I don’t know about you, but sometimes family vacations can feel like a lot of work. Packing, planning, keeping everyone happy… and you’re often frazzled before you even get there. That’s exactly why I loved this trip to Upstate New York, combining Niagara Falls and Palmyra. It gave us the perfect mix of adventure and history. My kids could have the time of their lives and we could slow down and be together in a more intentional way. If you’re looking for a family travel idea that’s both fun and meaningful, this one is so worth it! And all that planning I mentioned above, I’ve got you covered!!! No need to worry about a thing.

This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission for sharing at no cost to you.

Before we get started, You may ask: Is It Worth Visiting Palmyra and Niagara Falls in One Trip?

One hundred percent YES! They’re only 1.5- 2 hours away from each other. One is an amazing natural wonder and the other is a sweet spiritual spot unlike any other.

Niagara Falls:

Visiting Niagara Falls with Your Family

The first time we went to Niagara Falls, it was a last minute decision when we realized how close it was to Palmyra, NY. We ran over there on a whim with our young children, and stayed on the USA side. We didn’t know, all we would’ve needed for our kids to cross to the Canada side was their birth certificates (along with our adult passports). We were really disappointed we were so close but weren’t able to see the full scope of the falls.

Fast forward 9 years later, we went to Niagara again when visiting Palmyra. This time we made sure to plan a full day at the falls and brought passports for everybody, not wanting to miss it!

First stop - Maid in the Mist

Maid in the Mist is a large ferry that takes you right up to the falls on the New York side. They provide ponchos (thank goodness!), and you definitely want to wear them if you don’t want to get completely soaked.

I expected the ferry to be a nice, lovely cruise. It was definitely a beautiful view, but I was totally unprepared for how strong the winds and water would be pounding down close to the waterfalls. It was a wild experience and we ALL LOVED IT! The cruise was shorter than I expected, but the length of it felt just right. I would highly recommend it!!

Crossing into Canada

The car line to cross the border was pretty long, but there is a walking path that leads into a bridge, really close to the parking lot on the NY side, that takes you over the river that flows from the falls and into the Canada side.

The view from the bridge was absolutely incredible! You get an amazing view of the falls that you can’t catch just standing on the NY side.

Once you are through the border customs, you will see the Canada side has a lot more going on than the New York side. There are tons of hotels, shops, restaurants, and a lovely riverwalk that follows the river all the way to the falls. Our kids especially loved visiting the Hershey store and munching on chocolate as we walked.

Best picture taking spots:

I would take pictures along the bridge that connects NY and Canada. Also once you cross over to the Canada side, there are some exceptional views of the falls as you go down the riverwalk that make for great photo shoots with your family. I was in awe of God’s creations and the power and majesty of the falls.

There are lots of little hikes you can do in the area, but a lot of the places where you go behind the falls are pretty expensive. So plan accordingly if that is important to you. For us, we preferred to spend our money on the Maid in the Mist boat ride and I felt it was well worth the cost to be up so close.

Where to stay:

While a lot of people love to stay right in Niagara Falls, we found it to be more cost effective for our large family to stay in Buffalo, NY. It was only a 25 minute drive, and we had a Costco really close where we could grab some cheap and easy meals for our family.

Palmyra:

Our Family Trip to Palmyra, New York

When going to Palmyra, we like to stay in Rochester (there’s not as many options in Palmyra), which is only about 90 minutes from Niagara Falls. Rochester also had a Costco we frequented- it is super convenient for this trip with the muffins and protein drinks we’d have for breakfast, sandwiches and wraps we were eating for lunch, and Caesar salad, pizza and hot dogs the kids loved for dinner.

Visiting the Sacred Grove and First Vision Site

The Sacred Grove is a special place to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as LDS or Mormons. I feel like outside of the temples, the Sacred Grove is one of the most peaceful places you can go to reflect and connect with God.

Just outside the grove there is a short tour you can take of the property. We loved taking our kids around the Smith Farm, touring the restored farm houses, and then ending with a quiet walk through the Sacred Grove- which was the location where Joseph Smith had a visit from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ who came in answer to Joseph’s prayer. More about that here.

