Betsy Jo "SweetRowles": 2017 East Coast Vaca

Day 3, June 25

Today was the perfect New York day and it flew by in a New York minute!

We got up and began with a boat ride on the East River Ferry from the landing near our hotel to DUMBO/Brooklyn Bridge. It was stunning to be out on the water with Brooklyn on one side and Manhattan on the other. We all thoroughly enjoyed it and decided it was WAY better than the subway! And an added bonus, CHEAPER!!

After we got off at DUMBO, we moved towards the Brooklyn Bridge walking path and came across the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory (which happened to be on my itinerary!). We got all excited, and the boys could not believe that we were really suggesting ice cream before lunch... until we got close and found that they hadn't opened yet and didn't for another hour!!! What a disappointment.

Our walk across the bridge was amazing. Fun, lots of photos opportunities, and not too hot.

Keiton has use of a phone to take photos and he is as into it as I am! Layth was bemoaning the fact that now he has to contend with TWO of us taking pictures all the time. I was thinking it was really cute and was having fun connecting with Keiton over it, until Keiton showed me a series of photos with me in them; taken when I was unaware of a camera pointed my direction! He thought these horrible photos of me ("you look mad, mom!") were hilarious. Suddenly, I wasn't too keen on the fact.

After we crossed the bridge we made our way to the Rockefeller Building to get tickets for the Top of the Rock Observation Deck. We found we could get in right away which was awesome, but by this time it was almost 1:00 and most of us were starved. So, we found a "by the slice" place place in the building, got it to go and enjoyed pizza on the observation deck. Lunch with a view! The best view!!

I took a million photos from the observation deck, believe it or not. It was pretty amazing to view NYC that way.

After we came down (43 seconds in the elevator), we headed towards Central Park with a stop at a store for some cold water which we were all craving and in need of. Our water bottles were all completely empty by now and we were hot. Amazing how much water we each need to consume in this humidity! Amazing how much water comes off of us through sweat in this humidity!!

We rented bikes and pushed them the few blocks to Central Park before we got on. It was a mad house riding those bikes, even on the designated bike lane. Sooo many people on bikes or walking or whatever. Central Park was an amazing place though. Every nook and cranny of the huge park had something to offer. To adequately explore it could take days, I am sure. Because they did not provide bike racks along the trail, we only got off the bikes twice. Once at the pond for a walk and bathroom stop with some down time on a grassy hill, and then again to see Belvedere Castle.

One thing that surprised me about Central Park were the hills!! I did not expect hills, but there were lots! Some pretty hefty ups that were challenging to ride. ... and really fun downs! Definitely got a good work out when all was said and done.

Returned the bikes about dinner time and headed back towards the hotel with intention of stopping to eat along the way, but didn't find anything before the subway station, so we were back in Brooklyn with a stop at our hotel before we finally ate a late dinner.

We ended up at a corner Mexican restaurant, which from the outside didn't look like anything much, but from the crowd inside and how great our meal tasted, was certainly something! It was great.

Back to hotel for showers, down time, prep for tomorrow (early morning) and much needed rest to end our day.