The Explore All 50 States Project
Let's Go!
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...]
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...]
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...]
When most folks think of New York, instantly they are transported to a vision of the city with the same name-, the bright lights of Time Square, the bursts of yellow as taxis race by, world class museums, and the sights and smells of iconic foods. New York is also more than just the city that shares it’s namesake, it is a large, mostly rural state. What was a true revelation to us was that most of New York … [Read more...]
Spring is here and with that summer road trip plans are quickly taking shape. I am feverishly planning, and like any good road trip traveler I am looking for a deal. But as with all things in life, when shopping around there are two rules that apply-A) if something is too good to be true it usually is and B) always read the fine print...two rules that this veteran road warrior forgot in her eagerness to score … [Read more...]
Sometimes there is so much to see that it is impossible to squeeze it all in and such was the case on our trip to explore these three hugely important states. My kids and I could have easily spent an entire week in New York City alone so it was more than a little frustrating to have to pick and choose what would have the most significance on our trip. I think this itinerary worked well for the most part except when … [Read more...]
Planning a road trip through a big city like Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York City where you'll need more than one day to check it out? How do you figure out how to manage your time to see as many things as you can? I found myself in that predicament recently in planning our 16th road trip to New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In this post I'll show you step by step how I planned and plotted my way to an … [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...]
I think most people think of New Jersey as New York’s ugly step sister but nothing could be further from the truth. While New Jersey is home to the largest port in the nation and a huge manufacturing hub most of the state is lush and green with a rural sort of feel-which I am sure is why it’s nickname is The Garden State. Did you know that Jersey is home to Thomas Edison’s laboratory? It’s also the … [Read more...]
There were many things I was excited to learn more about on our road trip to New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but by far the one of the things I was most looking forward to was a visit to Ellis Island. So many of us from immigrant stock (myself included) can trace our ancestors first stop here on their way to their new life in America. Although no longer in use as an immigrant processing facility a total of 12 … [Read more...]
