New York City ~ Spring Break 2008
Friday, March 28
We arrived in NYC around 9 pm. While Mr. B had been to NYC a couple of times, neither my niece nor I had. We told her back at Christmas that we were taking her to NYC so the presents we gave her were a bunch of little things related to what we were going to do in NYC (Statue of Liberty miniature, a small Ariel doll, a toy airplane,and the like) individually wrapped in an apple basket. Once she had it all opened we told her it was a riddle and she had to figure it out. She didn't get the apple basket reference but she did figure out that we were taking her to NYC! She was so excited that she fell over!!
Peaches survived her first flight (she was so nervous!) and the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel. She did turn green just about the time we got off the expressway so I was worried that we would have a mess to clean up but she was a trooper! We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Times Square and went straight to bed since it was really late - probably more so for us than her ;-)
Saturday, March 29
We started our first day in the Big Apple at Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock at the NBC building. The elevator ride to the top was awesome! We also went to Toys 'R' Us and played around for awhile. She and I rode the Ferris wheel while Uncle Bear was taking pictures (and playing with the WWE characters). That afternoon we had tickets to see Mary Poppins on Broadway and we all loved it! We had traditional NY pizza for dinner and then took a carriage ride through Central Park. We finished our evening by exploring Times Square.
We arrived in NYC around 9 pm. While Mr. B had been to NYC a couple of times, neither my niece nor I had. We told her back at Christmas that we were taking her to NYC so the presents we gave her were a bunch of little things related to what we were going to do in NYC (Statue of Liberty miniature, a small Ariel doll, a toy airplane,and the like) individually wrapped in an apple basket. Once she had it all opened we told her it was a riddle and she had to figure it out. She didn't get the apple basket reference but she did figure out that we were taking her to NYC! She was so excited that she fell over!!
Peaches survived her first flight (she was so nervous!) and the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel. She did turn green just about the time we got off the expressway so I was worried that we would have a mess to clean up but she was a trooper! We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Times Square and went straight to bed since it was really late - probably more so for us than her ;-)
Saturday, March 29
We started our first day in the Big Apple at Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock at the NBC building. The elevator ride to the top was awesome! We also went to Toys 'R' Us and played around for awhile. She and I rode the Ferris wheel while Uncle Bear was taking pictures (and playing with the WWE characters). That afternoon we had tickets to see Mary Poppins on Broadway and we all loved it! We had traditional NY pizza for dinner and then took a carriage ride through Central Park. We finished our evening by exploring Times Square.
Manhattan - south
Empire State Building (sans King Kong)
70 stories up on Top of the Rock!
It was nearing the end of the ice skating season and we wanted to skate, but we were on a pretty tight schedule because of theater tickets. I also have to say that I was a bit worried about bringing my niece home with stitches in her chin like her Aunt Sis needed years ago after her first ice skating attempt. :-/
Manhattan - north
Central Park
Toys 'R' Us Ferris wheel
Peaches in the life-sized Barbie house
Sunday, March 30
We were on the go the entire day. We took the ferry over to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. It was a gorgeous day for that as the sky was perfectly clear and blue. Later on, we went back into Manhattan to go to the World Trade Center site, Fire Station #10, and the WTC museum. It was an incredibly sad and somber afternoon yet one filled with hope as we watched the workers preparing for the new tower. That night, we drank some coffee and hot chocolate while we walked to the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge. By now, Peaches was an expert at the Subway system.
We were on the go the entire day. We took the ferry over to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. It was a gorgeous day for that as the sky was perfectly clear and blue. Later on, we went back into Manhattan to go to the World Trade Center site, Fire Station #10, and the WTC museum. It was an incredibly sad and somber afternoon yet one filled with hope as we watched the workers preparing for the new tower. That night, we drank some coffee and hot chocolate while we walked to the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge. By now, Peaches was an expert at the Subway system.
Such an empty skyline without the twin towers.
Peaches did a pretty good job as photographer.
At Station #10, across from Ground Zero.
Out of respect, we took no pictures there or in the WTC museum next to the station.
~we came~
~we saw~
~we cried~
Out of respect, we took no pictures there or in the WTC museum next to the station.
~we came~
~we saw~
~we cried~
View from the ferry to Ellis Island.
Peaches, how strong you are!
The view of Queens from the Brooklyn Bridge.
In the center of the Brooklyn Bridge. We were so cold!
Monday, March 31
We spent the entire day at the American History Museum, literally open to close. We arrived about 45 minutes before it opened so we had some hot chocolate and walked over to Central Park to walk around for a bit.
We spent the entire day at the American History Museum, literally open to close. We arrived about 45 minutes before it opened so we had some hot chocolate and walked over to Central Park to walk around for a bit.
Tuesday, April 1
We spent most of the day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then took Peaches to the playground at Central Park for several hours since she had done the grown up stuff for two days. There were plenty of kids for her to play with and she didn't mind playing in the cold or the light drizzle at all. Uncle Bear and I were okay with getting off of our feet for awhile, too. We read and chatted with the family at home. We found a really good Italian restaurant for dinner; I wish I had written the name of it down.
