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.

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

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

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

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

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

Niagara Falls.

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

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

Niagara Falls.

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

Atrium of Grand Central Station in New York City.

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

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

I found the New York Public Library.

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Inside 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.

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

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

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

Flowers at Niagara Falls.

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

Love is love in Times Square.

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

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

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

Niagara Falls.

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