Day 8 - Back to Dallas

I’m so grateful of that we did decide to make progress up north last night because Scott woke up with a lot of sinus pressure.  He was insistent that he was good to travel. But about an hour into the ride, he asked if I could drive.  We pulled into our hotel in downtown Dallas around 11:30 AM much earlier than a standard check-in time but the front desk clerk pulled some strings and had housekeeping clean our room right away, so we only had about an hour wait.

He settled Scott on a couch in the air conditioned lobby and the kids and I walked to a nearby sandwich shop to grab lunch.  We have a JFK Assassination tour today at 1:15pm which unfortunately can’t be rescheduled.  So the kids and I left Scott on the couch and headed out - just a few blocks to meet the tour guide at the JFK Memorial.  (The room was ready within a half hour so he didn’t have long to wait)

The tour was fantastic. Richard is a photo journalist who has studied the JFK assasination for years.  His van is equipped with a speaker system and tvs so he not only drives and narrates the tour but also runs the multimedia including diagrams, videos and original photos from the various investigations.

It was 2.5 hrs and we visited Deally Plaza, the grassy knoll,  the book depository, the home Oswald lived at the time of the shooting, the theater he was found in, the jail and city building where Oswald was later killed, and the spot where JD Tippit, local policeman, was shot as well. 

 

Left - Deally Plaza, where the parade for JFK was ending.

Right - Book Depository where Oswald work. The shots came from the far right window on the 6th floor. 

After the shooting, Oswald returned to his home to change his clothes and get his revolver. This home was originally a Rooming House that held 17 men. The women who owned it passed it down to her granddaughter who still lives here. She has restored it to its 1960s condition and remembers Oswald helping her with her homework as a child.  She is adamant that Oswald is innocent.

Oswald was separated from his wife at the time and had this room to himself. Here is his bed along with the coat he wore following the assassination.

After he left his home, he walked up the street several blocks and eventually shot a local policeman in the street. An X marks the spot on the road where the officer fell. Here is the memorial left on the side of the road.

Then Oswald walked down the street, hiding his coat behind a gas station and popping in to stores to avoid the increasing police presence.  Eventually he slipped into the Texas Theater which is where the police caught up to him.

The tour was so informative and explored Oswald’s life prior to the shooting, the habits and events that led up to Ruby shooting Oswald, as well as the full week of the Kennedy campaign plus the geopolitical climate post Cuban missile crisis and Vietnam.  

The tour ended at the museum in the book depository but Richard ordered out tickets for tomorrow so Scott can join us.  He dropped us off at our hotel and we headed up to our room.

Our room was amazing!  It was a 2-room suite with spacious bedrooms as well as a large living room, dining room and kitchen.  

Scott needed another hour of so of rest, so the kids and I welcomed some down time.  The tour was phenomenal but was like drinking from a fire hose.  We decided to stay in for dinner and order from Uber.

We had steaks and all the sides in our dining room and then relaxed a while catching up on some shows we’ve missed.  Scott headed back to bed around 8 pm so the kids and I just snuggled up on the couch and relaxed.

Hoping Scott is feeling better tomorrow.  

Today’s high: 72, overcast with a few sprinkles (quite cold outside)

Day 8 - Boat Tour & Broadway

By the time the kids got up, Scott’s flight was already in the air.  It’s a direct flight from GR so he will be landing around 10:30a and then just need about an hour to get to us.  So the kids and I ran across the street to a new donut shop for breakfast and then decided to take care of our laundry.  I found a laundry shop that will wash and fold your clothes only 6 blocks from here.  So we headed out, dirty laundry in hand, across Times Square, to drop it off.

After, we walked back to the hotel for a beat and waited for Scott to arrive.  He pulled in a little after 11 and we had a quick reunion in the lobby.  We dropped off his bag in the hotel room and then headed into Time Square to look around and grab lunch.  

Eventually we stopped at AppleBees for a quick sit down option.  It was while we were there that we discovered my car was losing battery TOO fast and was critically low.  I’m not sure why but in just two days we had already gone through almost 20% of the battery.  So Scott and Sammy stayed to pay the bill and Ty and I ran back to the hotel to investigate.  The car was parked a block away in a city lot.  The valets there were incredibly kind and said they would take care of it.  Within minutes my car was charging and the problem averted.

We took a cab to Pier 83 and boarded our tour boat with City Cruises.  It was a 1.5 hr tour around the southern half of Manhattan including a ride over to the Statue of Liberty.  It was a great way to see the city and hear more about the iconic buildings and bridges we’ve come to love.

