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.

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

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

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

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

Niagara Falls.

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

Love is love in Times Square.

Atrium of Grand Central Station in New York City.

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

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

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

Niagara Falls.

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

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

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.

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

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

I found the New York Public Library.

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

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

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

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

Niagara Falls.

Flowers at Niagara Falls.

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

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

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

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