There are many reasons this spot is sacred to me personally, but two of them are:

Heavenly Father listens to our prayers, that He loves us and wants to help us

We learn that Heavenly Father and Jesus still talk to us today, not just in bible times

Exploring the Hill Cumorah

The Hill Cumorah is where Joseph Smith found the golden plates (which were translated into the book we know as The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (more about that here!) buried in the ground under a large rock. The Book of Mormon is one of my favorite books and brings so much light and goodness into my life. It was really fun to see where the ancient record was discovered.

The Hill Cumorah has a lovely visitor center, and the hill itself has some charming walking paths. There is a stroller/wheel chair friendly path for those who cannot walk up stairs.

Other LDS Church History Sites in Palmyra, New York

Whitmer Farm
Have a Picnic at the pavilion behind the LDS chapel. There is a big black tube the kids had a blast rolling in down the hill. (I would recommend doing the tube before you eat)
Visit the grounds of the Palmyra Temple - if you have a recommend, go inside, too!
E.B Grandin Print Shop - take a free tour and see how books were printed and bound in the 1800’s. This restored shop is where the Book of Mormon was first printed

Palmyra Eats

Palmyra is a small town, but if you like ice cream, you’re going to want to visit the Chill & Grill. The food portions are GIANT!! Especially the ice cream! The “HALF kiddie size” is a Double scoop cone- and the scoops are very big. Our kids LOVED this stop! The burgers and fries come in large portions as well. You can easily share a burger.

A little personal experience in Palmyra

When we were in the historic homes on our trip, I had powerful experiences in the kitchens. Every time I’d walk into one, I felt this awe and gratitude for these women, hundreds of years ago, who did this sacred and noble work for their families. Their labors in the kitchen were not only to nurture and care for their homes and families, it was their survival. They kept everyone fed and alive. The kitchens were truly the hearts of the home. Tiny but mighty and where the women had profound influence. It’s where the family gathered, talked, studied, prayed. It was amazing to feel what a sacred calling homemaking is. Sacrificing and slaving for our families is a beautiful thing. I feel it’s a big reason the Lord loves women so much.

Why Niagara Falls and palmyra are such a fun combo:

I love that you get to see the awe inspiring nature of Niagara Falls combined with the spiritual experiences in the Sacred Grove. It’s a trip that is good for the soul!

Family Itinerary for visiting Niagara Falls & Palmyra, NY- DAY 1:

Niagara Falls:

Stay in Buffalo, NY
Drive over 25 minutes to Niagara Falls and park your car (bring a lunch if you’d like). The parking lot is super close to the falls
Bring some money for some souvenirs. There’s a souvenir shop and lots of tables with different vendors on the NY side
Take the Maid in the Mist Boat Ride
Walk (or drive) over to the Canada side along the bridge
Visit the Hershey’s shop and any thing else that catches your eye! There’s a lot!
Take a walk along the riverwalk and take tons of pictures of your family with the falls
Drive to Rochester to spend the night

Family Itinerary for visiting Niagara Falls & Palmyra, NY- DAY 2:

Palmyra, NY

Visit the Whitmer Farm - do this at either the beginning or end of the day because it is out further away from the other sites into the country
Walk through the Sacred Grove
Visit the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center
Take the trails up the Hill Cumorah

Have a Picnic at the pavilion behind the LDS chapel. There is a big black tube the kids had a blast rolling in down the hill. (I would recommend doing the tube before you eat)
Visit the grounds of the Palmyra Temple - if you have a recommend, go inside, too!
E.B Grandin Print Shop - take a free tour and see how books were printed and bound in the 1800’s. This restored shop is where the Book of Mormon was first printed

Other tips for your trip:

This is a great family trip for the summer time. The weather is amazing and even with it being summer break, the crowds were manageable.

If you are interested in other LDS Church History sites, it is really nice to add on Kirtland, Ohio (3 hours from Niagara) at the beginning of this trip, and to visit the Priesthood Restoration Site in Pennsylvania (2.5 hours from Palmyra) at the end. If you want to take the trip even further, you can head over to New York City after the Priesthood Restoration site, as it’s half way between Palmyra and NYC. If you are going to do this add on, I would do the Whitmer Farm at the end of your Palmyra day because it is more in the direction of the Priesthood Restoration site. (WE LOVED the Priesthood Restoration site, by the way!)