We spent most of the day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then took Peaches to the playground at Central Park for several hours since she had done the grown up stuff for two days. There were plenty of kids for her to play with and she didn't mind playing in the cold or the light drizzle at all. Uncle Bear and I were okay with getting off of our feet for awhile, too. We read and chatted with the family at home. We found a really good Italian restaurant for dinner; I wish I had written the name of it down.
Wednesday, April 2
Fifth Avenue was pretty much Peaches' day. =-) When we got on 5th Avenue, Peaches called Grandma to wish her a happy birthday and told her how much fun she was having. We went straight to FAO Schwartz and saw the daily opening rolling of the red carpet. Peaches thought it was cool that we were one of the first people in the store and that the soldiers saluted us and the employees clapped for us. We spent a couple of hours there playing in the build your own Barbie corner, on the toy piano a la Big, and hugging all the stuffed animals. While we were on our way to Aunt Sis's toy store (Tiffanys - no buying, just wanted to say I'd been there!) we caught the filming of a scene from Shopaholic. Peaches thought that was pretty cool to see movie making in action.
Next stop was the American Girl Store. We had promised Peaches we would buy her a doll but we had NO idea how much of a decision that was going to be! There is no "walk in, pick out a doll, and go home". We were there over two hours just exploring and looking at all the choices. She finally picked one out and since we had theater tickets, the employees held the doll and clothes for her until after the show: The Little Mermaid. It was fabulous and Peaches enjoyed this show immensely! Then it ws back to the American Girl Store to pick up her doll. We finished off the day with some more play time in Central Park and a quick visit to Strawberry Fields.
Fifth Avenue was pretty much Peaches' day. =-) When we got on 5th Avenue, Peaches called Grandma to wish her a happy birthday and told her how much fun she was having. We went straight to FAO Schwartz and saw the daily opening rolling of the red carpet. Peaches thought it was cool that we were one of the first people in the store and that the soldiers saluted us and the employees clapped for us. We spent a couple of hours there playing in the build your own Barbie corner, on the toy piano a la Big, and hugging all the stuffed animals. While we were on our way to Aunt Sis's toy store (Tiffanys - no buying, just wanted to say I'd been there!) we caught the filming of a scene from Shopaholic. Peaches thought that was pretty cool to see movie making in action.
Next stop was the American Girl Store. We had promised Peaches we would buy her a doll but we had NO idea how much of a decision that was going to be! There is no "walk in, pick out a doll, and go home". We were there over two hours just exploring and looking at all the choices. She finally picked one out and since we had theater tickets, the employees held the doll and clothes for her until after the show: The Little Mermaid. It was fabulous and Peaches enjoyed this show immensely! Then it ws back to the American Girl Store to pick up her doll. We finished off the day with some more play time in Central Park and a quick visit to Strawberry Fields.
Thursday, April 3
This was the day we decided to brave Canal Street. Peaches was a bit nervous once we got down there because it was so crowded and people were bumping into her. Uncle Bear and I just held on tightly to her and plowed through the crowd. We had a good time browsing through the shops and I ended up buying a messenger bag for $20.00.
The New York City Firefighter Museum was also on our list for the day. Since my brother was a firefighter at the time, Peaches wanted to take some pictures back for him.
The concierge at the Hampton had been absolutely super to us the whole trip when he found out it was Peaches' and my first time; he always made a point to ask Peaches about her day. When we got back to the room to freshen up for dinner, there was a gift bag waiting for her with a Hampton Inn bear and a snow globe of NYC inside. He had written a very nice note to the whole B family saying that he hoped we had a wonderful trip and that when we came back, we would stay at the Hampton again. Peaches made the suggestion (I'm so proud!) to find a thank you card so we had our dinner and picked up a card from the corner drug store. We decided that we would stay out for awhile and spend our last evening in NYC roaming through Times Square one more time.
This was the day we decided to brave Canal Street. Peaches was a bit nervous once we got down there because it was so crowded and people were bumping into her. Uncle Bear and I just held on tightly to her and plowed through the crowd. We had a good time browsing through the shops and I ended up buying a messenger bag for $20.00.
The New York City Firefighter Museum was also on our list for the day. Since my brother was a firefighter at the time, Peaches wanted to take some pictures back for him.
The concierge at the Hampton had been absolutely super to us the whole trip when he found out it was Peaches' and my first time; he always made a point to ask Peaches about her day. When we got back to the room to freshen up for dinner, there was a gift bag waiting for her with a Hampton Inn bear and a snow globe of NYC inside. He had written a very nice note to the whole B family saying that he hoped we had a wonderful trip and that when we came back, we would stay at the Hampton again. Peaches made the suggestion (I'm so proud!) to find a thank you card so we had our dinner and picked up a card from the corner drug store. We decided that we would stay out for awhile and spend our last evening in NYC roaming through Times Square one more time.
Friday, April 4
We left New York City to head home.....for now - we'll definitely go back!
We left New York City to head home.....for now - we'll definitely go back!
