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.

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

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

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

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

I found the New York Public Library.

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls.

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

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Flowers at Niagara Falls.

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

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

Love is love in Times Square.

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

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

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

Niagara Falls.

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

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

Niagara Falls.

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

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

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

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

Atrium of Grand Central Station in New York City.

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

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

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

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

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