It has certainly been a busy summer! Although not many of our adventures have made it into the blog, my wife and I have spent much of our summer with family and friends, or attending to new homeowner responsibilities. For me, a new job has meant time for vacation has been hard to come by. Put it all together, and it has equalled a different summer than what we are accustomed to experiencing… but that certainly does not mean it has been boring!
For this latest post, I thought I would share some of our most recent adventures, revisiting a few old favorite haunts, while also spending time with our loved ones. So come along, then, on a day trip to New York City, a road trip adventure to southeastern Pennsylvania, and a return to an old favorite shore town.
Let’s begin:
New York, New York
Early in August, we had two good friends join us for a long weekend. They were from more than halfway across the country, and asked us to show them around our area. We decided the best way to spend a Sunday would be to give them a tour of New York City!Both the Accord and the Jeep would stay at home for this weekend – in their place we’d be taking a different form of transportation: the Staten Island Ferry! The ferry offers free transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan, and on Sundays parking is free at the ferry terminal. It’s an affordable way to get into the city without the hassle of driving!Not only is the Staten Island Ferry free, but it is also a great way to see some New York attractions, such as the Statue of Liberty.One of my favorite parts of the ride is the view offered of the Manhattan skyline as the ferry approaches the terminal.After disembarking, our first stop was the most somber: the 9/11 Memorial, built on the site of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.Our next stop was to St. Paul’s Chapel. Built in 1766 it is most famous as the place where President George Washington worshipped during his inauguration. The church, located only a block from the site of the World Trade Center, survived the collapses of the Twin Towers, and also became a rest center for rescue workers, police, and fire fighters in the days, weeks, and months after the 9/11 attacks.Hanging on the wall of the chapel is one of the earliest representations of the Great Seal of the United States. Look closely at the bird – does it seem a little different? Before the eagle became our national symbol, Ben Franklin had proposed the turkey. History is fascinating.Our next stop was to something a bit more light-hearted… the Wall Street Bull. Charging Bull, by Arturo Di Modica, is said to represent financial prosperity, although it has also been the site of frequent protests against the excesses of capitalism (via Wikipedia). Regardless of your opinion about Wall Street and the stock exchange… it’s certainly a popular attraction.How popular? If you’d like to get your picture taken beside the 7,100 pound bronze statue, prepare to stand in line and wait. It’s a loooonnngggg line.We weren’t waiting around for photos… lunch was calling! At noon, we headed over to The Dead Rabbit, one of our favorite New York spots. Before the pandemic, this Irish pub was an old favorite of both my wife and I – it was not uncommon for us to grab the ferry on a Sunday morning and head into the city for brunch. This, however, was our first time back since March of 2020.As soon as we sat down, we got right to business – The Dead Rabbit is known for its Irish Coffee. Made from Bushmills Irish whiskey, demerara, coffee, nutmeg, and whipped cream, this drink is a must-have for any visitor. The Dead Rabbit also offers a “mocktail” version of the drink that does not include alcohol.The drinks were amazing, and the food was as good as ever. I ordered a cheeseburger (surprise!) and promptly devoured it, while my wife dined on the roasted broccoli & quinoa bowl. Our friends had the fish and chips and the sausage roll. We all left The Dead Rabbit full and happy!After lunch, our friends rode the subway up to Rockefeller Center, while my wife and I took it easy and stayed in the Financial District. We decided to check out the National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian Institution.Housed in the old Alexander Hamilton Custom House, the National Museum of the American Indian tells the history and the story of the Native peoples of the Americas.The National Museum of the American Indian is split between two locations – one in Washington, D.C., and one in New York. Although smaller than the D.C. location, the New York museum branch provides a comprehensive overview of the Native peoples of North America. There is a sizable collection of artifacts from Alaska, including this parka and snow goggles from the Inupiaq peoples.The museum presents a nuanced history of the Native peoples of North America. The curtain of glass beads represents Niagara Falls in New York, and the exhibit in the foreground details the beaded trinkets that Native Americans would often sell to tourists. Niagara Falls was one of the nation’s earliest tourist attractions, and from the earliest days of the nation, Native American merchants would peddle souvenirs to visitors.The game of lacrosse was played by Native peoples for centuries, and is one of the oldest team sports in the Americas.The museum focuses primarily on the Native peoples of Alaska, New York, and the southwestern United States. This water jar is typical of the Acoma peoples of New Mexico.My grandmother was Native American – her family was Apache. I found myself thinking about her – and her experiences – quite often as I walked through the museum. This shirt would have been worn by a scout during the Apache Wars between the Apache peoples and the US Army.New York City would not exist without the efforts and labor of Native Americans. For the better part of a century, Mohawk peoples have traveled from the far northern reaches of New York to work on the construction of the city – a 400 mile drive from their reservations to the five boroughs. The museum does an excellent job of telling the story of the Native American peoples… and best of all, it’s free to visit! I would highly recommend a stop when you are in New York.After leaving the museum, we next stopped at the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel Ventilation Building. If it looks familiar, this was featured as the headquarters of the Men In Black. Sadly, we didn’t spot Tommy L. Jones or Will Smith.As my wife and I walked along the New York waterfront, we came across this powerful sculpture – the American Merchant Mariners’ Memorial. Sailors in the Merchant Marine transport goods, produce, and products around the