Twice past on the blog, I have written about visiting my great-aunt in Buffalo, New York. However, this post comes with a sad and heavy heart. Our most recent visit there was to celebrate her life and legacy and lay her to rest.
With that being said, I don’t know how many more New York Travel Diaries I will be writing from here on out. So, for now, sit back, relax, and check out some of the lovely, interesting, and fun highlights that occurred on our journey to New York and back.
As a quick overview, we drove 1453 miles across five states including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. I rented a sleek black 2023 Nissan Rogue which drove well and was a very comfortable vehicle for our trip.
View My 2019 New York Travel Diary
View My 2023 New York Travel Diary
Day 1: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Northlawn Memorial Gardens, Comfort Inn
To begin our road trip, I picked up the rental and then my mom. We then set off toward Ohio, where I wanted to stop at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Northlawn Memorial Gardens which we did.
As you may have read in other blog posts, I purchased an annual National Park Pass earlier this year to visit as many national parks as possible with this pass. Last month, we visited the Gateway Arch in St.Louis, Missouri and on this trip, we rode through Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The park has some nice Visitor Centers and a sightseeing train, but we did not participate in this trip. Instead, we took the scenic route and admired the town of Peninsula, as we drove through the park, and toward Northlawn Memorial Gardens where my grandfather is buried.
Visiting my grandfather and putting flowers on his grave has been on my list of things to do for years and on this trip, it was finally accomplished. Once we located his plot, we spoke our thoughts and prayers, added the flowers, and continued on our journey.
The cemetery itself was very wet and flooded in many areas. The weather was cold and snow flurries would come and go. It was certainly not an ideal time for visiting the cemetery or the park, but we made it, and that’s all that mattered to me at the time.
After about 45 minutes off the beaten path, we arrived in Alliance, Ohio, a beautiful city with a lot to offer, where we checked into our hotel room to rest and prepare for the long day ahead of us including a visit to the Troll Hole Museum.
Day 2: Troll Hole Museum, Cracker Barrel, Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar, Holiday Inn Express
The next morning, we meandered around for a bit and then got ourselves in gear. Our first stop of the morning was a tour of the Troll Hole Museum. While scrolling on Pinterest, I just happened to come across it and realized it was on our way to New York. It was hands-down, a use of time to incorporate into our trip to make it a bit more fun and interesting.
In a nutshell, the museum exceeded my expectations. I learned a lot about trolls that I did not know and also learned of a “new to me” program of study called Cryptozoology.
We took tons of photos (and videos) that I plan to scrapbook for my daughter, but if you are curious about the tour, check out my TikTok where I walk you through. Admission was free but the general tour is about $12.
Once our tour was over, we made a few purchases from the gift shop and continued our trip. Aside from a quick pitstop at Cracker Barrel in Pennsylvania to send my niece a postcard for a USA class project, our objective was to get to Buffalo to begin the celebration activities for my great-aunt, which we did.
After a few hours of driving, we arrived at the funeral home for the viewing, had dinner, and socialized with some family at Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar before checking into our room at the Holiday Inn Express. The food was delicious, but the portions were enormous. I highly recommend splitting the dinners.
And, as for our stay at the Holiday Inn Express, it was beautiful and clean, and as a member, I certainly enjoy accruing points for future stays.
Day 3: Pennsylvania Travel Center, Chipotle, Motel 6
On the third day, we got up and got ourselves ready for the celebration of life and repast. It was a very organized and beautiful service. During the repast, we were able to spend a few minutes with our other great-aunt who is 101 years old.
Last year, on my vision board, my goal and priority were to ensure that both of my great-aunts met my daughter and got photos together. With this trip, it happened and I am so overjoyed. So, you see, there were lovely moments amid all the heartbreak.
Toward the end of the repast, we got right on the highway toward home. I’m so grateful that the weather was sunny and beautiful because it made the quiet and somber drive back, a bit more uplifting.
Aside from a quick stop in Pennsylvania for some Solar Eclipse goodies, to change our clothes, and for gas, our trip back was full steam ahead. I drove until dark, checked into a room for a few hours of rest, and finished the trip in the wee hours of the morning.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the trip was a success. Did it come with sadness and tears? Yes, but it also came with safe travels, hugs with loved ones, and new places explored. Whether I write another New York Travel Diary post or not, I am so grateful for the New York experiences that I have been blessed with over the years.
