NY Day 2 Liberty, Ellis and 911

We were up and awake early, as expected altho we did manage to doze until just after 6.

Breakfast!  We headed towards Penn Station as we knew we were going to have to brave the metro today.  There was a McDonald's at the end of our street which was just too tempting for a quick easy breakfast.  That's it tho, done with the easy McDonald's option, we need to be more adventurous from now on!

Breakfast done we headed into the maze of long tunnels that make up Penn Station.  We should have had breakfast there, there were loads and loads of eating places!  We managed to get a metro card from a ticket machine and headed off to find the right platform.  Was fairly straightforward but think Grandma was a bit freaked out!  It was just before 9 and the station was a sea of people!

The first train was packed like sardines so we waited as we knew another was only 2 minutes behind.  This was much quieter and we even had seats!  We got off at South Ferry, the end of line 1, and resurfaced near Battery Park.  It was a gorgeous morning with clear blue sky.  With little glimpses between the trees and building of our destination we headed into the park to the ferry for Liberty and Ellis Islands.  Through the airport style security and we were straight onto a waiting ferry.  Being early it was quite chilly sitting on the top deck but we just hd to for the views.

 

 

We hadn't got tickets to go up the Statue of Liberty but it was fabulous to walk around the island, up close to the Statue and with fabulous views back across to Manhattan.  After a leisurely roam around and a trip to the gift shop we headed back to the ferry for the trip to Ellis Island.

 

We decided to head for the cafe first and grabbed some teas and muffins.  I had heard good reviews about the audio tour here and they were spot on.  A very interesting hour told the story of the immigration centre superbly.  Very impressed.

 

Listening to the audio tour

Back on the boat, the weather was warming up altho the sky was not as blue as it had been earlier.  More snacks on our way to the world trade centre site.  Sarah had a big slice of pizza, Chloe had a pretzel and mum and I shared one.

We spent a while taking in the pools and grounds at the 911 memorial before heading into the museum.  A very respectful place that remembers and pays tribute to all those who have suffered or list their lives on that day.  A very thought provoking place. Quite hard to comprehend that you are stood where such a tragedy happened.

 

 

 

Back outside and after a short wander we found the right metro station and were soon on a train back to Penn Station.

We headed back to our hotel where we all just flaked out on our beds with a cup of tea and gave oit legs an hour or so rest to recover before heading out for some dinner.

Ruby Tuesday in Times Square, a favourite chain with Sarah and I proved a success for dinner tonight.  We all loved their fruit lemonade and our dinners were great.  Chloe had a pasta dush (huge), Sarah had steak and shrimp, grandma had steak and I had bourbon salmon.

Feeling rather full we ambled up to Times Square for some shopping and sightsèeing.   A bit later to bed tonight at nearly 11 but exhausted.

 

Make Up shopping at Sophora

 

New York Day 1

Our morning started just after 6am after, cup of tea and up and dressed, cases closed and loaded into hubby's car by 7.  I tried to check in online for our United flight yesterday but it wouldn't let me, but no such problems at the checked in machines this morning.  Bags deposited and pretty quiet at security and we were airside by 8.15.  After a quick bacon roll and hot drink we settled down to await our boarding gate.  Time went quite quickly and after a quick town around the shops we were heading to our boarding gate which was as far away as it was possible to get!  Straight onto the plane and we were soon buckled up and ready for our on time departure.

After dropping us at terminal 2 hubby was off to work on the airfield.  We saw him and his colleague on the side of the runway as we taxied for take off.

Plane was good, looked like it had been recently refurbed, chairs were clean and tidy, ife worked brilliantly with fab choice of films to watch.  The Greatest Showman was my choice.  One round of drinks was soon followed by dinner, choice of pasta or chicken risotto.  We all enjoyed our meals, very tasty and looked good too.  Another round of drinks followed before we were left in peace for a while.  A couple of minor areas of turbulence but nothing major.  Unusually this was an all male crew in economy.  One hour before landing we were served a snack, very delicious turkey and cheese pretzel roll.
Only gripe - why oh why do I have to find the most fidgety person to sit behind who reclined the whole flight, banged sndand bashed the seat, threw his arms oved the seat and managed to reset my screen to main menu!
Am now seriously thinking of upgrading our flights in September to L.A.!

