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| Two really big horses, my "big" sister Fran, and me. |
One advantage to having a sister that is a missionary in
Nauvoo is that she knows every single thing there is to do there – and yes, it is a short list. So I sneaked
her away from her mission (at the Family History Center) for a few hours, and
we went on all the Rides.
OK, so it might not
be quite the type of Rides that you are expecting – but there are a few
Pioneer-style Rides.
First, there is the
Oxen Ride. This is a ride in an Oxen-pulled Wagon, with real oxen. These are
some pretty big animals. The Oxen Team Lead (the guy in charge of the animals
& ride) walks along side the wagon, while we get to ride in the covered wagon – and
he explains about the animals, why they were chosen, what the Pioneers' covered
wagons were like, and a little history lesson. It’s not a very long ride, just
around the little fenced area – but definitely an interesting history lesson.
Then there is the
Wagon Ride. This is a Pioneerized version of a Sightseeing Tour Bus. It’s a
lovely horse-drawn ride, that leads you on a guided tour around most of the
primary sights in the old-section of Nauvoo. Missionaries point out the
different historic homes and shops along the way, and share stories of some of
the pioneers. You’ll need a ticket, it starts and ends right near the
Family Living Center, and it’s about 30 minutes.
But my favorite was
the Carriage Ride. This one is pulled by beautiful huge horses (about the size
of Clydesdales) – and they take you off the beaten path. Literally. This is a
tour of the very rural and woodsy side of Nauvoo. You go down dirt paths carved
out just for this carriage ride. And your Tour Guide, a Teamster and a
missionary, shares heartwarming and heartbreaking stories of the Nauvoo
Pioneers. You ride through the woods and get a glimpse at the dense woodland that these
Saints turned into a beautiful and bustling city.
Kids will love the
rides, but parents and grandparents will too. It’s truly like stepping back in
time.
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