Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Planes, Trains & Automobiles to get to New York City. I had never been to New York City. One night after dinner out with my mom and sisters, my mom mentioned wanting to take a trip. She and I love to travel together, so I asked where she'd like to go. She knew I'd like to visit NYC one day so she suggested that for our bi-annual October trip.
As we began starting to make plans for our trip, my sisters learned about it and both said they'd like to go too. So, our trip went from mom and me to a girls trip. What should have been an easy trip to get to New York City was anything but easy.
Plane
Weekend in New York City... My mom and sister and I took off from Ft. Myers, Florida on time and got into Philadelphia for a 2-hour layover. While waiting for our connection to take off for NYC, we were notified that the flight was canceled. No explanation. We were told to go down to some gate for information.
While trying to figure out what to do next, we decided we better try to get our luggage so that whichever way we ended up getting to New York City we'd have our luggage with us. We went directly to the luggage claim are to request our luggage from the flight we'd just come in on.
After making several attempts to get our luggage, I got a notification through my airline app that our luggage had been loaded onto a flight going to Boston, and then NYC. We'd have to determine how to get our luggage once in New York.
We decided to take the train to NYC and took a city train to Amtrak Station. While traveling to the train station, I learned that we'd be re-booked onto the Saturday flight. This is what we were to understand - Our luggage was going to make it to New York by Friday evening on a flight that had room for additional luggage, but no room for passengers, yet we were expected to stay in Philly for 24 hours until we could take a different flight into NYC.
Train
We weren't having that - Our plans were not to spend time in Philadelphia, we had plans in New York. My sister was there waiting for us and we had reservations to see a show that night. So, the train seemed the best way for us to get there.
At the train station, we learned that there were no trains until 8:00 PM. Well, that didn't work - we had 8:00 reservations for the Broadway show in New York City. Next, we headed down to the rental car department at the train station. Every counter we walked up to said that they were sold out for the weekend. One person said that we could take the train shuttle back to the airport and check their rental car departments, but another said that they'd be sold out too.
Automobile
Finally, a gentleman at the Alamo desk said he might have a vehicle available. Honestly, at one point I looked at my mom and sister and asked if we'd been "Punked". I couldn't believe all that I'd been hearing. It seriously seemed like we were not meant to get to NYC that day.
Driving into New York City, in a rental car - Finally!
Welcome to NYC
Finally, we were heading to New York City. If all went well (nothing had so far) we should be in the city where my other sister was waiting for us, by 5:00. With traffic, once we got closer to the city, we finally arrived at 6:00, 5 hours later than we were supposed to be there. But now, at least, our fun girls weekend could begin. Although, we needed our luggage so that we could dress for the cooler temps. Our luggage finally got to the hotel at 1:00 AM.
This was my 1st trip to NYC. My youngest sister had been there 2 other times and my mom and other sister had each been there once. We packed a lot into the 3 1/2 days (4 nights) that we were there. We got to see 4 Broadway shows; Beautiful, Kinky Boots, Jersey Boys and School of Rock. They were all great shows.
Broadway Shows * Horse & Buggy through Central Park
We took a double-decker, hop-on/hop-off bus tour around Uptown and Downtown NYC. We took a horse and buggy ride through Central Park. I got to experience the subway - what a crazy, complex this system is underground. We visited the 911 Memorial and walked to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty.
The highlight for me might have been standing on the Today Show Plaza. It was a rainy day but I got to see some of the anchors and shake Al Roker's hand. That was a treat for me as I've watched the Today Show for more than 20 years.
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The Jersey Boys on Broadway -
Kinky Boots on Broadway -
Bus Tour - downtown NYC -
Horse & Buggy ride - Central Park -
The Today Show Plaza -
Times Square -
The Subway -
Dinner -
Rockefeller Plaza Skating Rink
All in all, this was a wonderful trip with my mom and sisters. We logged 25 miles walking around the city; we saw a lot and experienced much of what the city has to offer. I can't wait to visit again with my son when he's a little older and will appreciate it more.
This is definitely a trip where I should have brought my handy Underseat, Roller Suitcase. If I'd had it, I would have packed a heavier coat or jacket, as well as my medicine. Having our checked luggage delayed wouldn't have mattered as much if I'd had this with me.
While it took more time than was anticipated to get there; Plane, Trains and Automobile... that just added to the adventure. The trip home was without drama and by the time we got home, the debacle it took to get there was forgotten.
With Serenity,
