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.

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

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

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

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

Flowers at Niagara Falls.

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

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

Niagara Falls.

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

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

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

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

Niagara Falls.

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

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

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

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

I found the New York Public Library.

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

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

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

Niagara Falls.

Atrium of Grand Central Station in New York City.

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

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

Love is love in Times Square.

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

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

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