We had a great trip to NY. Can’t wait to take Aisling back and see more of the touristy things. She was just in awe of everything.
Part of the adventure was getting there. I’ve developed both carsickness AND anxiety about other cars hitting me when I’m a passenger (ya, I get it…I have control issues). I was NOT looking forward to driving 4 hours each way to NYC. I looked into flying- which we’ve done before. I looked into Amtrak which was more expensive than flying. I just couldn’t justify the cost of either. So I was talking to a foster mother I work with who’s daughter lives in NYC and she suggested taking a bus. This originally turned me off because apparently, I’m a public transportation snob. The prospect of a bus kinda grossed me out. But not as much as the thought of driving both ways myself.
So we decided to take Bolt Bus. And let me tell you…I would do it again in a minute. It was extremely clean, on-time, had free Wi-Fi, and plugs in all the seats. Plus it was $66 RT for the 3 of us. I figured gas would have cost about $60 and parking at our hotel was $55/night. Needless to say $66 was a way better option. BUT to take a bus from my house means driving to the commuter rail, parking at the commuter rail station, taking the commuter rail to North Station (The Boston Garden for you out-of-towners), walking across the street to jump on the Green Line, Green Line to Red Line, walk out of Red Line station into South Station, walking next door to the bus terminal, and then hopping on the Bolt. Ya…little bit of a process with a 5 year old and all her necessities in tow!!
I only took a pic on the first leg…the commuter rail
I would have taken pics on the bus but I was so sick that I forgot. Totally forgot to take my Dramamine BEFORE we got on the bus. An hour later just doesn’t cut it. So I mostly just played on the computer and read a book- which I bought at the bus station when I realized that I didn’t have a book.
Aisling was so well behaved on the bus. She mostly just watched her DVD player which didn’t die after one movie due to the fab plugs in the seats. She had lunch and that was about it. She did NOT nap along the way as we had hoped because we knew that we’d be out late for the show. Instead she fell asleep the SECOND we pulled off the bridge into the city. Needless to say, she wasn’t happy when we had to wake her up a couple of minutes later to walk 11 blocks to the hotel with all our STUFF. She was especially upset that we were making her hold our hands!!! Too bad kid, this is the city!
As we were approaching Times Square and she could see that our hotel was literally next door to that huge Toys R Us, the mood immediately changed. A Toys R Us “in” your hotel (or so she thought!!!) This was like heaven on earth!
By the way, I must at this time give props to Jen (jen1023) for giving me such a great tip on the hotel rate

. We stayed at the Millennium Broadway, which is right in Times Square for $173 including all the taxes. The room is normally about $350/night. I did point out to Randy that we are staying at POP for 4 nights in October and it’s not costing much more than one night in NY!!!
Here is the hotel
And our room
Aisling had to throw open the curtains and check out the view
We could see right onto Times Square from our room. Aisling thought it would be fun later in the night to get completely undressed and stand in that window. I’m surprised we didn’t get arrested.
The first order of business was getting freshened up and down to that Toys R Us to ride the Ferris Wheel. I was more than happy to be the photographer. Which reminds me, those photopass photographers like to take your pic but NY is insane. Seriously, they took a pic of us walking into the store. Why would anyone want a picture of them in a toy store???
Randy realizing up far up they were!!!
After the ride, Aisling had to check out the store. I reminded her that we had Toys R Us stores in Mass but she wasn’t hearing it. This one was “huge” and that’s all that mattered. I did enjoy the Barbie section
Overpriced Barbie anyone???
I wanted that Elphaba Barbie but they were out of her
After that, everyone was getting a bit hungry (read: cranky) so we headed back to the hotel to get changed for dinner and a show!
(I’m going to photoshop those to make one picture of both of them looking at me!!!)