world. During World War II, their ships were particularly susceptible to attack by German U-Boats, but the persistence of these sailors enabled the United States to supply her allies during the darkest days of the conflict.Our next stop was to Castle Clinton, a sandstone fort that once provided invaluable defense of the New York harbor. Now a national monument, it is most popularly used as an embarkation point for trips to the Statue of Liberty.Beyond its use as a point of departure to the Statue of Liberty, Clinton Castle is an important part of New York, and national, history. It has been used as a fort, an aquarium, a concert hall, an immigration station, and a beer garden. Since 1950, it has been overseen by the National Parks Service.At the end of a fun-filled day, it was time to get back on the ferry to head home. Every half hour, throngs of people cue up to board the ferry. Every day, the ferry runs like clockwork, shuttling over 13,0000,000 people per year! We boarded, marking the end of a fun excursion to NYC.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
On another weekend, it was time for a road trip adventure to Lancaster PA, with a different co-pilot than usual!With my wife out of town, I took my Mom on a special road trip adventure – a trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to spend time with good friends and celebrate her birthday! Leaving the Accord at home, we climbed into Mom’s 2021 Honda HR-V and began our drive westward, arriving at the Lancaster Arts Hotel a little over two hours after getting on the road.Our friends gave us a walking tour of Lancaster, culminating in a stop at The Exchange, a restaurant and bar on the 12th floor of the Marriott Hotel. The view of the surrounding city was simply spectacular.This summer, Lancaster is hosting Keys For the City, an installation of working pianos throughout the city, each decorated by local artists. This is the third year of the event. I sat down and banged my way through some music, including “Jump” by Van Halen. Rock on.For dinner, we got takeout from Chellas Arepa Kitchen, a phenomenally successfully food truck across the street from a shopping center. At 5:00 pm on a Saturday, the place was absolutely packed!The arepa, a staple of Venezuelan and Colombian cuisine, is constructed with a corn/maize “bun” and a meat (or vegetable) filling. I had the chimichurri chicken arepa, which was absolutely phenomenal. Everything on the menu is 100% gluten free, so diners who must avoid gluten can order anything they want.The next morning, before getting on the road, I stopped to grab a coffee from Mean Cup, a local coffee shop and cafe.I ordered an almond milk latte, and it was one mean cup of coffee! Fueled up with caffeine, my Mom and I set off for New Jersey.Betty, Mom’s HR-V, got us home without incident. She’s slowly creeping her way toward 7,000 miles. Onward!!
An Asbury Birthday Morning
My wife was due to return from her trip to the Midwest on my birthday around lunchtime, so I had a decision to make regarding the morning: a quiet morning at home, or a quick road trip?Who am I kidding – there was never a choice! This is The Open Road Ahead, after all… and a drive to the beach sounds like a great way to welcome in the next year of my life!I started my morning with breakfast at Toast City Diner, my absolute favorite breakfast spot at the Jersey shore. Fueled up with a gluten-free Belgian waffle, a glass of orange juice, and coffee, I was ready to tackle the rest of my morning.After breakfast, I took a long walk on the boardwalk, starting at Convention Hall in Asbury Park and making my way to the town of Ocean Grove.Of course, I stopped to appreciate the murals that dot the sides of buildings along the boardwalk.Before leaving, I stopped back into Convention Hall to pick up some souvenirs, and also check out the upcoming acts. On September 2, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes will be performing. That band is an Asbury institution – their first album was released in 1976, and they are closely tied with Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, and other members of the E-Street band.After an awesome morning in Asbury, I headed north on the Garden State Parkway to pick my wife up at Newark International Airport. Along the way, I crossed over the Driscoll Bridge. I know it may not look like much, but it is the widest bridge, by number of lanes, in the world.And what better way to celebrate a birthday than with another milestone? That’s 225,000 miles in the books… next stop: 226k. Onward!
Wrapping Up
While this summer may not have featured as many road trips as usual on this blog, that does not mean that it hasn’t been full of adventure and new experiences! From a day in New York, to an overnight stop in a historic city, to a birthday morning by the beach, there has been plenty to see and do lately.
Thanks, as always, for coming along on another journey down the open road ahead.
Would you look at the legs on that national bird?
I’d never heard of that proposal. That decision could’ve changed the date for millions of turkeys on Thanksgiving.
Lots of interesting history from NYC! My nephew plays lacrosse and I had no idea of its Native American roots. Looks like some great trips with some yummy food!
When I was a kid, my Mom got me this really cool book about the origins of different sports, and so I learned about lacrosse, but the museum did an amazing job of telling the history of the sport in relationship to its religious importance – really fascinating stuff. Thanks for reading!!
The Open Road Ahead 
Sounds like a lot of fun!! Looking forward to your next adventure!
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Thanks for reading!!
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Would you look at the legs on that national bird?
I’d never heard of that proposal. That decision could’ve changed the date for millions of turkeys on Thanksgiving.
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Agreed! Also, I bet you could stump a lot of people if you ask them what bird was considered for the US Great Seal before the eagle…
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Lots of interesting history from NYC! My nephew plays lacrosse and I had no idea of its Native American roots. Looks like some great trips with some yummy food!
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I was a kid, my Mom got me this really cool book about the origins of different sports, and so I learned about lacrosse, but the museum did an amazing job of telling the history of the sport in relationship to its religious importance – really fascinating stuff. Thanks for reading!!
LikeLike