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 view from the Empire State Building in New York City.

Canandaigua Lake in New York.

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

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

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

Ceiling at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut.

Bridge to Niagara Falls.

Sweet graffiti van in New York City.

Love is love in Stamford, Connecticut.

I found the New York Public Library.

A sweaty walk through Central Park in New York City.

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

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

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

Niagara Falls.

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

Me and Tyler at Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls.

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Sunflower garden in Washington, D.C.

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

Love is love in Times Square.

Atrium of Grand Central Station in New York City.

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

A love lock at Niagara Falls.

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

Flowers at Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls.

Be nice or leave in Stamford, Connecticut.

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

On the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls.

The Strand has a kiosk in Central Park!

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

The tile at the Staten Island Ferry is everything.

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