Nic Trips

2019 Road Trip, Stop #6 Savannah, GA Day 1 - The Historic District Savannah is a beautiful city that I have not been to since I was very little. I love architecture, the lush greenery and the hanging moss that droops from the trees and blows in the wind. It gives a feeling of old nature and tranquility. The city is full of groomed, green squares, art and history. On the day that I spent exploring (or rather shown around by my aunt) the downtown historic district of Savannah, we parked in the center on the east side and started north. Following Abercorn Street and walking through Colonial Park Cemetery. This is not the most famous cemetery in Savannah, but my aunt shared an interesting bit of history with me - that many of the graves were emptied or looted and gravestones defiled, moved or dates changed by the Union soldiers that occupied the area at one point during the Civil War. Moving across the district, you will pass through several squares, one of which (pi...

2019 Road Trip, Stop #5 Greenville, SC My stop in South Carolina was mostly aimed at visiting some extended family members and catching up with them. We got dinner together the night I arrived and my cousin took me out for some drinks and to show my the city at night afterwards. But during the day on the following Saturday before I left for Georgia, they took me to this gorgeous park area near downtown Greenville called "Falls Park on the Reedy" (referring to the Reedy River). This park has a curved, single-sided, suspension bridge called "Liberty Bridge" which is the only of it's kind in the US. It over looks the waterfall and north through the rest of the park towards main street. The park follows the Reedy River about a half mile, with walking paths and beautiful buildings on either side. This historical building without windows is an iconic spot on the river bank: the Peace Center Wyche Pavilion. Another spot in the city I got t...

2019 Road Trip, Stop #3 Washington D.C. Day 2 For the 2nd and last day in Washington D.C. I wanted to spend some time in the Smithsonian Museums. Once day, I would love to come to this city and spend an entire week or more readying every piece of information available in every single museum around the National Mall, but since I only had a few hours to spare, I chose two. National Air and Space Museum I started with the National Air and Space Museum. I have been here a few times in the past: once or twice on family vacations, and I think once on a school field trip. But it's really an inspiring museum, and since I didn't have enough time to see things in the depth I'd prefer, I figured I'd do something familiar. Unfortunately, almost HALF of the museums exhibits were closed for renovations at the time, but I still got to see some of the more famous exhibits. Of course the main floor full of space crafts, satellites, and lunar module was open. They town ove...

2019 Road Trip, Stop #3 Washington D.C. Day 1 The National Mall of Washington, D.C. has more things to see than you could possibly manage in a week - let alone 2 days! Monuments, memorials, and museums galore! But I tried my best to see as much as possible in my short time with the sure intention that I'd be back again in the near future to more thoroughly explore this beautiful city in more detail. I started Day 1 of my explorations at the East end of the National Mall at the US Capitol building. The exterior of the southern half (where the House of Representatives resides) was under construction at the time, but the majestic building still made for a great picture! Above is the Western front of the building and below is the Eastern side. In front of the Eastern side of the building below the plaza lies the visitor entrance and shop. I didn't really have a plan ahead of time for my wanderings that day, and thought I might mosey over to check it out - maybe tak...

2019 Road Trip, Stop #1 New York City, NY Day 2 After working for the first half of this lovely Friday, I met my cousin and her 5-year-old daughter at Bowling Green Station on the southern most tip of Manhattan. They wanted to take me on the free ferry ride to Staten Island to see the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan city skyline from the water. The Staten Island Ferry The Staten Island Ferry is a completely FREE Ferry that runs between Manhattan and Staten Island. The ride takes about 30 minutes and ferries typically leaves every half hour from each terminal. (Meaning that while you are getting off your boat after your first ride, the next boat is already leaving and you will have to wait 30 minutes for the next one.) The ride out was amazing! It was beautiful, sunny and warm weather, and all of the windows on the Ferry were open and so we had a nice breeze to bring cool fresh air. Looking behind the ship as you leave the terminal, you'll get a perfect view of the c...

2019 Road Trip, Stop #1 New York City, NY Day 1 I drove into the city at night around 9 PM on a Wednesday from Jersey to Manhattan to Brooklyn, where my cousin lives in Park Slope. There was NO traffic whatsoever. I highly recommend it as a good time to drive in if you want to avoid traffic! The next afternoon I had set to meet up with my host-sister from Japan who was doing a month long study abroad program at Pace University. We met for lunch right by her school and then took the subway north for the highlight of the day... The American Museum of Natural History There was a HUGE line for tickets when we walked through the doors. Apparently there is no set price for tickets, just a "suggested donation". All the signs at the entrances around the lobby say "admission ticket needed past this point", but none of the guards were checking tickets. We were really confused by this. After a few moments of standing in line, I noticed a sign that said tickets w...