The Explore All 50 States Project
Let's Go!
Ever wondered what life was life for immigrants at the turn of the century living in what was then the most densely populated place on earth? Now you can experience it by taking a tour at The Tenement Museum like Isaac and I did. Located in what's known as The Lower East Side, an original tenement building was purchased by the museum and sort of restored to show visitors what life was like here in it's hey … [Read more...]
I love these cut away shots-isn't this gorgeous? The Pennsylvania state capitol rotunda is a magnificent example a combination of various artistic techniques and mediums working together for a massive impact. The first thing we noticed after a long and circuitous route to get to the rotunda was the dominant color theme of red, white, and blue. Stunning but not surprising given the role of Pennsylvania in the … [Read more...]
There's not much more that screams New York City than Times Square. The neon lights, the masses of people, the rush of yellow taxicabs-this is the biggest tourist mecca in the city and it's a DO NOT MISS! You never know what you'll find here and it's a feast for the eyes (maybe not so much your sense of smell). All kinds of companies host events here and do promotional stunts, concerts, you name it. When we … [Read more...]
I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes....folks going nuts for stuff they could buy at the supermarket. Clearly 99% of the population loves chocolate and we count ourselves among that group, in fact we sometimes go a little crazy for it, I'll give you that but not like the people we saw here. It seemed as if we'd had literally walked into a chocolate utopia and honestly it was a little … [Read more...]
If you are exploring Times Square, this is a great place to park it for some good eats. If you love pasta and Italian fare you will definitely dig Tony's. Make sure you make a reservation on OpenTable.com though because it's quite popular and not just with the tourists. The ambiance inside feels like an old speakeasy with big booths and tables and old chandeliers and cool caricature paintings on the walls. My … [Read more...]
Can you resist warm freshly baked doughy goodness slathered in butter and a little salt or cinnamon sugar? We definitely could not. If you want to taste the original authentic Pennsylvania dutch soft pretzel then this is the place. Watch the women in Amish bonnets roll out the dough dip it and place it on the backing rack. 5 minutes later, it's dipped in butter and sprinkled with your choice of topping. If you … [Read more...]
Did you know that the first post office in the United States was established by Benjamin Franklin and was established prior to our nation's founding right in this very building? Don't you just love the name of the post office too? So clever Mr. Franklin! Do what we did and buy some postcards and have them cancelled at the oldest post office in the USA. The cancellation mark is really big so make sure … [Read more...]
Going to the United Nations for a tour is almost the equivalent of going leaving the country although not to worry, you won't need your passport. You will pass through security and need to present proper ID and once you pass through the gates you will no longer be in the United States (though technically you still are). Once through security, make your way across the courtyard to the main building where your tour … [Read more...]
After learning so much about Ben Franklin we were compelled to pay our respects at his gravesite which is nearby. You can peer at his gravestone through the fence for free which is what most folks do, often tossing pennies onto his grave for good luck. Or, you can pay the couple of bucks admission to into the graveyard and get a closer look. Feeling like I really need to properly thank old Ben for all he'd done … [Read more...]
What a thrill it was to stand in the shadows of the New York Stock Exchange. Unfortunately that is about as close as we were able to get since security has now been totally beefed up. You can no longer take a tour and watch the action let alone get within 100 ft. of the building. Even so, the energy of the place was still palpable in spite of all the foreign tourists with the selfie sticks snapping away. When we … [Read more...]
