A highlight of our week... FRIENDS!
The hotel and cold offerings daily at the hotel breakfast!
Trinity Church in Downtown NYC!
The NY Stock Exchange flies the TEXAS flag since Hurricane Harvey!
This was SO COOL and we had no idea they still did this!
The NY Stock Exchange!
I loved Trinity Church.. It really reminded me of the London architecture.
Hello Oculus!
This is a frame worthy picture of the Oculus and One World Trade Center!
Inside the Oculus on the 3rd floor. This was an absolute BEAUTY!
We loved this place!
As I mentioned in previous posts, I had been to NYC many times in my teenage years but I had not been back since 9/11 so this was the first time seeing the OTC close up and the reflecting pools. It is a humbling experience to say the very least and even just approaching the pools I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. September 11th truly is a "you'll never forget where you were" moment in my generation and having been up in the World Trade Center north tower in 2000, it just hit differently for me.
The following day confirmed this for me but OWTC was my favorite part of NYC!
We stayed at the reflecting pools for a brief minute but we were planning to come to them on the next day when we visit the One World Trace Center so we continuing walking downtown towards Battery Park. We grabbed a coffee at Bean & Bean Coffee and it was delicious. I loved that we had a casual not rushed morning before we had to get to the Statue of Liberty.
Good ol' fashioned ICED COFFEE (for only $3.50)!
After our coffee we were able to pass by the Charging Bull just to the north of Battery Park. TIP- There is a LONG line to get inside the gate and take a picture "with" the bull but you can stand outside the gate and in between people get just as good (if not better) photos of the bull. We took some pictures and then continued towards Battery Park and ventured into the garden of the Museum of the American Indian for some absolutely gorgeous tulips.
I didn't wait in that line.. I just snapped quickly between people!
One of my favorite pictures of the trip!
We then went on to Battery Park to get checked in for our Pedestal and Crown tour of the Statue of Liberty. TIP- Be sure to book these tickets WELL in advance. I think I booked out April 12th tickets in December and did not get a "good time". Also be sure to book via Statue City Cruises/ National Park Service as they are the ONLY way to get tickets to the Pedestal or Crown.
I had been to the Statue of Liberty in previous trips and even climbed to the top of the crown and I knew it was a MUST DO for my family... so despite Chris's foot condition, we booked these $26 tickets again and we climbed the 374 steps to the top of Lady Liberty's crown and it was INCREDIBLE! I highly recommend everyone do this AT LEAST once in their lifetime. TIP- Your "arrival time" is 30 minutes before your scheduled time to climb to the top and that "arrival" time is at the base of Lady Liberty. You will need to be at Battery Park at least an hour before that during peak season as the boat ride is 15 minutes to get to Liberty Island.
We verified our tickets and got our passes before going through the toughest security of the entire trip at the entrance to the Statue of Liberty. Chris even made the comment "The museum to memorialize immigration has higher security (or any) than our actual current US immigration" and sadly, he nailed that comment! After security, we waited to board the Lady Liberty boat to get to Liberty Island in the sun and heat. We were able to get on the 2nd boat that arrived and we were able to get on the bottom level to see our approach to Liberty Island.
We are on the Lady Liberty boat to Liberty Island!
We are ready to conquer these steps!
At the base of the pedestal before climbing to the Crown!
I loved this view of Manhattan!
The BEFORE PICTURE!
About 200 steps in and we had to take a "break" on a landing spot!
We made it... Now hurry outta here!
I may be 40 years old but I've still got it!
This was PERFECT way to remind me of my youth!
A view from inside the crown looking back at Manhattan!
She's a BEAUTY!
We crossed off another bucket list item and got back down to the base of the Statue of Liberty and then walked around the island for near an hour before getting in line for one of the remaining few boats back to Battery Park. We had to wait for 4 boats before getting on board and heading back to NYC. We did not get off at Ellis Island but that is included with your ticket if you do choose to explore that area.
Be still my heart... My girl is growing up SO FAST!
And this little guy... STOP GROWING UP!
I love my family!
Frame Worthy!
I love you Chris Davis!
