A Few Days in the Big City – Our NYC Adventure

Intro

Not every weekend involves cars and car shows for me. Every now and then, I step away from the garage and do something a little different — even if it’s not exactly at the top of my list. This time, we headed to New York City for a few days. I’d been there as a kid, but Kathy had never been. You could say this one was a bucket-list trip for her.

Day 1 – Hitting the Ground Running

We were out the door at 4 a.m. for a 6:30 flight out of Little Rock. Once we landed in NYC and checked into the hotel, the walking began — and didn’t stop.

Our first stop was Pier 83 for the Circle Line Landmark Cruise on the Hudson River — the same stretch where Captain Sully landed that plane safely. The views were great, and we got to see the Brooklyn Bridge, the old Domino Sugar site, and where Colgate used to be made.

Later that afternoon, we trekked to the Empire State Building to catch the sunset from the 86th floor — along with a few hundred of our new best friends. The views were incredible. By the time we made it back to the hotel through Times Square, we’d logged nearly eight miles on foot.

Day 2 – Remembering, Learning, and Exploring

This day included two of the places I wanted to see most. We started with our first subway ride — from Times Square down to the World Trade Center. Coming out of the Oculus and stepping into that area was something I won’t forget.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum were powerful — quiet, respectful, and exactly as that ground should be. We walked around the pools, read the names, saw the Survivor Tree, and just took it all in. The museum, built into the original foundation of the Twin Towers, was equally moving. Seeing the artifacts from that day brought back memories of exactly where I was when I first heard the news.

From there, we walked about a mile to The Battery to catch the ferry out to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty was another highlight and didn’t disappoint. We joined a free tour led by Park Ranger Bernard, who was full of history about both the statue and the island. The museum also houses the original torch, which was neat to see.

The views back toward Manhattan were amazing — and Lady Liberty herself was even more impressive in person.

Ellis Island was interesting, though not quite what I expected, probably because so much of it is under construction. Still, standing in the massive Registry Room was a reminder of the millions who passed through there, hoping for a new start.

Day 3 - Not Many Pictures

We started the day across the river in Brooklyn to attend church at The Brooklyn Tabernacle. I never quite know what to expect when visiting a new church, but this was a good one — powerful music, great message, and a warm atmosphere. I’ll admit, I geeked out a bit over their production setup: lighting, camera work, and a 45-member choir that each had their own microphone — and that’s just part of it!

After church, we headed back to the hotel, changed clothes, and walked about half a mile to Central Park, passing by Carnegie Hall along the way. We grabbed lunch at Carnegie Diner and Café — packed wall to wall, but the food was great.

We spent some time walking through Central Park before heading back to the hotel. A street fair was going on right outside, so we wandered through and found some really good empanadas to wrap up the day. One more full — and I do mean full — day left!

Day 4 (Part1) – Central Park Zoo

We started the morning walking up 5th Avenue to the Central Park Zoo. It’s not as large as it looks on the map, but it’s a fun little spot to visit.

We watched the penguins getting fed, the sea lions hamming it up for the crowd, and took a walk through the rainforest exhibit where we spotted a snow leopard.

There was also a small garden area full of roses and other plants — a nice peaceful stop in the middle of all the city chaos.

Day 4 (Part2) – 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza

After the zoo, we continued up 5th Avenue, stopping at the Apple Store, Trump Tower, and a few historic churches with some truly beautiful architecture.

At Rockefeller Plaza, they were already setting up the ice rink for winter, and I even spotted the Arkansas flag flying proudly there. We used our last sightseeing pass to head up to the 70th floor at Top of the Rock. Honestly, I think it’s even better than the Empire State Building — better views, smaller crowd, and just a great way to wrap up the trip.

We walked past Radio City Music Hall on the way back to the hotel, ready to pack up and head home.

Final Thoughts

New York City isn’t exactly a quiet getaway, but it was full of new experiences, incredible views, and plenty of stories to bring back home. It’s one of those places that’ll wear your feet out but fill your head with memories. As always, there’s nothing quite like walking through new places — but there’s nothing like heading home to Arkansas.