Pits, Peaks and Points – NYC edition!
Saylor
Pits: Feet being sore after long days of walking
Peaks: Central Park and food
Points: If it is within 2 miles distance – walk it. Best
view (super inexpensive), Roosevelt Tram
Cindy
Pits: Very sore feet
Peaks: Brunch at RH Restaurant, Wandering through Central
Park, Hell’s Kitchen, Lunch at Dumbo Park and taking plenty of time to take in
the skyline.
Points: When navigating know the East/West streets are long
and the numbered streets are short. Loved staying near Restaurant Row and Hell’s
Kitchen – after a long day of walking it is nice to be so close to dinner. Take a water taxi over to Dumbo Park and walk back
to NYC to take in the skyline.
June 10, 2021
Seattle to New York City!
First real travel after the big Covid-19 lockdown and it is
our FIRST GIRLS TRIP!
Non-stop flight from Seattle landing in Newark at
9:45pm. Hard for me to wear a mask for
that long. Landed and given the time it was we thought we would tackle the
subway/train system another time and Lyft it to our hotel RIU in Times
Square. The driver pulls up to the curb
and told us to walk the rest of the way, our hotel is just down there he
points. Um, ok, out we go a little
confused. Turns out our place is on
restaurant row and the street is shut down to restaurants spilling out into the
street. Loved the vibe of it all and fun
to already be in the mix of the city.
A quick check in, dropped our bags and out to get some dinner at 11:30. Headed straight for Joey’s Pizza in Times Square. It was totally worth standing in line.
Back towards our hotel and managed to make a little room for
another round…dumplings! Dim Sum Palace caught our eye on the way to the hotel
so decided to give it a try. An order of shumai and soup dumplings. Amazing! So good that we had to order another
round of shumai. It is only 12:30 am
after all and we are in the city. Back to the hotel for some sleep.
June 11, 2021
NYC
Up at 8:00 which is impressive since that is 5:00 am back
home. This is the designated shopping day,
and we were ready to take on the city. A
quick breakfast that the hotel gave us in a bag (since it is Covid times) and
off to Macy’s on 5th Ave.
Everyone was lined up waiting for the doors to open. As you
walk in the employees are lined up clapping non-stop and fun music playing. What
a way to start the day! We did a few
more stores and Saylor realized she could shop anywhere and just wanted to take
in the city.
A quick stop at Junior’s for a place to sit and a bite. The
famous Naked Cowboy was walking by – bonus!
The restaurant is a bit too touristy, but it was right there and had my
favorite – a pastrami sandwich!
Went into St. Patrick’s cathedral, breathtaking. Took Roosevelt Tram with the locals. Be sure to stand on the end that is near the city so you can take in the skyline as you leave. Had to hop off, walk around and get right back on, again standing on the end nearest the city to take in the views.
Popped into Magnolia Bakery to give it another try. Last time we were here we were not impressed
and still not impressed. We just do not
get the hype. The cupcake was dry again,
but the chocolate chip cookie was nice.
Entered Central Park at the bird sanctuary. The birds were almost
loud enough to drown out the city noise. Got some photos here with the high
rises in the background. Strolled up through the park, enjoyed a gentlemen
playing the saxophone under beautiful trees that gave all of us some much
needed shade and a bench to sit on. Made our way the Bethesda Terrace which we
thought was going to be the highlight but there was an opera singer. She was unbelievable and very moving. We both just sat and could not get enough of
her, but the city was calling to us so off we went. A stop at the fountain and turtle pond – so
cute with all their little heads up.
Saylor gave one a little pat.
A walk to the Met, but it was about to close. However, I
realized we were in the neighborhood of Levain Bakery and we quickly shifted
gears. On our way to our favorite
bakery! Walked through the beautiful neighborhood. We had to bring the boys back cookies since
it is their favorite also. They are the
best! We figured out the subway and took it back to the hotel. Hotel was just 1.5 miles away I think at that
point but our feet couldn’t take it.
An hour rest at the hotel and time for dinner in Greenwich Village. We were a bit early so walked the neighborhood. So many cute restaurants! I wish we could live here for a month just to check them all out. Had dinner at Olio e Piu, the cutest, most charming restaurant where we got a table outside. It was perfect in every way.
Headed back to the subway and a bunch of drag queens went whirling by in a lot of pink, fishnets, big hair and feather boas. They were having the best time and it was fun to feel like we are back on track for living life and forgetting about Covid.
