Sleigh Ride!

The girls and I just got back from a very fun adventure with my friend Christine, and her 5-year-old daughter. Christine called last night to ask if we were interested in driving to Canandaigua to go on a horse-drawn sleigh ride! It's about a 40 minute ride from where we live, but we packed a lunch to eat on the way and the girls chatted in the back of the van while we chatted in the front. We went to the Granger Homestead & Carriage Museum in Canandaigua and on Sundays from January through March they offer 10 minute sleigh rides from 1 - 3pm. (It is weather dependent, so they advise that you call ahead!) But this was such a fun way to spend a winter, Sunday afternoon -- it was really a treat for us! If you are in the area and looking for something different to do, this is a great idea -- and very reasonably priced! The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for school-aged children (K - 12). My preschooler got to ride for free. That was $8 for my girls and I to ride, and when we paid they gave each child a free jingle bell and they also offer complimentary cookies and hot chocolate or tea. We were able to wait in a cute little renovated building that used to be a small law office -- fortunately, it was renovated with heat! So we were able to stay warm and enjoy our refreshments while waiting for our turn on the sleigh.

We brought our cameras (of course!) and got lots of great pictures. My 9-year-old brought her little video camera and she got to sit up front with the driver and she video taped the entire ride! What a great idea that was, because now we have that nice memory to share with Daddy (who had to work!) and we can hear all of the interesting stories that the driver told us on our ride. And, coincidentally, today is Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthday (she and Daddy are 100 years -- and 1 day -- apart!) so it was extra special for us to get to do something that we have read about her doing when she was younger! My girls wanted to wear their pioneer dresses and bonnets, but Mommy thought it was a little too nippy out today... They did bring their rag dolls! The Granger Homestead offers these rides in the summer, as well, so I'm sure we'll be back this summer -- bonnets and all! ;)