Skip to content

ANDI HAYS

— my little corner of randomness —

Menu
  • Here’s What I Have to Say
  • Tidbits About Me
  • Sites I’ve Helped With
  • Disclaimer
Menu

NYC

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Andi

Chuck and I went to NYC for an anniversary trip. We haven’t been on a big anniversary trip in years (if ever). Especially not since the girls were around. We debated a lot about where to go and had a long list of places/things we wanted to see. It was such a fun trip and so nice to get away for a little while. I was about 30 weeks pregnant at the time of our trip, so we weren’t sure how much I would be up for. You’ll be impressed with all we did. Smile I’ll try to remember everything.

*FRIDAY*

We left in the evening on Friday and arrived pretty late in NYC. We took a terrifying taxi ride to the hotel and checked in. We decided to stay right in Times Square at the Hilton. You could see the New Years Eve ball from our window (but we couldn’t get a good picture from the window). It was late (about midnight), but I couldn’t miss out on walking around Times Square on a Friday night. It was quite the sight to see. The people and the lights and just everything is so much to take in. After a quick trip down there, we headed to bed to rest up for our first day of sight seeing.

IMG_4872

*SATURDAY*

We woke up bright and early (about 7) and got ready to begin our day. We walked the length of the High Line. What a neat thing to see in the middle of the busy city! Then we took the subway to Central Park. Seriously, Central Park has to be my most favorite place. It’s a really fabulous park inside the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s so gorgeous, and huge and quiet! I could have spent all day there! While we were at the park, we went to the Central Park Zoo. It’s hard for me to visit somewhere and not visit the zoo!

IMG_4881

IMG_4889

IMG_4893

IMG_4899

After the zoo, we walked around the park a little more and went to the stairs of the Metropolitan Museum. I had to take a picture on the steps for a friend of mine because we both watched “Gossip Girl” and they spent a lot of time on those stairs in the show. Smile In front of the Met and about a mile down that block, there was a race going on. So we watched the runners for a little while.

IMG_4900

We headed back to the hotel for a little rest (for me) and then headed to the Intrepid Museum. It was a little rainy, but we walked the few blocks over there and back. It was a really neat museum. We toured a submarine and an aircraft carrier. It was also the only museum we actually went into on our trip. Neither of us really had much interest in visiting the other museums, although I know they are probably wonderful.

IMG_4905

IMG_4911

IMG_4929

IMG_4951

We walked around Grand Central Station and called the girls to chat on FaceTime. They were having a great time with grandma! Then we walked down 5th Avenue for a while, but since we had no interest in buying anything, it wasn’t all that interesting. We stopped in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which was gorgeous, then took the subway to the 9/11 Memorial to see in the dark. It was still a bit wet outside, but it was so cool to see the memorial all lit up at night.

IMG_4957

IMG_4961

IMG_4962

We took the subway back to Times Square and had a late dinner. Then we walked around/sat in Times Square again to people watch. I was running out of steam, so we called it a night (after wandering through a few stores) and went to rest up for our next big day.

We totaled 16 miles of walking today.

*SUNDAY*

We were up about 7 again and off to the subway to visit Battery Park on our way to catch the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Wow is all I can say about seeing them in person and being there. Just amazing all around. If you ever have the chance to visit them, it will be worth it and an experience you won’t forget.

IMG_5010

IMG_4987

IMG_4992

IMG_4996

IMG_4997

IMG_5003

After spending the morning there, we walked on Wall Street and saw the NY Stock Exchange (it wasn’t all that exciting on a Sunday morning). Then we headed over to the 9/11 Memorial again to see it during the day. It was just as stunning and mesmerizing during the day as it was at night.

IMG_5012

IMG_5027

IMG_5014

IMG_5017

We found a little pizza place to have lunch (which was so delicious) and ate our pizza in Zuccotti Park. Next we made our way over to Rockefeller Center and went to visit “Top of the Rock” which is an observation deck to see the city. What a stunning view. We had a really clear day so we had a great view of everything. People like visiting this observation deck over the Empire State Building because you can see Central Park. When Chuck told me that, I was sold and wanted to go to that one. And since I was so excited, we got the passes to visit it again at night.

IMG_5020

IMG_5031

IMG_5036

IMG_5037

After “Top of the Rock” we headed back to the hotel to rest for a little while and get ready to go to our Broadway show. We chose “The Lion King” and I am so glad that we did. It was such a great show and there’s something about the song “The Circle of Life” that makes me cry and so, of course, the crazy pregnant lady was sobbing during the first 2 minutes of the show. Smile

IMG_5050

After the show we headed to “Top of the Rock” again for the night viewing. Just gorgeous! We didn’t stay too long since we had already been there during the day and I was really tired. So on the way back to the hotel, I got brave and bought some food truck food. I was a little worried about it, but it was so delicious and I am so glad I got something!

IMG_5051

After eating my yummy food, I promptly fell asleep and got ready for day 3.

We totaled 12 miles of walking today.

*MONDAY*

Sadly, day 3 was also our last day. Of course, we were up by about 7 again and got our stuff packed and checked out of our room. They had a nice little holding room for your luggage, so we took advantage of that before heading out.

IMG_5095

IMG_5096

We hopped on the subway and headed over to Chinatown/Little Italy. They were quite interesting. It’s strange, you really feel like you are walking into a different city. Then you cross the street and you’re in yet another city. Just bizarre. While there, we walked around and visited a few parks. Mostly to take some walking breaks since I was running out of steam on my pregnant little feet!

IMG_5062

IMG_5063

IMG_5069

We took the subway back to Central Park. We had seen everything (and more) from our initial list, so I wanted to spend some more time in Central Park since I loved it so much. On the the way, we stopped by the Apple Store. What a strange little cube sticking out of the ground. You have to take stairs or a glass elevator down to the store which is underground.

