonald action figure plummeting over the falls and crashing through the decks and hull of a tour boat down below, while a certain two and four year old would be smiling with glee.

"I don't want to go to Fiagra Nalls," complained Jacob.

Noah chimed in. "Where we going?"

It took 107 explanations until we arrived at the falls. Jacob dragged his feet, mumbling a constant chorus of, "I hate Fiagra Nalls!"

We crossed the park and came upon the falls. Seeing a picture of the falls just won't give you breathtaking feeling of seeing it in person. Wait...that was my nervous condition which began somewhere in Illinois. We watched the falls for at least three minutes when the children and I looked at each other and with a silent understanding between father and sons, turned and walked back to the van. None of us spoke on the walk back. I'd like to think we were awe-struck, but the simple truth is we had been on the road too long and we all understood it was time to get to our destination as fast as we could.

New York is a VERY big state and it didn't take long to realize there would be another wigwam motel in our future. Yes, like the previous nights search, motels only appear once you have passed the exit. Again, I just decided I would pull off at the next exit and find somewhere to sleep...ANYWHERE. My instincts were right, for once on this trip and we were in a haven of every brand name motel. It might be the belief that all motels under a brand name would be cookie-cutter impressions of each other, no matter what city you are in. Let me tell you, this is not true. I was able to book a room at the only Marriott which was not built to the usual fine and sturdy standards that make it a pleasant and restful place to stay for a night. I had to find the one Marriott modeled after that damn, haunting Lincoln Log Cabin!

The next day found

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