May 6, 2008 1:08 PM
Sophia and Mom's Incredible Amazing Trip to New York
I'm back! It's taken a while - including five hours this morning to pull together the 270 photos we shot in New York.
Yes, I know, it's a tough life being a parent. This past weekend I had to pick up my cross and go to New York once again :)
It was very spontaneous. Sophia just decided that she didn't want to go to her Senior Prom. Maybe it's genetic. I didn't go to mine either. And Tripp didn't go to his. But I knew I'd better get her out of town so she's have no regrets.
Remember I told you about the cheap seats on BoltBus? We got $20 fares to New York and once again I finished off our American Express reward points to buy tickets to Wicked (for those not familiar, this is a musical which tells the backstory of Wizard of Oz, proving the Wicked Witch wasn't really wicked at all.
So as a combination Prom Alternative/graduation present, Sophia and I spent 3 days, 2 nights in New York, where I have learned over time (this was my 5th visit) to make every moment count.
There are lots of pictures - and my running commentary at Picasa:
 |
| Sophia and Mom's Incredible Amazing Trip to New York |
Everyone should consider New York City as a vacation destination. it is loaded with history and culture and will not leave you unchanged, I promise.
Let me know how you like the pictures. And if you're ever going to New York and need some tips, let me know. I've made enough mistakes and missed enough opportunities that now I can spend a weekend there and say "That was really perfect!"
(Love you, Sophia!)
Posted in Family, My life | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://mommylife.net/fastcgi/mt/mt-tb.fcgi/2667
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Sophia and Mom's Incredible Amazing Trip to New York:
Comments
WOW!
Awesome pictures!!! It looks like you two had such a wonderful time! What a special gift to give your daughter. I would love to take my girls up there for a couple of days after they can leave the babies.
I would be very grateful to know how you go about finding reasonable and convenient hotels and how you decide where to go!
You have gotten me thinking....again.
Posted by: Jennifer | May 6, 2008 2:41 PM
You've reminded me to have FUN with my children. Sometimes I get caught up in spirituality and religion lessons. Life is for living too. You are so cool! I've wanted to email you for the longest time about several things. One day soon, I must do that.
Posted by: Lela | May 6, 2008 3:05 PM
Hi Jennifer -
I search places like Expedia to get the best deal I can on hotels. They ARE expensive. And teeny-tiny, but since I tend to go there just to sleep, it doesn't matter. I think you could save money by staying outside the city and commuting in, but I'd rather give up stuff to splurge on a trip to New York. In Sophia's case, she was saving the expenses of prom and we did this as a graduation present.
I try to save on transportation - this time by using the BoltBus rather than the train or plane. And I use the subway to get around - or walk. If you stay near Times Square you can walk most anywhere.
One alternative I've heard of but haven't tried is the Pod Hotel which has bunkbeds and some rooms with shared bathrooms. People who haven't been to New York may not realize that when you're in a place where space is a premium (the island of Manhattan is only 13 miles long and 2 miles across), every square inch spells money.
I've learned how to make the most of each day through trial and error. One thing is to book the Statue of Liberty in advance. That way you can book the interior tour, but most importantly, you won't spend up to two hours standing in line for the ferry. Same with the Empire State Building.
The Gray Line doubledecker bus is a must. And if you plan where you're going, you can use it to hop off at the places you want to see.
Get up early and grab something to eat as you go. Get on the tour bus first thing in the morning and start going.
Stagger your meals at off times. Either nibble until 2 and have lunch then, dinner after 8. Or have a brunch at 10 and dinner at 4 and snack before shutting down for the night. My advice for people like me who don't want to waste time standing in lines or waiting for a table.
If you can, avoid weekends and go during the week. The hotel rates are cheaper and everything is (a little) less crowded.
My top choices for where to go are where I took Sophia this trip: the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island (plan to leave early and spend the whole day), the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We didn't go to the Empire State Building because it was in the midst of a cloud this time - but I recommend it.
Lela -
Actually, there was a lot of spirituality in the trip - kind of a subtext. We went to one of the most glorious Masses I've ever gone to Sunday morning at St. Malachy's on 49th Street - aka the Actors' Chapel. And we had four hours each way on the bus to talk/read without interruption from siblings.
It was really worth it. We didn't shop or bring home anything extra because we just didn't have the money for that. But for shoppers, wow! New York would be a shopper's paradise.
Posted by: barbara | May 6, 2008 3:38 PM
Chris and I are thinking of taking a trip to New York. He was stationed there for a while when he was in the Army, before I met him, at Fort Hamilton. He wants to go to a game at Yankees Stadium, since this is the last year for the stadium. I would love to go. We're actually thinking about staying in the guest house at Fort Hamilton to get a cheaper room. Looking at your pictures have made me super excited about the possibility of going with my man. They were awesome photos. Good job!
Posted by: Rachel | May 6, 2008 6:33 PM
I would like to go back in time 16 years, SKIP my senior prom (what a waste) AND adopt you as my mom AND go to New York. Never been there but that looks like so much fun!
Posted by: Stretch Mark Mama | May 6, 2008 7:36 PM
What an awesome alternative to the prom (a tradition that seems to hit new lows each year)! I didn't go to my prom either and couldn't have cared less. But how fun to have special one-on-one time to celebrate the milestone of graduation.
I bet she'll always treasure the memory,
Julie
Posted by: Julie | May 6, 2008 9:27 PM
Barbara, going along with your promo of New York,let me say that the PBS New York documentary is one of the best sources of history I have ever seen. You would love it!
Posted by: thatmom | May 7, 2008 11:07 AM
Loved the pictures! Barbara, you have some very stylin' outfits! You looked great.
We're going to NYC this weekend to visit some good friends. We've gone to stay with them before, and that's a great way to get to know the city. Getting a weekend or week-long subway pass is a great way to go. And native New Yorkers know the best places to eat!
Posted by: Becky Miller | May 8, 2008 1:13 AM
