ROAD TRIP - NYC-NIAGARA-DC-NYC AND BETWEEN.

DONE SEPT 2018

Close to AMERICAN FALLS on the CROWS NEST PATH (these panorama images click-expand nicely).


This is not a page on islands or beaches. So it seems out of place in a blog on islands and beaches. But here's the thing. I'm writing this as an almost 75yo with several life-threatening problems. Maybe I'll soon be reassigned to the permanent past. If so, perhaps this page will act as a memento to members of my family. In the meantime I'm getting a bit of a kick out of writing it - all the stuff I have to remember, the re-reading of trip diaries, the checking of web-sites to see details forgotten+distances between major destinations etc. One thing's for sure - now I don't frequent the travel forums, there are few readers from those sites who might take offence at a page which strays from this blog's original purpose.

WHY A PACKAGE BUS TRIP??

With very limited time, this was the only way I was going to see NE US icons like WASHINGTON DC and NIAGARA FALLS. Plus experience has shown no matter how much pre-trip study of guide-books and online stuff, the commentary of experienced tour group leaders can't be beat. Finally VALUE is fantastic - competition between online tour retailers is intense meaning the basic cost of the tour was less than I could get 2 nights in equivalent accommodation in DC and NIAGARA - let alone all the transport and commentary.
Above is MAIN ST WATKINS GLEN, a small touristy town on the shores of LAKE SENECA, one of north NY STATE's finger lakes. I'd read about this town as a kid - didn't ever think I'd spend time in it.

TRIP ROUTE

 Day 1 - white    Day 2 - yellow   Day 3 - indigo
Total distance 1250miles/ 2200km without any of the usual backing and shuffling.


DAY 1 - O700 - CHINATOWN NYC.

Tour leader LILLIAN gets her group organised. Kinda difficult because about 3 different (destination) bus tours leave this location early morning - and because LILLIAN's company seems to be a TOUR AGGREGATOR: she has people booked on several other online sites besides my TAKE TOURS.
LILLIAN was a marvel - she could juggle finances, bookings, give extensive introductions at each stop in both CHINESE and ENGLISH, field calls from head office and chase after recalcitrant passengers who didn't seem to think it important to show up at the bus on time after a free-time period.
Passengers about 60% Chinese, 30% Indian and 10% Caucasian. I was the only Anglo, the rest were Russian.
Early start needed because it is over 400mi/640km to NIAGARA where we need to arrive mid-afternoon to take in some of the sights.

CAVEAT ON COSTS - the initial online ask is astonishingly low, but you will end up spending more. For a start, everyone paid a compulsory staff tip. Then there are all the CALL-INS - want to check out the SECRET CAVES? Pay more. Visit WATKINS GLEN STATE PARK? Pay more......yada. Some of these call-ins are very good, some cost little extra. Some are expensive, some underwhelming. MY TIP - study the online "brochure" to see what the extras are and go to review sites such as TRIPADVISOR to find what others are saying. Then decide what you will include or give a miss. In the latter category I decided to give the 3rd day motel breakfast a miss, ditto the luncheon buffet that day. I paid for all the others - the only one which left me less than gruntled was the first day's HIDDEN CAVERNS thingo.
Also be aware that some of these call-ins are SEASONAL - some passengers at WATKINS GLEN STATE PARK were asking "WHEN DO WE VISIT THE CORNING GLASS FACTORY?" LILLIAN pointed out this was a winter activity when the fabulous STATE PARK is closed because the river in the gorge often freezes.
Could you do the tour without the add-ons (apart from the compulsory tip - and if travelling solo, the single supplement)? Sure - some passengers were doing just that. I'm a bit surprised that I (a world-class cheapskate) wasn't - fact is some of the add-ons were very good; others suggested cheesiness (eg the IMAX theater at NIAGARA) but were not expensive and turned out way better than I estimated.

Our bus was in very good condition, clean, quiet, comfortable. Seated abt 70 - we were just about at capacity.

We were allocated permanent seats - I was lucky to score one up front with a good view thru the windscreen. Up-state NY countryside is pretty gorgeous (I come from the SUN-BURNT COUNTRY where rural areas tend to be BROWN).
Driver EDDAR a fiery little Latino was a bit of a hard case. But he was a good safe driver, got us thru some horrendous traffic in the DC - BALTIMORE - PHILLY - NJ - NYC urban corridor on typical 12+ hour days. He was constantly fielding calls from head office wanting him to take extra tours, despite the fact that his log-book would be maxxed-out after our trip.