Immigration was a bit long winded but once we got to the front of the queue it was fairly straightforward.  By then our bags were amongst the last in the carousel.  We headed for the terminal exit and stopped at a yellow taxi desk where a lady quickly organised a yellow mini van to take us to our hotel.  The traffic was horrendous! Just seemed like a free for all.  Lots of tooting of horns.

Finally at hotel and we started off with a room not suitable for the four of us, bit disappointing but after popping back to reception with a copy of what I'd actually booked (Thank goodness for my folder full of print outs!) We were given a more suitable family room with plenty of individual beds.

A quick sort out of cases and bags, a check in with family at home to let them know we had arrived,  and we headed to Times Square for a walk and to find some food.

OMG. traffic and people.  It was manic!  We were a bit mesmerized by the time we made it to MaDonalds which by then was about all we fancied eating.  We ordered some chicken nuggets and 4 lots of friessizes and 2 drinks, forgot American sizesdrinks, fries and drinks were huge!  The crowds and traffiic had eased by the time we headed out and darkness was starting to fall.  We wandered back looking at  all the tourist tat shops.  I think the girls money has been mentally spent a few times over already on their NY souvenirs!

Back at the hotel and we made a cup of tea before flaking out on the beds with lights out by 9.30.

Pre Trip - Girly Adventure to New York 2018

April 2018 sees myself, my daughter, my mum and my niece heading to New York for the first time.

Flights are booked with United, London Heathrow to Newark.
Hotel booked at Tryp Wyndham near Times Square

Must do's will include - Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, Rockerfeller Centre, Empire State, 911 Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge

More to follow soon

Canada's Wonderland

Our last day and today we are heading to our last park, Canada's Wonderland.  A quick look at the website told us that they were opening an hour early for pass holders as an end of summer special.  We arrived just after 10, and made our way straight to the parks biggest ride, Leviathan.  Great ride, again very similar to Fury325, although feels like it is cut a bit short, still has plenty of speed when it hits the final breaks, also lacks the intensity.

Next up was Behemoth, which we also managed 2 rides on before the park started to get busy.

Being Labour Day weekend, the park got quite busy and the queues for most rides were around half an hour.  We managed to get everything done that we wanted to.

By half past 4 we were starting to get tired.  We stopped for an ice cream at a Dairy Queen stand and ate while watching a trampoline and diving Stunt show before heading for the park exit.

We stocked up on some drinks and milk for tonight and tomorrow morning, then drove back to the hotel.  Having saved on fast passes we decided to splash out on another meal at The Keg, this time walking distance from the hotel.

Another superb meal, we started with another baked brie and a portion of garlic shrimp then Keith had a blue cheese fillet steak, Sarah had blackened sirloin, Stephen had teriyaki sirloin again, and I had chicken and ribs.  Would highly recommend this chain if anyone is visiting canada.

Back to the hotel to chill in front to of the TV and check in online for our early flight home tomorrow.

Back to Toronto

Nothing major planned today, an amble back to Toronto.  I have decided we don't do very well without a definite plan for the day!

We started with breakfast in the guesthouse again, very tasty, Sarah and I had eggs benedict,  Stephen had omelette and Keith had maple syrup pancakes.

My eggs benedict! 

We packed the car, returned the house key and set off up the Gorge road towards Niagara on the Lake.  We made a couple of stops along the way, first at the Aero Car again.  We could also see one of the white water jet boats down on the river below.

We paused again opposite a hydro power station on the American side of the Gorge and also at the floral clock, maintained by the Canadian power station nearby and made up of thousands of small plants and flowers, the design is changed twice a year.

