Today, we are visiting the Empty Sky 9/11 Memorial. This memorial was two long steel walls with names written on them. The names were the people who had connections with New Jersey who died when the Twin Towers came down. It had two metal beams that actually came from the fallen towers. This place was right across the river from New York City. It was very beautiful and we enjoyed our time there.
Empty Sky Memorial
1 Audrey Zapp Dr.
Jersey City, NJ 07305
GPS coordinates: 40.708199, -74.034564
Today, we visited Cave of the Winds at Niagara Falls.
Up on the platforms, there was probably 3 inches of water on the wood.
My favorite part of Cave of the Winds was the hurricane deck. On the hurricane deck it felt like ice was hitting your face. Amber and I went to the corner where part of the water fall was coming down and we could feel the water from the falls on our backs and shoulders.
Although the water was cold, we had fun. What I can tell you though is that you might want a extra pair of clothes, we did not and we regretted it. Ponchos were provided with the tour.
The platforms beside the falls get taken down every year and then put back up in the spring.
Cave of the Winds
24 Buffalo Ave.
Niagara Falls, New York 14303
GPS coordinates: 43.082376, -79.071029
Today we did a Drive Through NYC.
We took the subway through New York City and to the the 9/11 Memorial. I liked reading the names of the people that died in the Twin Towers!
We saw lots of murals and tall buildings. There was one building we couldn’t see the top!
I also liked just walking around looking at the big buildings and all of the painted walls.
We also went to all 5 boroughs which I have to say was cool.
I think it is funny how the one day we planned to go to New York City it rained on us!
We wish we could have found parking so we could walk though Time Square!
We also went to the Trinity Church in New York City.
Today, we are picking FRESH apples from an apple tree farm! Some of the apples were very perfect and then others weren’t so much, some of them were rotted, so we had to be careful on what we picked! Some of the trees were tiny but others were big, so some of them we had to climb or shake to get the apples off of. BUT, all in all, we had an amazing time and will do it again some day!
Hillcrest Orchard & Dairy
2 Davis Rd.
Branchville, NJ 07826
GPS coordinates: 41.166381, -74.682040
https://hillcrestfarmnj.com/
New York’s Central Park is an urban park in Manhattan, New York City. It is located between the Upper West Side and Upper East Side, roughly bounded by Fifth Avenue on the east, Central Park West on the west, Central Park South on the south, and Central Park North on the north.
Join us we visit the Ancient Playground, Bethesda Fountain, the sailboat pond, and much more. See you there.
Central Park is the most visited urban park in the United States, with an estimated 37–38 million visitors annually, and one of the most filmed locations in the world. Souce: Wikipedia
Fun fact: New York’s Central Park has an annual budget of nearly $80 million.
http://www.centralparknyc.org/
GPS coordinates:
40.783011, -73.965076
Of of all the ferries we’ve taken, this is my most favorite! We rode right past the Statue of Liberty! It was cold and rainy but we made the best of it! It was pretty cool and I recommend this place to all of those who visit New York!
South Ferry Plaza
4 Whitehall St.
New York, NY 10004
GPS coordinates:
40.701291, -74.013193
Ellis Island was the gateway to the United States for over 12 million immigrants. It was the nation’s busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954.
For the majority of immigrants, Ellis Island truly was an “Island of Hope” – the first stop on their way to new opportunities and experiences in America. For the rest, it became the “Island of Tears” – a place where families were separated and individuals were denied entry into the United States.
Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor within the waters of New Jersey. Ellis Island is accessible by ferry from the states of New York and New Jersey. We visited from Jersey City, New Jersey because parking was free and it was easier to get to.
Although Ellis Island is separate from Liberty Island, it is part of the Statue Of Liberty National Monument.
Ellis Island
Jersey City, NJ 07305
GPS coordinates:
40.699019, -74.040061
Today we are visiting the Statue of Liberty. It was a little cold and raining, but nothing we couldn’t handle ;). We had so much fun exploring and learning new things, like that the Statue is run by New York but the island that the Statue stands on is in New Jersey waters!
DISCLAIMER: if you want to walk inside the Statue (like into the crown) you have to reserve your tickets MONTHS in advance……we did not, lesson learned.