I was so impressed with EDDAR and LILLIAN's work effort that despite coming from the land of fair wages and no tips (what's the difference between an Aussie and a canoe? - Canoes sometimes tip) and despite a compulsory staff tip included in the tariff, I slipped them a few extra dollars at the end of the trip.


DAY I - abt 1200 -SECRET CAVERNS/HOWE'S CAVE upstate NY

NYC to NIAGARA is a hell of a distance - to break the trip we called in here for about an hour. Under the building is the entrance to a cave - but I have to tell you I was not whelmed, having seen much better. The good news is that like most of the call-ins along the trip this one was OPTIONAL - if you didn't pay you hung around in the rather good gift shop/cafe in shot or took it easy in the pleasant park-like area outside.

The cave area takes less than 20 minutes to check out. Note it's way cool underground (about 50F/10c) and wet underfoot in some areas - be prepared. I've seen far better limestone formations and colour.

DAY 1 - ABT 1530 - BEST WESTERN HOTEL NIAGARA FALLS

LILLIAN allocates rooms at our hotel. Seems chaotic but worked a dream. We had about 15 minutes to find our room and then report back for the walk to the nearby falls viewing area....

I fell in love with my room - simply luxurious after a fortnight of share hostel dorms. As a single traveller on the bus trip I had to pay a single supplement (although I would have shared had there been other singles) - can't tell you how great it was to have this giant, spacious comfy room all to myself after sharing dorms with up to 15 others. Only complaint - no coffee making in room (coffee available 24/7 in the lobby).

Hotel had a small gym and pool plus its own dining room and an adjacent casino if you were feeling lucky. Best of all it was abt. a 5 minutes walk to.....

....the AMERICAN FALLS VIEWING AREA in the NIAGARA FALLS STATE PARK 

This nicely landscaped area has good views of the main falls area. We had at least 60 minutes to do our thing here - I'm a little annoyed that I had not done enough research and was unaware of nearby should-visits like GOAT ISLAND with its various paths and smaller viewpoints. So I just hung around in this area and drank in the scene....

....which was pretty good. Note you are fairly side-on here, but next day I found places further south such as the OBSERVATION DECK at the NIAGARA FALLS VIEWING TOWER which gave less oblique views.
That's AMERICAN FALLS closest camera, smaller BRIDAL VEIL FALLS part behind/above and a  section of HORSESHOE (CANADIAN) FALLS in background. 
Notice the highrises of CANADA's version of NIAGARA FALLS town, which is an even bigger deal tourist-wise than the US side. People say the viewpoints, accommodation and food are better on the Canadian side - I was determined to confirm this in 2019. Unfortunately lack of time forced me to cancel NIAGARA in 2019.

These falls kinda blew me away. I've seen higher, but as they say, it's the VOLUME of water going over here which is outstanding.

DO YOUR RESEARCH!!

People on GOAT ISLAND getting a close-up of HORSESHOE FALLS. I could have easily walked across to that viewpoint from the AMERICAN FALLS OVERLOOK in abt. 15 minutes.<15 i="" minutes.="">
The island has several viewpoints - ones which allow a different perspective of all 3 falls.

By this stage (late afternoon) the "MAID OF THE MIST" boats were wrapping up their cruises.
We would be down there next morning.

OVERVIEW OF FALLS AREA

Labels might be clearer if you can click-expand image.

DAY 1 1930 - DINNER AND FALLS BY FLOODLIGHT
After some time back at the hotel to shower etc, LILLIAN took us to an area near the AMERICAN FALLS OVERVIEW with lots of eating options, told us we also should not miss the falls by night and asked us to be in the lobby next morning at 0600. 

Ground floor here is a big FOOD HALL with options covering all budgets. Ditto street-front joints in the adjacent blocks.

I went for a pizza in one of the latter areas - ate it at the outside tables on this pleasant early Fall night. Pretty yummy and not bad value (overall I was not a fan of the value of US fast food).

LILLIAN was right. The floodlights make a nocturnal revisit well worth while.

