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 view from the Empire State Building in New York City.

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

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

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.

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

Atrium of Grand Central Station in New York City.

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

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

Flowers at Niagara Falls.

Love is love in Times Square.

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

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

Niagara Falls.

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

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

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

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

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

I found the New York Public Library.

Niagara Falls.

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

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

Niagara Falls.

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

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