I feel like a year has never flown by as fast as this one has. I assume it's the new job that's made me so sidetracked, but maybe it's just because I'm getting older. Normally the time before a holiday starts dragging, but it feels like it's racing towards us. In fact, we're close enough for me to start thinking about packing lists.
I love making packing lists for a few reasons. It makes me feel organised, it makes me get excited about the trip as I think about what will suit what excursion/event etc, and very importantly it gives me an excuse to shop for the "gaps". ("Gaps" = clothes that I decide that I need and usually don't end up taking anyway, because I'm adorable like that.) Currently I've identified a gap in my jumper collection. I think Aaron's disputing this call.
Oh and then there's the excitement of being able to book restaurants for while we're there now, or in places where you don't book, just reading their menus and thinking about where we'd go. Seriously I'm so excited about the food. There's a good chance that in Chicago and New York City we'll just food place hop and forget sightseeing. So many delicious choices, so little time.
We've been talking a lot about the last holiday and how while it was great and there are some memories that I'll always be excited by, it wasn't really successful as we spent a lot of it irritated and stressed. It's not normal on a holiday to be so tense, that when a place says they've run out of meatloaf you burst into tears at the table. (It wasn't about the meatloaf, though the Daily Grill's meatloaf is really good
.)
We've realised that we tried to rush things, or put too much pressure on doing things special and then when things didn't work we got so frustrated. So we've really tried to not put much pressure on us and the sightseeing spots this time. I'm not scheduling a lot as a result, as I'm scared of overplanning.
But here's some of the things we're definitely going to do/see while over there...
New York City
- Serendipity 3 - one of my favourite eateries ever. Partly because it's where John Cusack was in Serendipity and because of the Frozen Hot Chocolate... (Speaking of Serendipity, remind me one day to tell you about how my sister and I snuck into the Waldorf Astoria and recreated a scene from the movie!)
- Broadway shows - We've got tickets booked to Book of Mormon and Rock of Ages
- Restaurant Row - A street full of varied cuisine restaurants, we're looking forward to just turning up and seeing what's available
- Empire State Building - We went up at night last time, we're going to go up during the day this time
- Brooklyn Bridge - I really want to walk the Bridge, okay well at least stand on it...
- A Night On The Town Tour - http://www.graylinenewyork.com/tourpage.php?item=NOTT
- Ray's Pizza - the best pizza ever created.
I think with New York, we're just going to take things very easy, there's so much to just walk around and enjoy. I still live in some hope that the Maury Povich show will send us tickets!
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is where we have the most scheduled.
- Independence Hall - we have tickets for a tour
- Independence Hall Archaeology Lab - Every trip Aaron and I have to let out our inner nerds, this is one of those times. We've booked a tour of the Independence Hall site with an archaeologist who'll tell us about artefacts found etc.
- Liberty Bell
- Elfreth's Alley
- The Rocky Steps and Statue
- Mini-Golf at Franklin Square - As well as our nerd side, we also have childlike competive sides, so we rarely miss an opportunity for mini-golf
- Perhaps the Philadelphia Zoo
Again, like New York, I think Chicago will be pretty easy going. I'm going to meet a friend while I'll I'm there so am most excited about that. Here's some things we're planning on seeing though.
- Shedd Aquarium
- Adler Planetarium
- Field Museum
- Wrigley Field (Save Ferris!)
- Navy Pier
- We're booking a table at the Signature Room on the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Center, the views should be amazing.
- The Skydeck Chicago - I am very eager to step out into the glass window boxes they have...in theory...
Anaheim
The plan in Anaheim is very much centred around Disneyland. I love Disneyland. Love it. Pretty much we'll spend most of our time there. We might head off to the San Diego Zoo or do another tour of somewhere in the area but I'm not sure.
Sorry, that was long. So long, but for those curious there are some things we've thought about seeing. Anyone reading this have other suggestions?
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