I LOVE this picture of our American Flag on Liberty Island with Manhattan in the background! Oh Beautiful for spacious skies!
This day WAS AWESOME!
We grabbed a snack on the boat and once back on land we got a hot dog from a street vendor! I highly recommend you eating from a street vendor while in NYC... It is a quint-essential tourist thing to do! The Nathan's Hotdog was really good and we all enjoyed it! Luke did not eat as he was just too hot and tired from the day's activities but this is not uncommon for him!
You only live once... JUST DO IT! Best $6 lunch of the trip!
After lunch we took the subway back to Midtown to explore the Hudson Yards area. I had wanted to walk the "highline" as it was not around back in 2000 when I last visited, but we opted to check out the Vessel and the Hudson Yards mall instead. We went indoors to enjoy the AC and sat down for some drinks and food at Anita's. The kids destroyed the nachos!
The Vessel outside of Hudson Yards!
The $8.50 Happy Hour Nachos at Anitas!
The queso was surprisingly good!
We then went to a hit given to us by Aunt D'Ann in Dylan's Candy Bar inside the Hudson Yards. This was a very fancy candy shop similar to what you used to see in shopping malls all over the US and currently on cruise ships! The kids got another massive bag of overpriced candy and Chris and I enjoyed oldies such as a "Crunchy Bars".
Thanks Aunt D for this recommendation!
We all really liked this store and the candy!
After we splurged in Dylan's Candy Bar, we tried to get back crosstown to 23rd street for our Friend's Experience Tour. During rush hour this proved to be a NIGHTMARE. The subway was jam-packed and we couldn't even get down to the platform near 42nd street. We opted to get off and try at another station. It was WILD!
This IS New York City Subway!
Despite the rush-hour traffic on the subway... We made it in time for our tour!
She was SO EXCITED!
I'll be there for YOU!
Luke LOVES penguins so Naturally HUGSY was his favorite part!
Classic!
Look... It's Monica and Rachel in their apartment!
I loved sharing this with not just Natalie but the boys too!
I'm LUKE... Could I BE wearing any more clothes!
The Davis family with PAT the dog!
Time for living on the streets in NYC!
"The Angelica.. Go, Go!"
Time for some coffee in Central Perk!
I'll BE THERE FOR YOU!
Best tour EVER!
After our Friends Experience tour, we grabbed some coffee at Central Perk, which was SO COOL, and then made our way back towards Midtown to try and find some real dinner. By now it was after 8PM and while we didn't mind walking at night, we didn't have a clue what we wanted to eat or where we were going. I knew we wanted to try something in Chinatown so we opted to hail a cab. This was such a cool experience since Chris was able to hail a cab in NYC! There's a first time for everything!
Another PICTURE PERFECT moment in Central Perk!
Chris hailing a CAB in NYC!
It was a SMALL cab but we survived!
Our cab driver took all my money ($56) and dropped us off at a local favorite- Wo Hop in central Chinatown. I had read about this place in the NYC Travel Tips Facebook Group and it was INCREDIBLE! TIP- Always look for social media groups that can offer tips and tricks for cities you are visiting! It is SO HELPFUL! Dinner was delicious and SO FILLING. We ordered SO MUCH not knowing that the serving sizes were HUGE and practically TEXAS serving sizes! We ALL took a doggie bag back to the hotel to eat later in our trip!
We have arrived... We love trying LOCAL favorites!
It was 10PM and we were HUNGRY!
Time for dinner!
The 4 plates plus appetizer we ordered!
Total- $77 WITH TIP! Best value of the trip!
After dinner we continued our nightly tradition of "walking it off" and walked from Chinatown (underneath the base of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges) back to our Financial District Hotel. And to be honest, it wasn't even a "sketchy" walk! We felt safe the entire time!
We are ready to walk the near 1 mile back to the hotel... At 11PM!
You only live once... Or die! I wasn't sure at the time!
Another 20K+ step day!
It was a day CRAM PACKED of awesome and amazing experiences but we were now halfway through our trip!
Up next... IT'S YANKEES TIME! My favorite day of the entire trip! Stay tuned for details!
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