The Family Ricks: Nauvoo

We got a really early start on our trip to Nauvoo. Grandpa had to be at the airport at about six to catch a flight home, so we left about 4 am for Louisville. Grandpa, Ryan and Rachael all slept on the way out to the airport. After we dropped Grandpa off, we stopped for our usual breakfast at McDonalds and got settled in for the long haul.

We got to Carthage at about 3:30 in the afternoon, so we stopped for the tour. If you have been before you know there's not much; a video at the Visitor's Center and a tour of the jail, but it is certainly a moving experience. We were the only ones on the tour, so we got to take it at our own pace. It was nice to take all the pictures we wanted and not feel rushed.

From Carthage we drove over the river to Keokuk, Iowa. I thought this might be a good chance to finally add a new state to Rachael's list; I don't think we have added a new one since we went to Niagara Falls in 2007. Yay for Iowa!

Then we went back over the bridge and followed the Mississippi down to Nauvoo. I drove so Ryan and my Mom could take pictures of the temple as we came around the road. Mom was on the wrong side of the car - sorry! - but Ryan snapped a nice one.

We drove around Nauvoo a bit and stopped at the Visitor's Center. We watched the short movie there and looked at all the cool displays. We also got information on the wagon tour and Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo.

We drove down Parley Street to see my favorite view of the Mississippi. We headed back towards our condo, stopping in at Baxter's for a bottle of raspberry spumante and to order a blackberry pie. (We stayed at the Nauvoo Villas, if any of you are planning a visit. They are excellent.)

Rachael was the most excited about getting her own bed. Seriously!

The next day we headed back to the Visitor's Center to get our tickets for the day's events.

This is one of two remaining sunstones from the original Nauvoo Temple. The other is in the Smithsonian.

We took a horse-drawn wagon ride around Nauvoo. It's the best way to see an overview of all the historic sites. Then we went to see the brickyard and a couple of other sites. We went to Zion's Mercantile for lunch, then back to the blacksmith, the school, and the Browning house. We also saw the post office, the printing press, the drugstore, and the bakery. The Family Living Center was a big hit, too - don't miss that if you have kids.

At the blacksmith shop they hammered a new mini horseshoe for Rachael. (Being the youngest in the crowd has perks).

There was no shortage of activities for kids at the Family Living Center. Rachael got to make her own sisal jump rope, with a little help from mom and dad. We also saw how bread was made and how candles were dipped.

We went to dinner at the Hotel Nauvoo (which was not nearly as good as I remembered, and certainly not worth the price we paid for dinner), then we headed over to the Rendezvous at Old Nauvoo. I wondered how Rachael would do with an hour long play, but she loved it.