After several friends have asked for old scavenger hunts and I dug up this old blog thing, I realized how incredibly stunningly amazing it is to have it. And, like so many things, it's worth the moments to put together.
So, our NYC adventure!
A friend's youngest expressed a deep desire to go see the dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History and the kids and I love any excuse for an adventure- or maybe I love any excuse for an adventure and the kids just humor me. We also tagged up with another crew who are up for day trip fun and trundled off.
The Scavenger Hunt:
1. What area of NYC is the American museum of natural history located? Manhattan upper west side
2. Something famous that happened in the 66th assembly district: Stonewall Riot, Triangle Shirt Waist Factory Fire, Edith Wharton, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Emma Lazarus lived there
4. A building taller than any in Albany- Freedom Tower
6. Pose with a famous statue- Charging bull replica
7. Something fashionable- being caught in the "nightmare commute" on the subway
8. Something deadly- lion
9. A crazy moving creature- jellyfish dome
10. A unique rock or mineral meteorite/ moonrock
11. Something that's been dead for over 100 years- mammoths
12. Dinosaurs! Yes
13. Art in an unexpected place subway!
14. Ride a subway yes
15. Something worth over $1,000,000 that isn't a building- Subway car
16. Something can't see in ALBANY double decker bus
17. Something scary huge mosquito
18. Taste something new churro
19. Fun fact learned- Emma Lazarus lived in 66th ad
20. Favorite thing happened kids finding play area in park
21. Funniest thing that saw or did when Ginnie jumped in the closing subway doors
22. Most delicious thing tasted tacos
23. Most beautiful thing Washington square park spring blooms
24. Something you will never forget kids climbing on statues
25. A favorite moment with a friend- subway pole dancing
Kristin, Nathan, Thomas, Max, and Brogan took the 7:30am bus with the kids and I and got to NYC in great time- only to hit: SUBWAY NIGHTMARE COMMUTE!! We waited, finally jumped on the next train when the voice overhead (which honestly sounded related to the adults on Charlie Brown) said the express train may go local. We stopped at the next station and I asked a conveniently placed worker if we would hit the museum stop and he said no, I jumped into the doors of the subway car to get our crew out of there. It turns out the doors are not quite like elevator doors which jump right open when one blocks them, but rather question if you're quite sure you want to be in the doors and keep closing. But good news! They do actually open back up, and after giving the children a heart attack I held the doors open so we could exit the subway car and catch the right train to the museum.
Savvy traveler tip: Always use the internet to buy tickets and jump giant lines.
First things first- we set the 16 and 15 year olds free to roam Central Park and explore NYC. We got photos of butter beer, makeup application, and occasional check ins. Initially, they just stayed in the same area as we were, but post museum we cut them loose to use the subway too. They saw Chinatown, Battery Park, and the Empire State Building. Not too shabby.
We met up with Richard, Melissa, Henry, and Claire in the museum and started to explore. We saw meteorites, moon rocks (clue 10), a blow up dome with movies of jellyfish (clue 9),
dinosaur bones (clue 12),
mammoth bones (clue 11),
and lots of other crazy things!
We then left the museum to a food truck lunch and took the subway downtown to the 66th Assembly District to meet my co-workers from the District Office. We found art on the subway (clue )!
Did some subway pole dancing...
And strolled through Washington Square Park to get to the office.
It's a stunning park where we heard Johnny Cash and jazz played outside,
the kids played on a fun playground
and posed on the fountain.
Invading the office was awesome and meeting people I regularly talk with on the phone was really wonderful. From there we popped over to Union Square Park and said farewell to the Bourgeois fam and made our way downtown to the 9/11 Memorial to meet up with the teens.
The walk downtown led to climbing on a Raging Bull replica (much to the chagrin of the swanky restaurant right by it).
And seeing some cool buildings- including the newly dubbed "Jenga Style" of building.
And, of course, the Freedom Tower, which is much taller than anything in Albany.
On the way, the kids purchased dog toys for Milo and fidget gadgets for themselves.
After meeting up with the teens, we went back to the subway
and headed to Times Square.
At Times Square, which was more packed than packed, we saw Disney characters without the heads smoking, were hustled by fake Buddhist monks, and spent time surrounded by hot pink.
At Times Square, which was more packed than packed, we saw Disney characters without the heads smoking, were hustled by fake Buddhist monks, and spent time surrounded by hot pink.
We finished the day buying swag and eating crazy good tacos at a tiny taqueria. A stunning super fun day filled with friends and fun!
What a great adventure with a bunch of great kids!
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