New York New York

If you want to enjoy the City of New York without the high price of lodging and parking, then I recommend staying at the Sheraton in Weehawkin NJ. Less than a two hour drive from Montco, complete with Panoramic Suites with Panoramic views of the city, with a ferry just foot steps away and packages that include parking and breakfast is the best deal at just a little below three hundred dollars.

 I researched this hotel and its location several months ago and placed it on my bucket list of places to stay and visit. What drew me to this hotel was its close location to New York City and the fact it had its own dock for the ferry. You cannot beat 37 dollars round trip for two that takes you from hotel to midtown. Not to mention its spacious rooms and view across the river where you can lay in bed and see the Empire State Building or the New World Trade Tower.

Saturday morning we took the ferry over to midtown, hopped a cab to Times Square (8 dollars) then took the City Sightseeing tour bus to downtown (97 dollars). 

We toured places such as So Ho, Little Italy, Chinatown, Washington Square, Battery Park, Lower east Side, New York University.

We saw the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Staten Island Ferry (free), some damage from Hurricane Sandy along the Hudson River, Brooklyn Bridge among other bridges, Tenement's from the early 20th Century.

We walked in Rockefeller's Square, walked briskly passed American Girl Place and Lego Store for fear I would actually walk in and drop a few hundred dollars on stuff my grandchildren love. We saw Radio City, Madison square Garden and every freaky looking character that meets the eye.

 It is amazing that you can walk through the neighborhood where the consulates live and the United Nations where they work and end up in sections where homeless tent cities stand, people beg and needle disposal boxes.

We stopped for a quick bite at the Irish Pub.

The wine was awful (cheap brand or end of a bottle) and the Shepherd's Pie was delicious.

Yes. These are people on the Hudson paddling on Surf Boards.

After we ate at the pub, we decided to walk back to the ferry. The ferry was around West 37th Street and 7th. By the time we reached the river and the ferry landing that heads back to Weehawkin, my toes were screaming bloody murder, my ass cheeks hurt and the sunburn on my nose could light up the dark. Those few steps from the ferry to the hotel felt like ten miles and as I layed upon the soft comfy bed waiting for darkness to fall so I could view the beautiful lights from our Panoramic Suite with its Panoramic View, I fell dead asleep until morning.