THE REST OF THE NIGHT - after checking this area I wandered back to the hotel, used the gym and pool and then hit the sack. But in retrospect I wasted much of the night - not having to be on deck until 0600 next morning, I could have spent a few hours wandering over to the CANADIAN side and checking the scene. My only excuse in not being prepared to fully use this spare time is I was unaware such periods existed on our schedule and thought TAKE TOURS would have every second filled - which they certainly did next day.

-----------------------------------------------------


DAY 2 - 0620 - WHIRLPOOL STATE PARK

Surprise!! - we met in the BEST WESTERN LOBBY at 0600 with NOBODY DRAGGING THE CHAIN! Then we bused to this place less than 3 miles/5km down river from the FALLS area (if you have plenty of time you can walk it along the rim of the gorge or ride in the DISCOVER NIAGARA SHUTTLE which passes by this spot (although maybe not this early).

Because of certain geological factors in the river's course, you have some pretty impressive RAPIDS and WHIRLPOOLS in this area - made more impressive by the fact that several boats have navigated thru here (eg all the "MAID OF THE MIST" craft).
There are restrooms, picnic tables, a historic display (closed this early) and a chance to take a path down by the river if you have time. We didn't....

....moving on after 30 minutes to FORT NIAGARA

Located strategically where the NIAGARA RIVER meets LAKE ERIE, this place under successive FRENCH, BRITISH and US control had two main purposes. To stop "foreign" penetration into the NE interior. And as a trading post between colonialists and indigenous people.

Interior was restored to reflect life back in the day - this is one of the soldiers' barracks....

....this room reflects colonial trading.

Local ladies has set up a kitchen supplying pretty good stuff for an inexpensive breakfast - important to us given our early start.

Downtown TORONTO the other side of LAKE ERIE.

Near the exit, this dude was giving a demonstration of loading and firing a period fire-arm. Wouldn't work for him, which apparently was pretty common back in the day. Wet powder.

I enjoyed the visit to FORT NIAGARA, considering it well worth while the modest extra charge. 
So did the other passengers - I think no-one opted out of this one.
If any did, they had 90 odd minutes to grab breakfast in the nearby township.

EARLY DAY 2 LOCATIONS

As can be seen WHIRLPOOL STATE PARK, FORT NIAGARA and LAKE ERIE are downstream to the north of the FALLS.


NIAGARA ADVENTURE THEATER
By this stage it was past 0900, so we retraced our steps to the FALLS VIEWING AREA where things were beginning to open.

I had my doubts about this one, but the stuff it dished up on past history and people who had gone over the falls either accidentally or on purpose was good value. The IMAX effect was a bit weak, but I think there are more specific IMAX shows either here or elsewhere if you want to go the thrills route.

The arcade outside the theater had a whole bunch of touristy mementos etc - prices seemed reasonable if that kinda stuff floats yer boat.



NIAGARA HIGHLIGHT - "MAID OF THE MIST' CRUISE BENEATH THE FALLS

This is a MUST DO if you are in the area - and the cost is very modest. Boats get very close to the falls. Raincoats are part of the package - you get to keep them.

Close proximity.

I don't think I'll ride my barrel over AMERICAN FALLS - the chance of landing on a rock is reasonably high.

Boats were shuttled thru very quickly. In this way, the modest early morning (in early Fall) line of people waiting shortened quickly. Not sure about the wait in high season's longer lines. 
Above is one of the boats behind our's. Can't remember if this was when we were coming back (the dock is close to that high structure at left) or leaving.

CROWS NEST PATH

This is a short distance to the right of disembarkation - the not too steep steps went about half way up the side of AMERICAN FALLS. I doubt you could get closer. Could be tricky in high season 
crowds.


NIAGARA FALLS OBSERVATION DECK

This is cantilevered off the LIFT TOWER which takes people down to the "MAID OF THE MIST" boats. If you have a "MAID OF THE MIST" ticket, entrance is free. If not it was a ridiculously cheap $1.25 (I understand it is FREE for all in low season).

The tower is less than 200m north-west of the AMERICAN FALLS VIEWING AREA.

Base of tower - multiple lifts take passengers down to gorge bottom - wait for lift in early Fall was not too bad - could be different high season.

The viewing platform gives a less oblique outlook - not as good as from the boats of course.

The CROWS NEST PATH kinda stood out.

