The Big Apple

We left the RV at the beautiful state park in Croton-On-Hudson and went to NYC for 3 days.  For those who track this blog closely enough to care (hi Mom), I took a little vacation from the blog (and the rest of the schedule). Then when I finally sat down to post this, I realized that I left my CF card reader in the hotel, along with my camera charger and extra camera battery.  Of course I triple checked the kid’s hotel room, finding a pair of shoes under one of their bed’s that didn’t even belong to us, which I virtuously turned into lost and found, thinking ‘those poor careless people.’  So no photos could be downloaded (except a few gems from Greg’s iPhone).  Then my battery camera died.  Expect sparse photo days until we find a Best Buy.

Wednesday we checked in and had dinner at HB Burgers (great except for the homemade root beer tasted like licorice).  We cruised around Times Square and then almost walked to the Chrysler Building instead of the Empire State Building, but were saved from our folly in the nick of time.  The top observation deck had a grand night view – perfectly clear and all lit up.

Thursday Greg took the kids swimming at the hotel pool and left me all alone in the hotel room to get ready - it seemed so marvelously quiet.  Next stop: Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty.  While we were not organized enough to have reserved the right to climb to the crown weeks in advance, the kids were amazed at the up close view.  Next stop: Ellis Island.

Having studied this in second grade, Dane and Drake were the experts and remembered all sorts of details. That night: Shrek The Musical.  Greg and Mason had been very skeptical about going to a show, but it was quite funny, and being familiar with the story made it enjoyable for the younger kids as well.

Friday we rode the subway down to Ground Zero– they have a temporary memorial museum set up across the street that was great.  The kids (especially Dane & Drake who were babies in 2001), were really impacted.  It was very personal, telling stories of individuals.  You could not help but get emotional.  We also walked over to a preview exhibit of what will be built on the site – it was super cool.

Mason was relieved to know that the new Freedom Tower will reach the same height as the WTC towers, and then be topped with an additional spire that will take the height to 1776 feet, in honor of American freedom.  We did some shopping and then headed back uptown to Fifth Avenue because we had to go the Apple Store and play the giant piano at FAO Shwartz.