We travelled on passed fields and fields of vines, there are many small vineyards in this area.  The town of Niagara on the Lake was very pretty, lots of flowers and beautiful houses, but absolutely packed with tourists!  Lots of people cycling through the parks, presumably on hire bikes, and many more wandering the many shops along the main street.  We thought about stopping but so many people put us off a bit.  We carried on passed more vineyards and now lots of fruit farms.  We stopped at a farm selling fruit at the side of the road and bought a mixed punnet of plums, peaches, grapes and pear all grown on the farm.  We had thought about visiting a vineyard but the one we stopped at just had a bit of tasting and selling, maybe wrong, but we hoped to have a look at the vineyards and wine making, maybe we just chose the wrong one!

We drove on to Toronto and checked into our hotel for the next two nights.  After a rest we decided to head to Vaughan Mills for a bit of shopping.  Stephen was not keen and wanted to go to Canada's Wonderland to continue his coastering.  In hindsight he probably had the better idea, designer shopping isn't for us!  Plus it was packed!  We did have some fun in the Bass Pro shop.  Looking at all the life-size animals, shocked at the rows of guns for sale (plus hunting knives), and thinking about buying one of the boats in quad bikes for sale in there!  Totally bizarre shop!

Bored with shopping, and following another food tip from The Dibb, we decided on The Keg Steakhouse for dinner.  Wonderful food!  We started with baked bries to share, then Keith and Sarah had fillet mignon and Stephen and I had teriyaki sirloin.  Absolutely delicious, lovely, lovely quality steak.   We finished with a mocha ice cream cake,  can't remember it's name, and a cheesecake.  Our server was also excellent.  Our most expensive meal of the trip at c$196 but probably worth it.

We were lucky we got in early as there was a large queue waiting when we left.

Back to the hotel, we watched a big of TV before going to bed.

Last day tomorrow, more coasters!

Niagara Falls

Bit more leisurely this morning.  We had ordered breakfast for 9.15.  We helped ourselves to drinks, croissants and pastries while our breakfast was cooked.  Sarah had fruit crepes, huge and really stuffed with fruit.  I had eggs benediction and the boys had 3 egg omelette.   All was delicious.  We also placed our order for tomorrow morning.

We grabbed our bags and cameras and walked into Niagara.  Another lovely day.

First stop was the Hornblower boat tour.  Keith and Stephen weren't really bothered about this so it was just Sarah and I.   We took the elavator to the boat level and put on our ponchos.  We were straight out onto the waiting boat.  Brilliant, we both loved it.  Sarah managed to keep dry with her shorts under the poncho but my 3/4 lengths got soaked.

We met up with the boys again and walked further along towards Horseshoe falls to buy tickets for the Behind the Falls Tour.  We had to wait 40 mins for our alloted time so wandered out to view the top of Horseshoe falls.

Back inside, we were issued with yellow ponchos, and taken down  in another elevator.  We then followed the signs through the tunnels to two outlooks behind the falls.  Not sure what I was expecting but we were all a bit underwhelmed!

There was also an observation deck, where you could get a good view of the Horseshoe falls.

Back up at Street level, we wandered round the gift shops before making our way back towards the guesthouse via the Hershey shop where we bought some chocolate bars, some jellybean and a chocolate milkshake.

We relaxed and watched some TV for a while then ordered Domino's for delivery, After dinner Keith,  Sarah and I drove a couple of miles north to the White Water Walk.  A lovely boardwalk, down yet another elevator, along the Gorge rapids.  The current and sound was incredible.

We carried on a little further along the Gorge road til we found the whirlpool aero ride.  Looking was enough here, didn't fancy the cable car trip across the Gorge.

We found a convenience store for some drinks and milk then headed back.

At 9.30 Sarah, Stephen and I walked the 10mins back into Niagara to watch the 10pm firework display above the falls.

Have had a great day, shattered again but we have been soo lucky with the weather.  Would definitely recommend the Hornblower boat trip and white water walk on the Canadian side.