Travel Tuesday: Things to Do in NYC

I live about an hour north of NYC, in what is often called the suburbs of NYC. I can't say that I think Westchester and Putnam counties resemble suburbs in the traditional sense. There aren't a lot of housing developments with identical houses lined up in tidy rows. I haven't encountered many cul-de-sacs. Westchester and Putnam counties are both surprisingly rural and wild, especially considering how close they are to the city.

Fodor has an interesting list of 15 Things Not to Do in New York City that I wanted to explore.

So here is what Fodor says:

1) Don't Take a Taxi.

I have to agree with this one. I have only taken a taxi a couple of times because the distance was so far and navigating the subway proved to be much. It is expensive and not always fun.

We usually have two options to get into the city--drive or take the train. I enjoy taking the train because you can move around, it isn't stressful, and the kids enjoy it. However, we always weigh the cost of each. Parking in the city with a big SUV is EXPENSIVE. Once we park, we either walk or take the subways.

Fodor recommends you taking the subways or a city bike. I've done the subways quite a bit. It helps to have a map of the lines and to understand where you are going. The only challenge is that if you aren't used to the vagaries of the lines, you might make mistakes. But that's ok, just take your time and ask for help.

The other thing I think all visitors should do is go to Grand Central Terminal. First, its beautiful. The ceiling in the main room is gorgeous and hearkens back to the days when people tried to make public buildings functional and beautiful. Secondly, there is a lot to do in the terminal. There are several different shops, a mini train museum, and sometimes there are bazaars. Thirdly, they have a great and fun food court. I love taking visitors to the food court because there are some great options including Junior's (LOVE their cheesecake and reuben sandwiches) and the Shake Shack.

2) Don't Waste Time in Times Square.

Oh my gosh, yes. Times Square is iconic but is super crowded with tourists. Real New Yorkers really don't go there. We've gone a few times to take the kids to the M&M store and other kitschy shops. If you hate crowds, don't go here. Especially if you have children, Times Square is a nightmare because you have to keep a tight hold on the kids so they don't get lost in the crowd.

3) Don't Go to the Top of the Empire State Building

I don't know if I agree with this one or not. I've never been because it is really expensive to go. The movies don't tell you they charge at least $35 to go to one of the lower decks. I haven't ever been to the Rockefeller Center top deck either--because they ALSO charge a lot of money. Bottom line, if you want to see NYC from above, you have to pay a lot of money. Frankly, I would rather spend it on good food, or on a show.

4) Don't Pay for the Circle Line Tour

NYC offers a free water taxi. You can also take the ferry between Manhattan and Staten Island for free. Both are fun.

5) Don't Go on the Highline During the Weekends

The author says it is really crowded and I believe him. Many green spaces in NYC are always crowded. If you want to go to a green space on a nice day in the city, be prepared to share it with lots and lots of strangers. The trick is to pretend they aren't there and construct and imaginary bubble around yourself.

6) Don't Limit Yourself to Manhattan

Yes, BUT you need to have a sense of where you are going so you don't end up in a bad neighborhood. Do research before and have a good map handy as GPS doesn't always work with the skyscrapers blocking the signal.

7) Don't Take a Horse Carriage Ride

This guy is a killjoy. OF COURSE you should take a carriage ride before they get banned for all eternity in NYC. It is a fun way to see the park. The drivers are often very chatty. On one ride I took, the guy had the thickest Brooklyn accent, I could barely understand him and I've lived in NY for awhile.

8) Don't Go on an Overpriced Bus Tour

I don't totally agree. I once went on a night tour of the Christmas lights in the city. It was magical and fun. If you go with a group of friends, it can be really special. Just weigh your priorities and money and decide accordingly.

9) Don't Go to the Statue of Liberty

Totally disagree. I've seen the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry--which is free and provides a good view of the statue. And I've also done the whole tour of Ellis Island and the State of Liberty. I think it is worth every penny to go and see Ellis Island and the Statue up close.

10) Don't Block the Sidewalks

True.



11) Don't Eat at a Chain Restaurant or Tourist Trap Place

Also true. Do your research and look for restaurants in the area. We also like wandering around to find something to eat. Lots of amazing places worth exploring in the city.

12) Don't Eat from Street Carts

What does this guy have against street carts? I think it is fun and part of the experience. We like the Halal food trucks because the food reminds us of the Middle East. We have eaten some great food from carts.

13) Don't Ignore the Smaller Museums

Also true. And you avoid the horrifying lines and crowds. Or go to the larger museums during the earlier part of the days during the week.

14) Don't Go Shopping in Midtown or Soho

Or don't go shopping in NYC period. Super expensive and not worth it. You can hit a local outlet mall and get way better deals.

15) Don't Limit Yourself to Broadway Shows

Good advice, but you have to know where to look to get that info.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Travel Tuesday: Washington Headquarters in Newburgh, NY

One of my favorite parts of living in Hudson Valley is that you can hardly throw a stone without hitting some important relic or place that relates to the Revolutionary War. I have gotten a lot of pleasure out of exploring the different historical sites. I'm not so sure about my children as they seem to mostly tolerate my explorations.

