Our Trip: NYC at last!

As I mentioned in my last post, we returned our rental car near LaGuardia after dark in the rain. It was dreary, and we had to navigate subway stations under construction so had to go clear to 57/Rockefeller Center to catch the F train back to Queensbridge.

And I mentioned that there was no way I was going to be that close to Rockefeller Center and Times Square and not hop off the train and see things. Bright lights. Noise. People. Everything that makes Times Square unique.

Even though it was late, everything was still open. Almost. We got to the M&M store at 12:10 and it had just closed! So we went to the Disney Store to find souvenirs for the little ones, and it was still open. It closes at 1:00 a.m.

 Unfortunately I didn't take any photos that first night. But I did score the last Baby Moana in the whole Disney Store (it's huge with many racks of plushies) and a plushie Puah. The only reason I got a baby Moana is that it was stuck in the middle of a display of baby Lilo's and most people didn't notice it wasn't Lilo. They are similar.

We got back to our hotel near the Queensbridge station around 2:00 a.m. and finally got settled in for the night at 3:30!

We usually stay Sleep Inn in Long Island City to save money because I'd rather have the money for activities. We spend so little time in our hotel room anyway. It's a five minute walk from the Queensbridge station.

This was our view.

The next morning we headed to Battery Park with the intentions of going to see the Statue of Liberty. When we got there, the line was intimidating. Even if you'd pre purchased online tickets, which I hadn't, you still had to wait in line to get the actual ticket. 

We decided to go ahead and wait and were trying to find the end of the line when a family of three from France approached me and offered me their city pass books that had free Statue of Liberty vouchers! They had to catch their flight and couldn't use them. They gave us all three booklets. 

While we were in line I was looking for someone to give the third booklet too. I saw a lady holding money in her hand, so it was obvious she didn't already have a ticket. I approached her and said we'd been given free tickets, and I'd like to pass one on to her. She acted like I was trying to slip her drugs or something. I am not a scary looking person. So I offered it to the young couple behind her. That way they only had to buy one ticket. 

We were in different lines, but reached the front at about the same time and none of us had any trouble cashing in the voucher for tickets. I kind of hope that lady was watching and realized she could have saved $18.

It was crowded at Liberty Island, but we had fun anyway. A free audio tour is included with the ticket, but for some reason they gave Rick and I the children's version! LOL. I'd heard the adult one with both Jessica and Jasmine, but Rick hadn't.

My tripod and remote clicker got a lot of use this trip!

Couldn't go to NYC without getting ice cream.

 Adam had given us a TGIF gift card for Christmas, but I put it away for NYC. So we went to TGIF on Broadway Street near Battery Park. We shared an appetizer.

 That evening we decided to see if there were tickets left for Top of the Rock. There were, but not until 11:00, and it was only 9:00. Rick asked about a military discount, and it turns out that not only was it a 50% discount, but suddenly there was an opening for 9:45! Sure glad he asked.

That was a nice finish to our first full day in NYC.

How many of you have visited NYC? What was your first impression and what were your favorite places?