IMG_5071

We walked through Central Park and visited the reservoir. We ate lunch at The Boathouse that a friend recommended. We just ate at the café there and not the fancy (yet beautiful) restaurant. Next we visited the Belvedere Castle. The views of Central park from the castle were so pretty. I just stood there taking it all in for a while!

IMG_5078

IMG_5074

IMG_5075

IMG_4904

IMG_5087

Then we headed back to Times Square and picked up some gifts for the girls at the M&M store (which is HUGE by the way….3 levels of chocolate!). Then we went back to the hotel to pick up our luggage. We decided to skip the taxi ride and took a bit of an adventure to the airport. We took the subway to Queens/Astoria then got on a bus to the airport. Then I collapsed in a chair and waited to get on the plane to head home.

IMG_5098

Then, after an uneventful flight, we found the car and headed home. It was so nice to take a trip, but there’s nothing like coming home after being away!

We totaled 10 miles of walking today.

——-

Some other little tidbits about the trip:

  • I did get to see some subway entertainment and I loved it. I thought it was hilarious and Chuck told me to stop paying attention to them because they would come over and try to get money. I still looked. Smile
  • Street entertainers crack me up. From the nutjobs in Time’s Square to the cool dancers all over town. I couldn’t stop watching them and being captivated by all of them. I sure the fascination wears off, but it sure didn’t after 3 days for me!
  • The stores in Times Square are so cool. They are huge and bright and just such a sight to see. Many stores are multi-level (even the McDonald’s) and above them are these HUGE screens with ads on them. It’s so much to take in!

IMG_4969

IMG_4970

  • Taking the subway was an interesting thing. I think I just get weirded out by the fact that they are underground. I about lost my mind when I realized some go under the water. That just doesn’t seem right. And that there are multiple layers of them underground…it’s just not right. Smile But once I got over that initial shock, I sat back and enjoyed the weirdos. Also, many (or most? or all? of them) have some artwork on them. We took pictures of a couple of my favorites.

IMG_5029

IMG_5070

IMG_5091

IMG_5092

  • People watching is amazing there. It doesn’t matter where you are, there’s someone fascinating to look at. I wanted to take WAY more pictures of people, but I felt awkward doing so. Although, the people doing the crazy things would have loved it!

IMG_5055

IMG_5059

  • It’s amazing to see all the tall buildings and to think about how much they fit into that tiny space. There’s so much to do and see there. It’s remarkable how much fits into the space they have and how different one area can be from the next.
  • We took an astounding number of modes of transportation to, from and during this trip: car, taxi, bus, subway, lightrail, airplane, ferry/boat, escalators, elevators, feet, stairs……geesh, are there even any others? Smile
  • We walked over 40 miles during the entire trip! Phew! That’s something I need to jot down in this baby’s baby book! Smile

Overall, it was an amazing and exhausting trip. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. We had a great time hanging out together and doing things on our schedule and not that of the kids. And I can’t believe it was already almost 7 weeks ago since we went.

And here’s a link to all the pictures we took on our trip if you want to see the others.

Andi_2_0_thumb_thumb1

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Instagram
GitHub

Instagram

minihays

⛸️❤️
#hayskidsyearlyphotos #hayskidsyearlyphotos 📸
10 Alex turned double digits () ❇️10❇️ 

Alex turned double digits (😧) a little over a week ago and celebrated with some friends over the weekend. He is the happiest guy around and we hope he never changes! 💚💙🎉
12 I’m almost two weeks late posting abo ✨12✨ 

I’m almost two weeks late posting about Dannie’s bday, but she had a fabulous day celebrating various times with friends and family She was thoroughly spoiled and is so very loved! 💗🎉

minihaysreads

Anyone else use @loopearplugs? I got a pair last y Anyone else use @loopearplugs? I got a pair last year and I love them so much. They are wonderful in so many situations and really help me focus when there are lots of noises around.
Books & Bracelets! My new favorite activity has be Books & Bracelets! My new favorite activity has been creating bracelets to go with some of my favorite books. This was my first little and I loved these books and their little wrist friends so much. 🤩😍

More little creations are being added to @technicallyscattered.
When you volunteer at the book fair, you’re obvi When you volunteer at the book fair, you’re obviously going to come home with some new books! I think there was only one I regret not buying. Next time!
My youngest might have found our new favorite way My youngest might have found our new favorite way to read together! Under a blanket with a reading light!💡

haysonthelake

The new dock stacks so nicely on the shore! The le The new dock stacks so nicely on the shore! The legs even store inside. So smart!
Chuck’s dad came to help us take out the dock an Chuck’s dad came to help us take out the dock and Alex wanted in on the fun, too. It was so cute to watch three generations of Hays men hard at work. 😁 (Don’t worry…I helped, too!)
#the jet ski lift has been so helpful for moving around the dock sections and it turns out it’s fun for rides, too! 💦
Cleaned up the space under the porch and deck a fe Cleaned up the space under the porch and deck a few weeks ago for the winter. I love the kayak hanger Chuck found!
It’s spooky outside…Mother Nature sent us tric It’s spooky outside…Mother Nature sent us tricks today. Hopefully the neighbors are giving out treats tonight! 🎃❄️

Links

  • MadeByChuck.com
  • My Wish List
  • Our Photo Gallery
  • Wish List – Alex
  • Wish List – Dannie
  • Wish List – Maddie

Categories

Alex Baby Journal Books Crafts Dannie Food GiST Glendalough Lake House Lessons Maddie Parenting Products & Places Randomness Seattle Social Distancing Tech

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
© 2025 ANDI HAYS | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme
Menu
  • Here’s What I Have to Say
  • Tidbits About Me
  • Sites I’ve Helped With
  • Disclaimer