Over the course of the American Revolutionary War, George Washington occupied several different headquarters as he moved up and down the colonies. He would settle where it was strategic and convenient. One such home was located on the west bank of the Hudson River in Newburgh, NY. There he spent several months with his staff writing letters, directing the war, and planning. Washington resided in this home for longer than any other headquarters throughout the duration of the war.

To get to the museum and headquarters, you have to drive through a rather unfortunate part of town. As I understand it, Newburgh used to be a gorgeous river town. You can see it in the decrepit Victorian homes that must have been stunning at one time. Sadly, the town has gone downhill in almost every way. You are safe enough parking by the museum, although the first time I was worried about my car. 

There is a separate museum by the original headquarters with artifacts and information to give you context about the war. The Hudson River was a really important part of the Revolutionary War and both sides tried to gain control of it so they could control access and hopefully prevail. 

For a small fee, you can go on a guided tour of the Headquarters. I think that is the only way one is allowed to see the interior. No photos are allowed of the interior, so you'll have to go see for yourself what it is like.

The home itself was rather small by our modern standards with all the rooms on the main floor, with a grand staircase going up to an empty attic. The interior of the home is set up so you can see how Washington would have set up his staff, what accommodations they had, and what kind of work they did, which mainly involved a lot of letters. I most enjoyed seeing the camp beds that the staff brought with them. Many of them were raised beds that had curtains allowing them a modicum of privacy when they were packed in the rooms like sardines. They had a bit of comfort instead of sleeping on the hard floor. 

I think this is a great place to visit to get a feel for the period and how daily life unfolded while trying to conduct a war with the superpower of the world at the time. 

If you go, I recommend that you visit the NY State Parks site to see the fees and hours operation. Try to go on a sunny day when you can enjoy gorgeous views of the Hudson River. 

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Travel Tuesday: The Challenges of Being a Third-Culture Kid

A third-culture kid (or TCK) is a child who has spent a significant portion of their childhood living outside his or her passport country. My three oldest children definitely qualify as TCKs. I did not learn about TCKs until we lived in Riyadh. Learning about this concept helped me tremendously. But I wish I had known about it while we lived in Sweden.

Today I came across some school papers from 2008-2009 when my oldest son was in 3rd grade. As I looked through the pages, I realized that he was experiencing classic symptoms of being a TCK-something none of the adults involved recognized and consequently were not able to help him adequately.

At the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, we were still in the middle of huge transitions. We had only been living in the United States for 9 months-after spending 5 1/2 years in Sweden. My children hadn't eaten Kraft mac and cheese, sugar cereal, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They hadn't even seen television commercials for several years. They had grown up in a dual-language environment that was culturally diverse.

Moving to New York was a profound shock for all of us. We went from an apartment to living in a house. We drove everywhere in New York instead of biking or taking public transportation. The kids movements and freedom became greatly restricted. In Sweden, they had been allowed to visit friends and go places without an adult hovering around them. In New York, the kids always had to have an adult with them when outside. The cost of living was also a shock. Even though my husband received a much bigger salary, we were very unprepared for the high cost of rent, utilities, and general living expenses. Our world shrunk because along with the higher cost of living, free activities were pretty sparse in the area.

Additionally, as I tried to reconstruct our lives, finding all the doctors I needed to manage my health conditions was difficult. I neglected finding an endocrinologist and so my thyroid health spiraled downward causing severe health challenges. I would eventually enter a pretty terrible lupus flare and then become pregnant. 2009 was a intense difficult year filled with health challenges, school challenges, culture shock, and a horrible battle with our landlord.

This is just the outside stuff. My son had left all his friends the year before, all that he knew and was familiar to him. At the beginning of 2008, he went to two different second grades--one in Wyoming and then the one in New York. We hobbled along at the second school. But third grade proved to be exceptionally difficult for him.

In coping with his stress he started to chew non-food objects like pens and papers. This bothered the teacher and principal so much that he was referred to the psychologist. I received many complaints about my boy that year as he struggled along, trying to find his footing, friends, and stability. Despite my efforts to keep things stable at home, my health had spiraled out of control. Even though we tried not burden our kids with what was happening, the truth is that we were all impacted by what was happening.

I wish that I had known the challenges that TCKs face as they struggle to adapt to new environments. I wish I had been able to educate the school staff about what we were facing as a family in adjusting to being back in the United States. I wish that the teacher would have seen how hard we were trying as a family and how we just didn't have the resources at that time to do better. I wish someone would have loved my little boy at that school and understood him and his needs better.

As I think about that time and how my children were affected by circumstances beyond their control, I am grateful for their resilience. I'm grateful for what we've since learned. My boy (and really all the kids) adjusted and adapted. They are bright, kind, and interesting boys. I know more now and have the resources, tools, and skills to better help my kids adjust.

The paradox of life is that we all exist in a state of duality. Most of our experiences couple the bad with the good. Being a TCK comes with some remarkable gifts and experiences but it is coupled with loss, pain, and suffering. Most of the time I focus on all the great things we've experienced but sometimes, the hard stuff rears its ugly head and I have to deal with it.

What are some of the dualities of life you have noticed?

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED