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.

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

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

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

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

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

Atrium of Grand Central Station in New York City.

Flowers at Niagara Falls.

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

I found the New York Public Library.

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

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

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

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

Love is love in Times Square.

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

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

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

Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls.

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

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

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

Niagara Falls.

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

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