Once upon a time, my brother had a Northshore Band concert in Connecticut, and Mom and I decided to go along with him for the road trip and stop at Niagara Falls, New York City, and Washtington, D.C. on our way. We came, we saw, we did the speed tours of the big sights. Then we drove 14 hours back to Chicago. It was a lovely and sweaty week.

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

Niagara Falls.

A Hillary Clinton sticker stuck to the sidewalk in Washington, D.C.

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

I found the New York Public Library.

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

Flowers at Niagara Falls.

Me in front of the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Part of the 9/11 exhibit at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Atrium of Grand Central Station in New York City.

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

Niagara Falls.

The Northshore Concert Band performing at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

The cutest baby ducks in a pond in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Inside the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

Love is love in Times Square.

Fountains in front of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

Social book time at the New York Public Library in New York City.

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

The view from the Empire State Building in New York City.

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

Tyler, me, and Mom in front of the White House in Washington, D.C.

9/11 exhibit at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

Niagara Falls.

The Daily Herald on the monitor at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

And yes, I did have “Empire State of Mind” stuck in my head the whole dang time.