Around the world with Rebecca: East Coast

Showing posts with label East Coast. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

W Washington DC

December 2013

We choose the W Washington DC mainly on the location (across the road from the White House and within a short hop to the Mall).

The rooms are nicely set, but tiny. The bathroom is so small the sink is in the main room which is small enough in itself, but redeems itself with the large comfy bed.

The day we arrived was wet and rainy and we were offered hot apple cider, and the lobby area is a nice place to reset, but not what I would call relaxing.

The rooftop bar is raved about online, but I found it over rated. Perhaps in the summer when it's open the view might be better, but everything just looked so small.

Overall this place was great in terms of location and this alone would be enough for me to come back. The service in the hotel was friendly but poor in the roof bar. The rooms were tiny, but tasteful and comfortable and I was glad we got a good rate.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Washington DC

December 2013

I haven't been to DC since 1997 and H has never been so while in NY I jumped at the chance for another trip.

We took the train from NYC and in about 3.5 hours we were in Washington DC. The day we arrived was wet and miserable, the day we left was cold but clear. But that worked perfectly, a day for the Smithsonian's (indoors) and a day for the monuments (outdoors).

Stay
W Washington DC, small rooms (tiny) but in a great location, within walking distance to everything

Eat
Cafe du Parc, the place where Kevin Rudd resigned as foreign minister

Old Ebbitt Grill, a popular place for oysters and a steak

Do
You have to pick your museums, so with half a day spare (the main ones were open til 7:30 pm the week we were there) we visited Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum

Visit the National Tree depending on the time of year

Walk the monuments, leave 2 hours to walk the full circuit (but missing Arlington). Two of our favourites was the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial

DC is a fabulous city and you could stay a week and not run out of things to do or see.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Philadelphia, USA

December 2013

We caught an early morning train to Philadelphia for a day trip from NYC. It was a quick trip (1 hr 20 min) and easier than trying to navigate the road. I was surprised how compact the city area was, we walked all day (initially we had thought about using the metro) and while it was cold (about 32F or 0C) it wasn't raining.

Eat
Reading Terminal Markets
I could have spent all day eating here, but we only managed to try the Philly Cheese steak with wiz and some fabulous hand rolled doughnuts

We had meant to try Campo's but after the early morning start and all the good food at the market we never made it

Do
Independence Hall, we were able to reserve our free tickets online for a $1.50 booking fee, this worked out except for the fact you still had to collect your tickets at the visitors center!

Liberty Bell, can be viewed inside or outside the museum that is independent of Independence Hall

Walk from Independence Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Boathouse Row, you can get some cool pictures at night (our are from the train)

City Hall
We missed out on tickets to the observation tower (I couldn't find anywhere to book online) and I'm still disappointed

Special call out to The Red Headed Traveler for all her cool tips

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

New York City

December 2013/January 2014

We tend to be big planners, most trips I plan a year in advance (with the starts of that planning sometimes years out), but this was a very last minute trip for us. Six weeks of planning is all we had, and we managed to pack in most of what this city has to offer, with side trips to DC and Philadelphia as well.

Stay
NYLO, NYC on the Upper West Side, great location within a 2 minute walk to the subway