DAY ONE
We left Toledo, IL. on Thursday Oct. 22nd around 8am. After a couple hours we found ourselves in Indianapolis, Indiana and at the Indiana War Memorial. A few hours down the road found us at Culver's for lunch.
DAY TWO
The next morning after a continental breakfast we headed on down the road closer to our destination. We ended up stopping at Cabela's in Wheeling, West Virginia. We were going to go somewhere for lunch but opted to stay there and eat and do some more shopping. Needles had the fish sandwich and I had the elk burger. Several pit stops and hours later we were in Whitehall, Pennsylvania and at the Old Country Buffet for supper. It was pretty good for buffet style food with a lot of selections. After that we made our way to our final stop for the night. The Holiday Inn in Clark, New Jersey is where we would be for the next four nights.
DAY THREE
After a nice continental breakfast with BEACON we headed out for the day. Our first day in New York City. On our way to our first stop we caught a glimpse of The Naked Cowboy crossing the street.
Our first stop after the hour drive into the city was Rockefeller Center.
I remember seeing the ice rink and golden statue of Prometheus on T.V. and in pictures but when I finally saw it with my own eyes I couldn't help but think...It's smaller than I expected.
St. Patrick's Cathedral was amazing to see. The ornate décor was amazing.
Inside St. Patrick's
NBC Studios was just around the corner.
Taxi cabs everywhere you look.
Radio City Music Hall just down the block.
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
At the Rockefeller Center we meet up with our tour guide Darrell and we were off to our next stop Grand Central Station.
Grand Central Station
At Grand Central Station we had some free time. After exploring for a bit we opted to grab some New York Pizza for lunch. Two Boots Pizza was what we choose, Needles had the Cheese and I had the Kraken. Our next stop was a stroll over to Central Park.
Chrysler Building
The famous Shake Shack.
The Flat Iron Building.
Empire State Building
Central Park
A nice stroll through a corner of Central Park and a little free time to go exploring at the Plaza Hotel and also Tiffany's to see the Tiffany Diamond.
Empire State Building at night.
On our evening of exploring we went into the lobby of the Empire State Building all lit up for the 70th anniversary on NATO. We also did some souvenir shopping and went up all 9 floors of Macey's department store on the original wooden escalators. Needles and I had a snack at Auntie Ann's, we had a pumpkin spice pretzel. Yum.
DAY FOUR
After breakfast we made the hour long trip into New York City. Our first stop was at the 911 memorial. The cool overcast day added to the sense of melancholy. The sight is powerful and thought provoking. The tragic sight were so many people lost there lives in a senseless violent act.
911 Memorial
911 Museum
Below the Memorial is the Museum. As you descend down into the museum a quietness and sadness comes over most visitors. Mumbling of the visitors is occasionally broken through by a tour guide in the museum explaining some of the items on display. Twisted I beams, crushed fire engines and personal effects of some of the victims are just a few of the things on display.
One World Trade Center it's antenna mast fade into the heavens.
Survivor Tree. The only surviving tree on the grounds during the attack on 911.
After our visit of the Memorial and Museum we headed for lunch at Northern Tiger overlooking the Hudson River. Needles had the boiled dumplings and I had the spicy dumplings.
The glass enclosure of Le District.
One World Trade Center Building with cloud reflection.
We made our way to the East River were we were able to see the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.
Brooklyn Bridge
Before supper we drove through China Town and Little Italy. Supper that night was at Ben's Delicatessen. Needles had the open face roast beef sandwich and I had the pastrami. We enjoyed the in house pickles and coleslaw. I think Needles would have choose the pastrami if she had it to do again. Next stop Times Square.
Times Square a night.
Times Square New Years Ball
I'm not going to lie, for a small town boy like me, Times Square was very claustrophobic at night. There were what seemed like a river of people with cars darting in and out of them. Its was almost to the point of sensory overload. We had an hour and 20 minutes of fee time. It took all of 20 minutes for us to decide we wanted back on the bus and ready to go. Our tour guide made the comment that all those people are tourist, New Yorkers stay away from there. We saw the Stinky Elmo and a European topless girl. That was the last stop for the night and we were ready to relax in the hotel room.
DAY FIVE
The Sphere.
The Sphere is a piece of art work that stood between the Twin Towers during the attacks on 911. It was excavated from the destruction and put on display in Battery Park.
Today we were going to Liberty Island and Ellis Island by ferry.
New York skyline from ferry.
Ellis Island
Registration Room
Lunch was had on Ellis Island. Needles had a Cobb salad and I had a Southwestern Panini.
One World Trade Center from Liberty Island.
Statue of Liberty
Wall of Honor
After leaving Ellis Island we made our way to St. Paul's Cathedral.
St, Paul's Cathedral
This church survived without damage in close proximity to the Twin Towers during the attacks on 911.
911 Memorial
George Washington's pew
A short walk by our guide just before supper allowed us to visit Wall Street and the financial sector.
A short walk by our guide just before supper allowed us to visit Wall Street and the financial sector.
Federal Hall and the sight of George Washington's swearing in as President.
New York Stock Exchange
Supper was at Fino Ristorante Italiano where we were entertained by live music and the group electric slid all over the dancefloor. Needles had the Cheese Ravioli and I had the Sole Oregano.
This was our last day in New York and we enjoyed every minute of it...even Time Square... sort of.
New York skyline at night.
One of our tour guides knew of a park in New Jersey overlooking the magnificent New York skyline. We had to be quiet as the lady in the house close to the over look likes to call the cops on tour buses stopping at the park at night. After that amazing sight we headed back to the hotel for our last night.
DAY SIX
After breakfast we were on the road and let me tell you I was not looking forward to the grueling long day on the bus. We did have one silver lining on the return trip. Hershey's Chocolate World. After taking the tour we made our chocolate purchases, one that included some Reese's Peanut butter cup cupcakes.
Chocolate World Hershey, Pennsylvania
Supper was at Wendys at St. Clairesville, Ohio. Nothing to spectacular but we were very hungry and tired. We arrived at our hotel, the Ramada in Columbus, Ohio after 10pm. The bed was screaming our name and hey the WIFI was working now.
DAY SEVEN
We left after breakfast and after a couple of bathroom stops and lunch at the Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis, Indiana we just had a few more hours until we were home.
We had a great time and we are thankful that we got to see the sites of so much history, iconic structures and tragedy. This was a once in a life time trip, one that we will never forget.