We wrapped up a bit early so we decided to stay close and visit the USS Intrepid which happened to be next door.  The guys and gals split up and made good time looking at the planes on the top deck and the exhibits below.  The USS Intrepid had a long and successful run in the US military so there was lots to see along with the Concord that broke the sound barrier each time it crossed the Atlantic. 

We grabbed an Uber back toward Time Square and stopped for our reservation at Frankie and Johnnies Steakhouse.  Moments after we sat, I noticed our water glasses were almost empty and laughed.  It was a hot one today.  But if felt good to take some time to sit down and enjoy some good food.  

We stopped back at the hotel to freshen up and then headed out for a Broadway show.  Scott and Sammy chose Wicked, while Tyler and I ran to Stranger Things.

Times Square was especially busy tonight as we made our way home.  But we all made it (even after an extended rickshaw ride) and were snuggling into bed by 11:30p.

Day 5 - Finishing Up Boston

We decided to sleep in this morning but were still up by 9:00am. We had missed the hotel breakfast so we walked to a little pastry cafe and enjoyed breakfast.

After, we decided to finish up the Freedom Trail.  The route today brought us to Old Ironsides and the Bunker Hill Monument.

Once we wrapped up at Bunker Hill, we called an Uber for a ride to the New England Aquarium.  It was a fabulous little aquarium - that we all would highly recommend.  There was a lot to see and the animals were active so it made for a fun visit.

We decided to mix it up a bit and took the subway back toward the hotel, stopping short to find lunch.  Living in West Michigan, we don't often get the chance, so we enjoy it.  Plus it was on time and only a short ride today so it was quite enjoyable for us all.

We found a little pizza shop that was JUST what I would have pictured for a Boston pizza place and we LOVED it. Unfortunately they didn't have the breakfast slice that Sammy was hoping for, but pepperoni was an excellent substitute.

After lunch, we decided to walk back to the hotel.  We crossed the locks and enjoyed seeing the mechanics behind the large gates.  Once we got back, we took a break before heading to supper at a lovely Italian restaurant just a block over.

We had an outdoor table and all ordered the filet.  We shared sides of fries, carrots and garlic bread.  It was another excellent meal and after we walked home full.

Once back in our room, we decided to make it a movie night and climbed into Sammy and my bed to watch TV together.

Tomorrow we will pack up and check out for our next stop NYC.  We are all looking forward to it!  Plus Scott is flying in Friday to join us.

Day 4 - US History on the Freedom Trail

The city of Boston plays a key role in the American Revolution.  The city has done an excellent job of not only preserving but also highlighting the historical sites of the city along the Freedom Trail.  An organized path throughout the city that follows a red brick line in the sidewalk leading guests to 16 historical stops along the way including the home of Paul Revere, the site of the Boston Massacre, the meeting place of the First Continental Congress and the Battle of Bunker Hill.

There are lots of ways to experience the Freedom trail (bus, walking guide, bike, etc) but we decided to do it on our own with an audio tour.  

We started off this morning with breakfast in the hotel lobby then headed out to grab an Uber to the starting point - Boston Common.

It was on this drive that I realized just what it takes to be an Uber driver in Boston.  The traffic is nuts, with quick merges, fast exits and narrow roads.  I am super impressed but it also was a great reminder that we'll keep the car parked and rely on subways and cabs for the remainder of our stay.

I won't cover every stop along the Freedom Trail but instead will share some pics.

Along the way, we took a break and grabbed lunch at Shake Shack.

After 12 stops, the route brought us close by our hotel, so we decided to stop for a rest.  After an hour or two with our feet up and A/C on, we grabbed another Uber to head to the Boston Tea Party Museum and Ships.  This was a great stop - we all enjoyed it.  It was interactive and fun and encouraged guests to take on the identity of an actual participant of the Boston Tea Party.

After we finished, we crossed the river and had a fabulous steak dinner at Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse.  It was an excellent meal with Waygu Fillet Mignon and shared sides.  Afterwards we decided to walk for a bit.  We eventually found a Starbucks for a coffee and bathroom break and then Ubered the rest of the way home.

Tyler had to work tonight so he got started soon after we got in and Sammy put together a Lego set that we brought along.  I spent some time on church work and then laid down to ease a headache.

It was a fabulous day yet again!  Perfect weather and lots of steps!