Girl's Trip Days 4 & 5

We set our alarms for 3:30 am and left the house @ 4:00 am.  We drove to Tampa airport and flew to JFK airport.

I think everyone was a little sleepy???

Well... maybe not Ashlie 😄

We made it to New York!  Perfect weather.

We finally got to wear our "Girl's Trip Cheaper then therapy" shirts that Ashlie made for us.  Thank you Ash!

Our flight to SLC wasn't for several hours, so we decided to explore the city!

We took the subway and made it to the 9/11 Memorial.  So thankful that I got to see this.  I visited New York 20 years ago right after Aaron and I were married.  Aaron's parents were serving a mission in Bayonne,  New Jersey.   A friend from their ward, (Berroa Guerrero Manuel) gave us a tour of New York.  We saw so many things that day.  We even went inside one of the World Trade Center buildings.  I remember walking into one of the towers and seeing flags around the walls.  We wanted to go to the top floor, but it was cloudy that day.  We looked up, but couldn't see the top.   

As soon as I saw the signs for the 9/11 Memorial, my heart skipped a beat.  I felt a strong reverence.  It's hard to describe.  

Inside the oculus

We got a little turned around when we exited on Fulton St.  This old church is close by.  I remember seeing it 20 years ago.

These ladies in white t-shirts were so friendly.  They were celebrating a birthday.  Of course we had to get a picture together!😁  

We found our way to the fountains.

"DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO FELL
AND TO THOSE WHO CARRY ON
MAY WE NEVER FORGET"

This tree survived 9/11

We purchased tickets to the museum.  So much to see.  I could easily have spent the entire day there.  The public is only allowed to take pictures in a small section of it.

September 11, 2001 just before the first plane crashed.

Section of the steel facade

Ads of loved ones

"No day shall erase you from the memory of time."

The foundation of one of the towers

I think this man was a firefighter.  Someone had donated a bike in remembrance of him.

 

No photographs allowed in this room.  Pictures and names of all of the victims of 9/11

The top of one of the towers

Box column remnant

Elevator motor

A crushed firetruck 

Around 4 pm, we got some pizza, ate, and headed back to the airport.

Kristie and Leslie began checking flights.  Apparantly,  a large group of people bought the all the tickets to SLC!  We were using buddy passes, so there was nothing we could do.  We looked for other options.  The closest place to home was Los Angeles and Las Vegas.  We discussed our options, and decided to fly to Las Vegas.

It was late when we arrived.  Everyone was tired.  Kristie rented a van and we drove to Mesquite.

We stayed @ Rising Star.  -Cutest hotel ever.

Check out our bunk beds.  Exactly what we needed.

We ate breakfast @ the Virgin River Casino.  So yummy!

Welcome to Arizona!

Recognize this bed and breakfast?  

Here's a hint

Mary from the tv show Sister Wives purchased this place last year.  It's called Lizzy's Heritage Inn.  It's located in Parowan,  Utah.

We stopped @ the Creamery in Beaver.  It reminds me of the Tillamook Creamery in Oregon.   We bought some icecream and squeaky cheese.

Historic Cove Fort!  I can't believe this was my first visit.  

Cove Fort was built in 1867 by a man named Ira Hinckley, (A relative to President Gordon B Hinckley).  Hinckley was a blacksmith.  Cove Fort was built @ the request of former LDS church president Brigham Young to serve as a way station between Fillmore and Beaver.

 This is Ira Hinckley's cabin.  They moved it from Coalville.  We watched a short video inside.

Cove Fort was restored and rededicated in 1994

After Cove Fort, we drove to American Fork.  Kylar's babies were missing their mama!  We dropped Kylar off, drove to the SLC airport, returned the van, and drove back home.  

I loved every minute of our trip.  So thankful for the opportunity.   Thank you Kristie, Leslie, Ashlie, and Kylar!