BRIDGE TO CANADA

A short distance north along the gorge from MAID OF THE MIST and the OBSERVATION TOWER is the bridge to CANADA - US customs one side, CANADIAN the other. Need your passport of course, but otherwise stroll across. Most people driving of course.



DAY 2 - ABT 1330 - WATKINS GLEN STATE PARK
We departed NIAGARA abt 1030 and cruised thru the rather nice upstate NY countryside to WATKINGS GLEN alongside SENECA FINGER LAKE. Lovely country, scenic lake, and lotsa WINERIES if you are traveling by car or on a bus trip with more time to spare.
I knew this town from reading about its motor racing circuit in my youth, but a study of the trip itinerary made clear we were going nowhere near that. Instead our destination was the STATE PARK - I didn't hold any great hopes but the extra charge was very modest and so I went for it. This was one of those places turned out way better than expected.

After dropping non-participants in a car park alongside the main road (ample opportunities for shopping, sightseeing in the 45mins we were gone) we bused the hill a short distance to the STATE PARK ENTRANCE. As can be seen, the POOL was already closed in early Fall, as was the rather nice camp ground. However the GORGE TRAIL was still open (it too closes in the really cold months when ice can make things treacherous underfoot) - which we headed for.

After using the rest rooms up top, we took off down the GORGE TRAIL, the first 40% of which is this rather pleasant well surfaced amble thru lovely forest. Patrons have the choice of UP or DOWN here (there is a free shuttle takes patrons back to their start - I saw the sign but don't know if it runs in shoulder season) - it was only a few days after my big WIPEOUT on the TAURUS MOUNTAIN TREK so I had additional aches and pains on top of the usual shot arthritic knees (bad knees HATE down-slopes, particularly down-STEPS which we hit in the gorge) so I would have preferred to walk upwards, but I think unfit people would go for the downhill thing (note - no killer gradients along the way apart from a few of the steps). BTW 90% of walkers were going DOWN meaning few crowding problems with early Fall's modest patronage - dunno about high season though.

There was no shortage of instructional panels regarding history, geology etc. Worth reading.

After abt 10 mins the track drops into this rather good gorge, cut by Glen Ck into the shale. Above is one of several spectacular waterfalls along the way.

Gets a bit wet - I was glad of my hiking shoes and poncho. No shortage of stairs for aching knees.

The gift shop at the foot of the trail had the usual touristy merch - prices didn't seem too much of a gouge (in Oz, these places are always a tourist trap). Also had drinks and snacks plus another set of rest rooms.
There were several fast food outlets in close vicinity.

Our bus was waiting in the lot across the main road, so we jumped on board and headed for the DC area. This was quite a trip - nearly 300miles/480km and taking over 5 hours. Fortunately it was through some gorgeous countryside - at one stage we were progressing along a river valley in rural PENNSYLVANIA so attractive it was hard to believe that some of these rural PENNSLYVANIAN areas are among the least prosperous economically in the nation.


REFLECTIONS ON WATKINS GLEN - I was so impressed I made plans for a 2019 return a bit earlier in the year, stay in the camping area in my tent for a few nights and really explore the area well. But research showed poor public transport from NYC which would have forced me to rent a car - I no longer rent cars where they drive on the wrong side of the road. So scratch WATKINS GLEN for 2019 - replace with MARTHAS VINEYARD.


DAY 2 ABT 1930 - ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET - SOMEWHERE IN MARYLAND.

Not far short of our overnight accommodation in LAUREL, MARYLAND, we stopped for dinner at the above. It was another extra on the cost of the trip but I think everyone went for it - I had little to eat since FORT NIAGARA and planned to eat little next day until my hostel in NYC, so I paid the extra and gave the buffet a real good nudge. For a skinny guy, I can sure hoover stuff at an ALL YOU CAN EAT.

The selection of mains and deserts on offer was pretty mind-boggling.


2000 SECOND DAY - RED ROOF INN, LAUREL, MARYLAND

Only 20miles/32km from WASHINGTON'S NATIONAL MALL, once again I was impressed with the quality of overnight accommodation. I expected mom and pop style motels for this trip's price - but RED ROOF INNS are a national chain probably 2 steps up from mom and pop.
So like the previous night I had a spacious room all to myself, with the usual inclusions EXCEPT AGAIN no in-room coffee making, This was available in the lobby 24/7. 
For the record I thought the previous night's BEST WESTERN another step up, but RED ROOF was pretty good. 


