View from the apartment where we stayed at the beginning of our trip and final night.
We left the wilds of the desert Thursday for vacation on the East Coast and returned home Tuesday. It was a trip to visit a friend in NYC. It was smoldering hot with a heatwave in Manhattan. After going out for a delicious Italian dinner across the street from the apartment, we drove with our hostess to her weekend home in the country where it was peaceful and a tad bit cooler. It wasn’t the bustling Manhattan I had envisioned for our trip, but so delightful — and much more my style.
How’s that for a change of scenery from Manhattan? It was serene, peaceful and beautiful. We spent the days in deep discussions, reading, and touring small towns in the countryside of Connecticut. We had fabulous meals at affordable prices in quaint buildings.
(I wrote last week about my disappointing restaurant meals HERE. Every meal on this trip was excellent.)
Unlike Scottsdale, everywhere we went had history going back to our nation’s founding.
Here are a few phots from a graveyard, lake, art show and restaurant:
One of several quaint, delicious restaurants we visited. Huge portions at ridiculously low prices.
We stopped at beautiful Candlewood Lake.
These were all the outside booths of the art show. There was a building with more booths inside. Small but mighty. So much talent.
One of the highlights:
The last evening of our vacation, we returned to NYC. I met LA of Waking Up on the Wrong Side of 50 in person! We recognized each other on the spot. We hugged and could have talked for hours or days. I felt like I discovered — as Anne of Green Gables would say — a kindred spirit.
What are your favorite parts of exploring a new place?
Sightseeing, eating, spending time with friends or shopping? Or something else?
This is my idea of an East coast getaway EA! Not at all a city person so CT would have been wonderful. So happy that you got to meet up with LA. I can imagine how memorable that will be for you.
Meeting an old friend for the first time: how wonderful is that? I think that may have been the highlight for me, too!
Deb, have you ever been to the Cloisters in NYC? A haven of serenity in the middle of the bustling city… (I can already hear George Costanza’s father yelling “serenity now” 😁)
That’s it. I met an old friend for the first time! Great vacation.
Never to NYC EW!
Only to the Cloisters through some of LA’s posts (Wakinguponthewrongsideof50) since she is a huge museum aficionado. I live vicariously through her as she conquers galleries all over the city 😉
I do too. We were planning on doing lots of interesting things in the city with our friend. But I’m glad she changed plans and another time we’ll visit the city with her.
The Cloisters is a beautiful place to visit in NY and the surrounding neighborhood is also interesting.
I’m so glad we got out of the city. I loved the green of CT. It was so fun to meet LA in real life!
Looks like you had a fabulous time – heat and all! And I love the pics, especially the Old Oak Tavern. My kind of place! Love that you got to see LA in person and gave her a big, big hug. So good! 🥰
It was great to meet LA. She just like she is on her blog but more so. We went out for lunch and dinner at places just like the Old Oak Tavern. Food was delicious!
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Looks like a great time. I need to buy train tickets and get to NYC again this fall.
It was a good time. That’s a great idea to go to NYC in the fall.
This sounds like a marvelous vacation. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
It was really special. Our hostess pampered us and treated us like a king and queen.
That’s perfect 👍🏼
It was!
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I’ve always wanted to visit Connecticut! It always looks so lovely.
I’m so glad you connected with LA! And to quote Anne of Green Gables…love. 🖤
Thank you! My brother lived in CT for years, but I haven’t been back since he moved to WA. It must be 20 years or so. This was a new area to me and love the history and beauty. I also loved meeting LA!
Ha ha, I looked at your pix first … definitely not Arizona. I’m sorry that you came east during the hottest time of the year. Ha ha.
It felt hotter than Arizona with the humidity. I’m glad we left the city to explore small towns in CT. It was fine in air conditioned shops, restaurants and the car!
Much better this week. Still hot, but feels less humid.
But of course! I was there for the hot humid weather 😅
Come back in September or October. I always say the East coast is best then. Not too hot, not too cold. The rest of the year, live anywhere else. Ha ha 🤣🤣😎
Next time, we’ll plan better!
I found that when we go on vacation the best places to eat, visit happened unscripted. So, according to Yelp, might not always work as places change quickly, at least in Florida. N.Y. is hot during the summer! How wonderful to meet L.A. When we went to Sebring, Lake Placid area we had to search for dog friendly restaurants which was challenging but rewarding with the 2 pugs. We missed a few interesting looking flea markets inside, but we did get to visit Belks for some great clothing buys and we did lots of touring and walking in the area which was interesting.
That sounds like fun! Of course, I broke two toes right before my trip, so my walking was limited! It was great to meet LA in person.
Oh, yes. Sorry to hear of your toes. Painful.
Such a bummer. But I lived through it. Still am.
What are your favorite parts of exploring a new place?
People watching! I adore seeing how people elsewhere go about their lives. I’ve been to Manhattan a few times, people there are in their own worlds! Glad you got to meet LA.
People watching is the best. Yes, that’s what I saw in Manhattan. It was a highlight to meet LA in real life.
New York, Connecticut, and LA. Put like that it sounds like a cross-county tour. 🙂 So glad you had a lovely trip with great food and travels! How fun!