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.

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

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

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

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

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

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

Atrium of Grand Central Station in New York City.

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

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

Love is love in Times Square.

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

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

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

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

Niagara Falls.

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

Niagara Falls.

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

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

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

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

I found the New York Public Library.

Niagara Falls.

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

Flowers at 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.