------------------------------------------------------------



DAY 3 ABT 0800 WHITE HOUSE, NATIONAL MALL

 We got another early start from our accommodation - joined the horrendous early morning traffic into DC - and headed for the WASHINGTON MONUMENT. However it was closed due to some ceremony, so took the bus to as near as we could park to the WHITE HOUSE VIEWING AREA. After checking that out....

....we moved the bus to another parking spot close to the LINCOLN MEMORIAL. 
LILLIAN did her usual Chinese/English run-down of things in the area (including some food trucks near the bus - we left RED ROOF before breakfast but I was still full from the HIBACHI BUFFET and made do with a free coffee + choc bar from the lobby vending machine.) Then she told us to be back at the bus in 60 minutes.

The memorial interior gives visitors a photo opportunity in front of the great man himself.

The outlook from the steps of the LINCOLN MEMORIAL is pretty good. That's the WASHINGTON MONUMENT the other end of the REFLECTING POOL. The pool is approx 620m/680y long. It's actually 1300m/1440y to the monument, which is a little short of half way along the NATIONAL MALL. The VIETANAM WAR MEMORIAL is abt 250m/280y to the left of the camera - the KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL a similar distance to the right. Our bus was parked a short distance behind the VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL.  

Directly behind the REFLECTING POOL is the WW2 WAR MEMORIAL - at a slightly lower level. Those vehicles have probably brought in disabled veterans. The top of the WHITE HOUSE DOME is depicted by the YELLOW arrow - the building is more or less directly north of the WASHINGTON MONUMENT. The INDIGO arrow points at the THE CAPITOL, the dome of which is hidden by the monument. THE CAPITOL is at the far end of the mall, some 3800m/4200y from the camera. So THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL is at one end of the mall, THE CAPITOL at the other.


THE VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL
With less than an hour after I finished with the LINCOLN MEMORIAL, I figured I only had time to do the VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL and had to give the nearby KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL the miss. No worries, I got there one year later.  I chose the VIETNAM MEMORIAL because it was much more pertinent to my generation: I missed the lucky-dip Oz call-up but many of my mates went. Some did not return.

The famous black wall, inscribed with the names of those lost - made so famous in numerous books/films/TV shows was a lot less imposing in reality. But no less sobering.

NATIONAL PARKS which maintains the area has a good system for locating names on the wall. They are not in alphabetical order.

Many atmospheric sculptures add to the occasion.


DAY 3 - ABT 1200 - THE MUSEUM PRECINCT
EDDAR relocated us to outside the AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM on the side of the NATIONAL MALL abt half way between THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT and THE CAPITOL. There LILLIAN gave a bilingual run-down of the many SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS in this area (they are all excellent and FREE - do your research to see what floats yer boat), gave some recommendations and said she would see us back at the bus in 90 minutes. 
DILEMMA - I desperately wanted to see THE SUPREME COURT (there have been some very big cases there over the years and there was one of note on at that time) and also THE AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM on account I've been an airplane nerd all my life. Could I do both in 90 minutes?

SUPREME COURT - ABT 1225

The SUPREME COURT is 1mile/1.6km east of the AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, behind the CAPITOL building. So I hobbled up there on my shot knees in 25 mins - didn't have time to go inside but at least I can say I've seen it.

On the way back I got a glimpse of the REAR of THE CAPITOL. Very similar to the front architecturally, it seemed to be far busier.


ABT 1250 - AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

What a place - for a airplane nerd this is Mecca. Big enough to have many different aircraft, there are also flight simulators, interactive displays, IMAX type theaters, educational lectures and more. Of course my 40 odd minutes was way inadequate to cover it all, so I vowed to return the next year and spend way more time....

....WHICH I DID! (see down page). 
There was a lot of unfinished business in DC so I made a point of penciling in 4 days here in SEPT 2019, staying in the HOSTELING INTERNATIONAL joint, a rather good place only a few blocks north of  THE WHITE HOUSE.

SOMEONE IS MISSING! On return to the bus it became apparent we were short 2 couples. After 20 minutes of frantic phone calls LILLIAN became aware they had decided to take a room and explore unseen things next day.
Which is fine, except they didn't inform LILLIAN beforehand. Which cost us 20 minutes in a tight schedule and made for a late arrival in PHILADELPHIA just as things were closing down.

