New York Day 1: Welcome to New York! It's Been Waiting For You!

We made it to New York City and I feel like we are staying in Rudy and Vanessa Huxtable's bedroom.  We are staying in a brownstone in a neighborhood that looks like the opening scene of a Cosby Show episode.  We are staying in the Hephzibah House on the Upper West Side blocks from Central Park.  It is meant as a place of rest and refreshment for those in the ministry and it has served in this way since the 1870's!
We left Washington DC early this morning and had a 7:30 departure by Amtrack to NYC.  We had stops in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey before making our way into the city.
Juggling four suitcases, one duffle bag, and five carryons was a little crazy especially getting in and out of the Uber car in crazy NYC traffic with taxis whizzing by.  It was a little much for me.  I was thankful to get to our destination and settle in.
We first walked around Central Park and took in some of the sights.  We had our first taste of New York hot dogs from a stand for lunch.  The kids played on a large playground.  Being Oregon kids, the rain did not stop them.  Thankfully it was not a downpour this time so no one was overly soaked.  We had the stamina to walk all the way to Times Square Station.

 This is my family's first time in New York City so everything is new...has only been seen on TV and movies.  I was actually born in Poughkeepsie, New York but we moved to the Midwest days before my fifth birthday.  I believe I went to NYC as an infant or toddler.  I also went on a family vacation in 1994.  So it has been a long time and I do not remember very much.
After Times Square we headed towards Rockefeller Center and our kids were intrigued by all the NBC advertisements including one of their favorite shows--American's Got Talent.
We went to the "Top of the Rock" in Rockefeller Center and saw amazing views of the whole city.  It was clear enough to see the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and much more.

Then we went to the Lego Store and back to our brownstone.  We went back to Central Park in the evening after dinner.  We have done SO much walking today but no one has complained.  Thankfully it is much cooler here (high 70's/low 80's) and more comfortable than DC.  It is, however, way more crowded here and busy.  I cannot imagine trying to drive here!  We had a great first day.

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