New York
Last stretch of the road trip that started in Orlando. We arrived from Philadelphia on 13 February 2008, returned the rental car the first day, and stayed four nights at the Belvedere near Times Square. World Trade Center site (still a working pit), Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, Times Square, FAO Schwarz, the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, and Central Park. I came back in December 2015, March 2016, and October 2025 and usually did much the same circuit, sometimes skipping the museums and going shopping at a big outlet in New Jersey whose name I don't remember. In October 2025 we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn near Park Avenue, went to Radio Bakery in Brooklyn, and cycled along the river.
- Lodging
The Belvedere
Visited: Feb 13, 2008
Arrival notes: Drove from Philadelphia; returned the rental car on the first day
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Four nights, close to Times Square. End of the road trip from Orlando — we had had the same rental car the whole way.
- Historic marker
World Trade Center site
Visited: Feb 13, 2008
How I got there: Walk — Walk
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The foundations of the Twin Towers — still rubble, with machines working at the bottom.
- Historic marker
Wall Street
- Attraction
Brooklyn Bridge
Visited: Feb 14, 2008
How I got there: Walk — Walk
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We somehow got lost and couldn't find my dad for a while.
- Attraction
Times Square
Visited: Feb 14, 2008
How I got there: Walk — Walk from the Belvedere
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I bought many Lego models at the Toys R Us here.
- Attraction
FAO Schwarz
Visited: Feb 14, 2008
How I got there: Walk — Walk
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Still open then, in the GM Building — where the Apple Fifth Avenue cube is today.
- Attraction
Empire State Building
- Attraction
American Museum of Natural History
- Recreational
Central Park
Visited: Feb 15, 2008
How I got there: Walk — Walk from the museum
- Lodging
Hilton Garden Inn Midtown Park Ave
Visited: Oct 15, 2025
How I got there: Other
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October 2025 stay, close to Park Avenue.
- Restaurant
Radio Bakery
Visited: Oct 16, 2025
How I got there: Transit — To Brooklyn
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Greenpoint. This last time we also went to Brooklyn for Radio Bakery.
- Recreational
East River, Greenpoint
Visited: Oct 16, 2025
How I got there: Bike — Cycled along the river
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Cycled along the river after the bakery.
Route summary: The Belvedere → World Trade Center site → Wall Street → Brooklyn Bridge → Times Square → FAO Schwarz → Empire State Building → American Museum of Natural History → Central Park → Hilton Garden Inn Midtown Park Ave → Radio Bakery → East River, Greenpoint