PLACES VISITED IN WASHINGTON

My tour visits in central WASHINGTON. The NATIONAL MALL can be seen mid-pix stretching W to E nearly 4km from 7 to the CAPITOL. The WHITEHOUSE has its own extension N off the mall abt mid way. The river bottom left is the POTOMAC. 
Places depicted (from left) - 7 LINCOLN MONUMENT  8 VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL  
9  KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL  6 REFLECTING POOL  5 WASHINGTON MONUMENT  
3  AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM  2 SUPREME COURT  10 PIER FOR RIVER CRUISE
Labeling may be clearer if you can CLICK-EXPAND image.


RIVER CRUISE - ABT 1420

After sorting out our missing passengers, we bused down to the nearby marina in the WASHINGTON CHANNEL for a quick river cruise. This was done on one of the regular cruise boats, but despite a crew member telling me this particular one was reserved for the bus company alone there seemed to be other passengers on board..

Some of the happy trippers. The boat had a big salon below with snacks, rest-rooms yada. Most people went there.

Our route. We cruised down the WASHINGTON CHANNEL, out briefly into the main POTOMAC R. did a turn off the WASHINGTON RAEGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT and retraced our wake. Total time was about 45 minutes - I got an idea the trip was shortened a bit in order to regain some of that lost 20 minutes. A pity - I would have liked a RIGHT TURN up the POTOMAC to see the nearby PENTAGON and ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
The cruise commentary was chatty and informative, particularly in relation to the military housing and establishments on the left bank of the CHANNEL heading out.
That narrower river at right is the ANACOSTIA.

This is about as far as we got. The AIRPORT is on the west bank of the POTOMAC.



WASHINGTON RETROSPECTIVE - we certainly managed to fit the basics into this tour. But overall I had the impression of NOT ENOUGH TIME - after all we only had about 6 hours to do all this. The new itinerary, by switching things to DAY 1 and incorporating AFTER DINNER time, seems to have addressed some of this problem. 
But I left with the impression of UNFINISHED BUSINESS. There were many places I'd like to spend more time + a whole bunch of other DC icons not visited. The only way to do this was to return for a multi-day visit, something I did a year later....

A YEAR LATER - SEPT 2019

....MORE TIME AT THE AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM....

....although 4 hours still left a lot of stuff not dealt with fully.

....A VISIT TO THE AIR AND SPACE ANNEX OUT NEAR DULLES AIRPORT....

....where greater space allowed more and bigger aircraft and space-craft including ENOLA GAY (yellow) and the CONCORDE (indigo). Space shuttle DISCOVERY and an SR 71 BLACKBIRD in other areas. Lotsa Soviet-era aircraft - plus others this 74yo airplane nerd had never heard of.

....ONE MORE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM....

There are more than half a dozen SMITHSONEAN MUSEUMS around the perimeter of the NATIONAL MALL. They are all free, and all get excellent reviews from users. But the one seemed to be the family favourite was THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. Wow! This place was huge and a real TIME BANDIT in that I allocated 1 hour and staggered out after 4, still not having covered everything in detail.


....THE KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL

....THE WORLD WAR 2 WAR MEMORIAL

....ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY 

....THE PENTAGON

....plus a whole bunch of others including EMBASSY ROW, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, FORDE THEATRE (where LINCOLN was shot), CHINATOWN, UNION STATION yada. Thing is, WASHINGTON DC is the type of place where you need several weeks to see everything of interest. I had 4 days.

DAY 3 ABT 1615 - HOOLINSWOOD MALL WEST BALTIMORE

Heading north out of DC a bit behind time, we hit heavy afternoon traffic on the short journey to BALTIMORE. There we diverted to this suburban shopping area where for extra cost there was another BUFFET (a rather late lunch). But given the previous night's overindulgence I opted out and settled for something a bit more modest at the mall's SUBWAY.


DAY 3 BALTIMORE - ABT 1700
This was just a whistle-stop. The tour itinerary said we would view the major attractions from the outside only, but given our latish arrival, the INDEPENDENCE ICONS were shutting down and had we independently wanted to pay extra to go inside, it would have been too late. I'm thinking those wasted 20 minutes waiting for the non-showers in DC cost some of us dearly. LILLIAN gave us about 50 minutes to wander around the INDEPENDENCE AREA  and check the scene.

