Tag: New York

I Choose Love, always… And we LOVE this mural in between Little Italy and Chinatown, nestled amongst quaint coffee shops and authentic street markets. It looks like this is one of many GORGEOUS and uplifting Hektad I Choose Love designs throughout the city! Maybe one day we can find some of the others! Have you seen any?

Ahhh… Another trip through the Holland Tunnel… That means one thing! Another day in the city! Bring on some NYC adventures!

The City That Never Sleeps, indeed! Bright Lights, Big City, it’s 2am in Times Square!

Ah, yes! An absolutely, authentically amazing Brooklyn Hero Shop! Defonte’s has been slinging the best sandwiches in Red Hook, Brooklyn since the 1920’s. The people behind the counter, as well as the customers dining in, are just as much the heart of the Brooklyn experience as the sandwiches themselves. We’ve never met a kinder group of people that were just as thrilled about having us in their neighborhood as we were to be there! And the food? Incredible! We had a Hot Roast Beef and a Soppressata with Capicola and Provolone. Mmmmm!

The magic of Times Square… The City that Never Sleeps!

Broadway Sushi Rolls at Kodama Sushi was a FUN experience! We caught the afternoon performance of Kinky Boots at Al Hirschfeld Theatre, and right across the street we chanced across Kodama! This is another place where the food was so much more amazing than my lousy iphone photography can capture. But, suffice it to say, the plating of these rolls was unparalleled! This is the first time we had Black Rice Sushi, and we hope it isn’t the last! We HAD to indulge in the Kinky Boots Roll, and the Lion King Roll looked and sounded (and tasted) awesome as well!…

We meandered through Times Square on our way to Alysia’s Birthday Surprise. We couldn’t resist the quintessential late morning / early afternoon food cart snack… Pretzels and Hot Dogs, New York Style!

Just doing a little of that morning coffee on the NYC Subway!

The Momofuku Milk Bar locations throughout New York City are a fun place to spoil your sweet tooth! Lattes, cookies, and other sweet drinks and desserts! This particular location looks like it has closed since we visited, but there are still several other great locations throughout the city to hook you up! If you’re looking for some sweetness in your life, grab a Birthday Cake Latte or a Cereal Milk Latte today! And check out all those cookie flavors!

Christmas is a fabulous time to visit the Chelsea Market! So many seasonal gifts, and decorations… So many kinds of candies and cookies from all over the world. And then, the regular shoppes and wares were also wonderful to peruse! All sorts of cultural fare, food, and gifts… Foods, snacks, desserts, drinks… The signs, the art… The ambiance! You can get it all, right here! And it feels MAGICAL!

Fabulous sweet treats that hit the spot! New York City’s Legendary Brownies! Fat Witch Bakery located in Chelsea Market. Fat Witch Bakery fatwitch.com75 9th AveNew York, NY 10011212-807-1335

What a wonderful find in Chelsea Market! Li-Lac Chocolates is billed as Manhattan’s Oldest Chocolate House, and the Chelsea Market location did not disappoint! So much to choose from! Check out all the fantastic hand-made holiday creations! Chocolate snowmen, toy soldiers, Santa Clauses, and more! And the Marzipan! This is the first time I’ve ever actually seen it… The first time we’ve actually tried it. And it was INCREDIBLE! One of my new favorite foods, for sure!

So very humbling to be standing in such a place… Almost 16 years later. One World Trade Center We may rebuild. But we will NEVER forget. Click HERE for books about September 11th. Click any photo to check out this book to learn more about the new One World Trade Center. One World Trade Center: Biography of the Building by Judith Dupré

I think we all know exactly where we were the moment we heard the news… September 11, 2001 There are no words I could put here to justifiably honor those we lost. I, myself, have a dear friend that was inside the Trade Center that very morning. Fortunately for him, and those that know and love him, he left shortly before the tragic events began to unfold. But, living with that has never been easy for him. I can’t even begin to fathom for one second what it must be like for those that don’t have the happy ending for…

Another great zoo to visit in Upstate New York, is the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester! Well-designed animal exhibits and well-planned kid play spaces! Look at all of the fun playgrounds and outdoor play zones, as well as the super cool indoor exhibits and areas for creative play! The greatest learning occurs where PLAY intersects with FUN in a child-centered environment! And Seneca Park Zoo does offers exactly that! I’m pretty sure this is the most fun we’ve ever had at a zoo! Where else can you climb rock walls AND hold hands with a polar bear?!

