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.

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

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

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

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

Niagara Falls.

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

I found the New York Public Library.

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

Flowers at Niagara Falls.

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

Love is love in Times Square.

Niagara Falls.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atrium of Grand Central Station in New York City.

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

Niagara Falls.

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

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

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

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

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.