The famous LIBERTY BELL from outside.

The INDEPENDENCE HALL - also shut for the day

LILLIAN obliges in INDEPENDENCE PARK

Not everything shut - some fast food counters in the INDEPENDENCE VISITORS' CENTER.

PHILADELPHIA IN RETROSPECT
I wasn't too upset about the whistle-stop nature of our Phily visit. This is exactly what I expected - heck, it's on the way back between DC and NYC so why not spend an hour or so? Fact is if you are a history buff or independence nerd TAKE TOURS and others have more specific PHIADELPHIA TOURS where you will spend far more time.
Thing is, I'm not big on the birth of US democracy and the Constitution. The latter I think is to blame for a lot of the present seemingly intractable ills. So a whistle-stop was just what I wanted - been there, seen that, now move right along. Certainly my whistle was not wet for a return visit, unlike DC.


DAY 3 ABT 1945 - CHINATOWN NYC

The bus terminated close to our pickup point. I walked several hundred meters past bustling restaurants and shops (I thought CHINATOWN vibrant in daylight - after dark it is TWICE as busy) to CANAL ST SUBWAY and jumped on a train for COURT SQUARE in QUEEN's LONG ISLAND CITY.

2045 - THE LOCAL HOSTEL NYC - QUEENS

THE LOCAL has a rooftop terrace with comfy chairs and an excellent view of the MANHATTAN SKYLINE + plus the QUEENSBORO (ED KOCH) BRIDGE (right), where I parked myself soon after return with a takeout pizza and a mug of JD sour mash.
BEST WESTERN NIAGARA FALLS and RED ROOF LAUREL were pretty cool places for this budget traveller, but they don't have an outlook like the above.


NEW TAKE TOUR ITINERARY
In writing this page I naturally booted up TAKE TOUR's online itinerary to refresh my memory. Boy, is it now different! I think they have sat down and said "How can we improve this tour?" The result:
- ORDER OF PLACES HAS REVERSED - so that its now PHILADELPHIA, followed by WASHINGTON and lastly NIAGARA FALLS.
- there seems to be a lot more things included - eg visits to all 3 war memorials in the DC NATIONAL MALL, a night tour there - plus other DC inclusions. Elsewhere some of those 'WINTER ONLY" call-ins now seem all year. A lot more NIAGARA STATE PARK places are included - eg passengers are now taken to GOAT ISLAND overlooks. I think they have managed more inclusions by cutting down on the amount of "free time" and by having post dinner activities in DC.
The only thing missing seems to be WHIRLPOOL STATE PARK + FORT NIAGARA both of which I thought pretty good - and SECRET CAVERNS which I didn't. 
But NIAGARA to NYC in one hit last day (no doubt there is a call in at a highway rest-stop) seems a real stretch.


TRIP RETROSPECTIVE
This was a good tour, worth every penny. The way TAKE TOURS has reorganised the itinerary suggests it may be even better now.

- TOP 3 HIGHLIGHTS (in order):  1 "MAID OF THE MIST"   2  AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM   3 WATKINS GLEN GORGE WALK.

- DISAPPOINTMENT: SECRET CAVERNS

- UNEXPECTED BONUS - standard of accommodation was better than I expected. It seems the company has managed to screw some really good deals out of these chain hotels and motels. Which one seemed to be a last minute thing - I gained the impression LILLIAN didn't know our actual night's destination until home office phoned it thru to her in transit.

- PROBLEMS: seemed to be too much free time which we were not forewarned of, so that we could do some pre-trip research on how best to fill it. This was particularly so on DAY 1. The reorganisation of the itinerary suggests the tour operators have tried to minimise this.
 : PHILADELPHIA seemed rushed. A particular problem was that time of arrival was late afternoon, just as things were shutting down. The new itinerary has arrival morning of DAY 1.

- CUDOS - to LILLIAN and EDDAR for great service and professionalism 14 hours a day.

-----------------------------------------------

ATTENTION - IF YOU SEE MISTAKES OR HAVE EXTRA INFO, PLEASE POST BELOW. BUT QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ASKED ON THE FORUM PAGE WHICH I CHECK REASONABLY OFTEN, WHEREAS I SELDOM GET BACK TO THESE INDIVIDUAL "PLACE" PAGES