The Birthplace of Jell-O!The Jell-O Museum and Gallery in LeRoy, New York! As unassuming as it might sound, LeRoy New York is the Birthplace of Jell-O! If you have time to swing through this quaint area, you can visit the Historic LeRoy House, as well as the Jell-O Museum and Gallery! We actually had an incredible time here, and really enjoyed both places! The Historic LeRoy House offers an intimate exploration of historical artifacts from the time-period; with plenty of hands-on activities for kids in the basement. Relax and enjoy, while the kids dress up and cook, bake, and clean…

Historic LeRoy House in LeRoy, New York About an hour south of the Niagara Falls Region of New York, you’ll find the quaint little town of LeRoy, New York. As unassuming as it might sound, LeRoy is the home of Jell-O! If you have time to swing through, you can visit the Historic LeRoy House, as well as the Jell-O Museum and Gallery! We actually had a tremendous amount of fun exploring both places. The main levels of the home offer a glimpse into the cultural history of the time and area; and the basement beckons to the younger crowd…

Delaware Park in Buffalo, New York is a beautiful park property designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same renowned Landscape Designer responsible for creating Central Park in New York City, as well as the grounds of The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to being a legendary park, it’s FUN! The Buffalo Zoo is there, and, hey, you can never say no to balloon animals afterwards! Balloon Animals!

Billed as the Nation’s Third Oldest Zoo, the Buffalo Zoo in Buffalo, New York has been caring for animals, educating the public, and putting smiles on kids’ faces since the late 1800’s! With an extensive collection of animals in easily viewable habitats, we really enjoyed our visit here! In addition to the animal experiences, Buffalo Zoo also offers lots of fun for the kids with train rides, a merry go round, and interactive exhibits. Are you planning a visit soon? Or perhaps learning from home? Be sure to check out their collection of FREE educational worksheet downloads! Buffalo Zoo Educational…

While the title doesn’t sound very exciting, we actually LOVE the experience offered here with a tour of the Niagara Power Vista – NYPA Niagara Power Project Visitor Center. I mean, basically, with all the exhibits, it functions like a full-on science museum. And, you get a birds eye view of the hydroelectric power facilities below. If you’ve ever toured Hoover Dam while on a trip to Vegas, you should absolutely add this self-guided tour to your Niagara Falls itinerary. And even if you haven’t been out that way, this is still a quick, fun, and FREE educational stop along…

Leaving the Niagara Falls, NY area, you can head south into Buffalo, NY. We were on our way for a day at the Buffalo Zoo, before moving on to Rochester, NY! Just a few random highway, bridge, sign, and city shots. For Things to Do With the Kids in Niagara Falls, NY CLICK HERE! For Things to Do With the Family in Buffalo, NY, CLICK HERE! Browse Through ALL Our Niagara Falls Adventures! See What We’ve Done in Buffalo, New York! To See ALL Our Adventures in New York, JOIN US HERE! Click any photo for suggested products to learn…

We really adored the plethora of interactive experiences we found at the Aquarium of Niagara! We loved the place so much we bought Annual Membership Passes and plan to come back as often as we can! Be sure to check out the Daily Schedules to participate in feedings, live presentations, performances, educational talks, and more! And there are so many beautiful species of fish, corals, anemones, seahorses, penguins, marine mammals, and amphibians to learn about and enjoy!

If you really want to experience the majesty of Niagara Falls, you HAVE to do the Maid of the Mist Boat Tour. I also highly recommend the Cave of the Winds Experience, so make sure you check out that post as well. As for Maid of the Mist, you’re boarding a boat to get as close to the base of the falls as you can! And, yes, you are going to get WET! You get cool little rain ponchos… But, YES, you are going to get very, VERY wet! But, it is an absolutely incredible experience to see and feel…

It might be cold out, but we wanted to hit at least one sandy, beachy spot along the coast of Lake Erie! Bournes Beach in Westfield, New York, is just inside the New York / Pennsylvania border along I-90, as it hugs the Great Lakes. Quick and easy access from the interstate, it’s a lovely, natural coastline, covered in rocks, and scattered with driftwood of all shapes and sizes! And bonus, there’s a fun playground for the kids!

Arriving in Niagara Falls… Just a few random moments. Working our way along the Niagara River