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

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

I found the New York Public Library.

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

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

Niagara Falls.

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

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.

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

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

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

Niagara Falls.

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

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

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

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

Niagara Falls.

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

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.

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

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

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

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

Love is love in Times Square.

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

Flowers at Niagara Falls.

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