Back to the hotel with sore feet so thought I would check
our steps for the day. 15 MILES!!! That explains it. Stomach was not feeling
well at all so at 1:00 am Saylor and I headed out to the drugstore 10 minutes
away. Kind of sketchy at night with just
the two of us at that time. We were
fine, but definitely not what I would want to do again.
June 12, 2021
NYC
Up early again and walked to Hudson Yards. Went through the
mall and saw the Vessel. Hoped on the Highline which we had a reservation for
since you need one with Covid and
limiting the number of people. It
was a fun walk, around 30 minutes, and very cool way for them to transition
abandoned tracks into something special for the city. Hopped off at Chelsea Market and
explored. We got lucky and it was the
Flower Festival in the area with over 1 million flower displays. Right on time for our reservation for RH
Rooftop Restaurant. It was gorgeous. We
felt like we were locals doing brunch in the city. One of my favorite
times with Saylor on this trip!
On for more exploring…4 minute walk to Aux Merveilleux de
Fred bakery for what could have been the best treat I have ever had. I do not
remember what it was called or exactly how to describe it but OMG! I must have
this again in my lifetime. Made our way down Bleeker Street and popped into
Faicco’s Italian Specialties. Really
would have loved a sandwich or treat from here, but the place was packed and we
did just eat so this place will have to wait for our next trip. Super fun
Italian deli though. Chocolate Dip was a place Saylor wanted to go but we were just too full. Another one to add to the
list for next time.
Walked up through Washington Square Park and around NYU and
fit in a little shopping including some new shoe inserts for me. 😊
The plan was to take the water taxi to Brooklyn, but somehow, we ended up on the subway. Walked all around Dumbo Park. What a view of the skyline.
Nice to just sit and take it all in. We poked our head into what looked like a deli/market and it ended up being a high end food court with amazing options. We settled on sharing something from Jimmy’s Pickles – southern food. We got a mac ‘n cheese bowl with fried chicken pieces/wing sauce on it. Another amazing meal! Sat at the park, took in the view and just chilled.
Time to walk the Brooklyn Bridge back after all that food. It was a fun walk. Definitely would recommend it, but it seemed like most people were walking from the city to Dumbo Park. Would have made the navigating easier for us because most were walking against them, but we got to enjoy the skyline view the entire time. I definitely recommend going this direction. Another park to enjoy once we made it over and then finished at the 911 Memorial. Always moving when you see it and does not get any easier.
Back to the hotel for a little down time before dinner.
Our hotel is just a block over and a couple up to Hell’s Kitchen, blocks and blocks of
restaurants. It is located on 9th with the best restaurants between
40th St to 55th St.
Tonight ended up being a Hell’s Kitchen food tour!
·
Mom’s for dessert and fries – yes, dessert
before dinner 😊
·
$1 pizza – Saylor said it was really good, and
truly only $1, no tax
·
Empanada Mamas – would totally go back here
again and it is open 24 hours
·
Dim Sum Palace -
yes, same place as the first night. It was that good!
A two hour dinner experience and back to the hotel 1:00
am. So worth it and we had the best time
exploring!
Just before bed I put in an online order for a dozen NY
bagels for pickup to bring home on the plane. Yum!
Walked 12 miles today!
June 13, 2021
New York City to Seattle
Up and walked to Best Bagel and Coffee for our breakfast.
Grabbed our online order which really ended up being a big bag and heavy.
Saylor offered to carry them in her backpack which ended up being for the day. Incredibly
grateful to her!
We also ordered our bagels for the morning. Saylor’s was
with cream cheese and lox and my favorite chive cream cheese. They were
perfection!
10 minutes walk and found ourselves at another bakery and
why start saying no now. 😊 A little chocolate mouse cake to share across the street in Bryant Park to enjoy it.
Found the perfect table under a big tree and took it all in.
Continued on to the public library, Grand Central Station,
Rockefeller Center and a stop in Saks 5th Ave before heading back to
the hotel for our luggage.
Now for the adventure to get to the airport while not
getting lost or missing our flight. Found the right subway station and took A
train to Penn Station where we got off. Was really surprised by how big the
station was. Finally found the New Jersey transit to the Newark airport. Very
busy and packed and it all kind of feels wrong after a year + in Covid
lockdown. Took that to the airport stop where you then find the tram to the
airport , again very full. I think it
took us around 90 minutes +. Much cheaper (for two $40) than Uber (that time of
day $115) but a lot more involved.
Finished off at the airport with 10 miles today.
Lots of shopping, walking, eating, exploring, and laughing! I had the best travel partner and would not change a thing about this trip! Cannot wait for our next adventure together!
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