USA 2013- New York, Hawaii, LA & San Fran Trip Report. Day 1 New York

[Flowertot]

Day 1: New York Tues 23rd July

We are awake by 5 not sure if this is because we went to bed so early or just the jet lag setting in! We are staying in the Westin on Times Square which we chose as we have stayed there before and loved the location. We are up, dressed and having breakfast in my favourite little deli across the road from the hotel: Gourmet New York. As it was the first day we told the boys they could have what they wanted so Oli chose a m&m brownie and Marcus pancakes. Mark stayed with coffee and I had a cream cheese bagel $24 plus tip.

We headed towards the piers so we could jump on the water taxi at 9am, it was very overcast and we sat at the end of the pier watching the boats scurry up and down the river. We jumped on the water taxi at 9 and headed to battery park getting our first views of the Statue of Liberty. Then off to exchange our new York passes for tickets and straight onto the boat ( so pleased we did it in this order as the boats and lines were very busy when we got back later). We could only do liberty island but the boys enjoyed wandering around and taking photos. The sun was getting out now and it was getting hotter, so we sat in the sun as mark used the action cam to take a time lapse video of the statue of liberty so we could capture the changing clouds and colours in the sky. We then headed back to battery park for the next adventure..

It was time to walk up wall street and get photos with the bull, it amazes me how busy the streets are with cars and people and no one gets run over? It was time to stop and got kids a McDonald's for lunch, only McDonald's we have ever been in where someone is playing a grand piano for the customers as they eat! We then headed up to the 9/11 memorial where it was busy and queued to get in. A very moving tribute to the people who lost their lives, all their names inscribed around the waterfalls, one for each of the towers that fell. Fresh white roses were placed at some people's names so could only imagine that a loved one had visited and placed these roses in remembrance of them, a very sobering thought. In the middle of the city this place is very quiet, in amongst the buildings and street noise this area is one of quiet contemplation and a sanctuary for people to go and pay their respects and remember.

We decided to head back to battery park and get the bikes to do the Brooklyn bridge only to be met by the rudest woman we have met so far "Chevaughn" ! It ended up that we didn't get the bikes as we couldn't do as planned ie cycling across the bridge and get the water taxi back! So instead we decided to do the rest of the water taxi journey as we could only use this ticket today. We headed towards South Seaport and had a wander around there before getting back on and heading to Brooklyn then back to where we started our journey this morning. We decided not to get off at Brooklyn as plan to do the bike tour and can do it then. Once back on dry land we caught the water taxi bus and headed to times square. The boys by this time had done really well but were flagging, I wanted to take them to Ellen's diner but hadn't told them what it was. We queued for around 15 mins and then went inside, they loved it, the singers were waiting tables then singing and Oli was dancing along with them!, which made my day. The food was quite expensive $91 for wings, kids sliders, kids chicken nuggets, apple juice, pink lemonade, beer, coke and a Philly cheese steak and burger; food was nothing special however the atmosphere made up for it!

The kids were exhausted now and had been on the go for 12hrs so decided to have a stop by times square where mark wanted to do another time lapse video but decided to leave him there while I took the kids back for a shower. They enjoyed some chill time and were all sleeping by 9.30pm a very exciting but exhausting day .

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New Photo Added by Flowertot - 19 Aug 13 7:02 AM.

[Guest]

Wow that does sound like a busy first day but also like a great deal of fun

[DisneyD]

Busy day the kids did really well! I'm looking at the westin for our trip next year do all the rooms have a sofa bed? I have 2 teenagers and no way will they share a bed lol!

[Flowertot]

We had a room with two doubles, not sure about sofa beds sorry ?

[Rosielady]

Could you fit anymore in ?

[Glee Fan]

Wow, busy old day!

Asked on previous day where you were staying, so that question is answered for me now!

[TinkTatoo]

Very busy first day

[ayles300]

Very busy day, well done!