Trip to NYC

For my birthday this year I decided to take the train up to New York City with my husband to see a show.  I decided on the train because it the long run it was a bit more convenient and cheaper than flying when you consider seat class, parking at the airport, getting through TSA, and the taxi ride into and out of Manhattan.

We traveled by metro from Wiehle-Reston East station, which has long term parking for $5 a day to Union Station to catch the 5:30PM Acela.  (Though we lucked out as we came back on a Sunday and the gates were open.  Yay free parking!) Acela is the high speed limit train from Union Station, DC to Penn Station, NYC, the overall trip is about 3 hours.   We arrived about 90 minutes before departure time, even though Amtrack suggests 45 minutes.   Arriving early let us grab a quick bite at Wolf Gang Puck’s bistro and figure out where we needed to go to board the train.    The Acela leaves Union Station on either track E or F and they let you know about 20 minutes before boarding.  There is no version of TSA security, and you can take up to 2 carry-on items plus a personal item on the train.   Once they announce the track boarding process is fairly quick and easy.   

On the way up to NYC, we had one of the older Acela trains.  Note Acela is only business class or first class, we were in business class.  I would compare the seats to flying business on a commuter route, like business on American flight from DCA to Huntsville.  There was plenty of overhead space on the up to NYC, though I think that was because I feel the train was full of day trippers or business people going back the New York.  The bathrooms on the train were large and fairly clean.  The café car was nice, but food was slightly pricy but not extraordinary.   Overall, the ride was fairly smooth, but not sure we topped more than 120mph on the way up.   Once arriving at Penn Station, around 8:30PM, it was easy to disembark the train, exit the train station and grab a cab to the hotel. 

We stayed at a Marriot Residence Inn just off Broadway near Central Park and Hell’s Kitchen.  We had a room on the 55^th floor, which had a small kitchenette, a standard size bathroom with excellent water pressure, and a king bed.  The room itself was a decent size, but the layout made it feel a little small.   Our biggest complaint was it was difficult to open/close the curtains, and the shower curtain didn’t keep the water contained in the shower.  The breakfast buffet was fairly large with a variety of hot dishes, cold cuts, fruits, muffins, bagels, waffles, coffee, tea, and juice.  The hotel was in a good location for walking places, but the subway stops were not great for where we wanted to go, so we ended up taking the bus.  The elevators were quick but got busy in the morning.

The first full day in NYC we started with breakfast, then a walk through Central Park, because the Natural History Museum didn’t open till 10:00AM we were up at 7:00AM.  It was a lot nicer walking around Central Park compared to last time because the weather was so much cooler. (Read last visit to NYC here: Day in NYC and Finding the light on Ellis Island).  So, we got to explore more of the park before going to stand in line to enter the Natural History Museum.   I was expecting more, so I was not as impressed as I thought I should have been.  The building is huge, but I don’t feel like they used the space well.   I enjoyed the dinosaurs, but who doesn’t like dinosaurs? It also felt very crowded and congested.  I was expecting to spend most of the day there, but we only stayed till about noon to grab some lunch.  

We ate a little Japanese restaurant called, Raku It’s Japanese II.  I got a bento box, which was larger than I was expecting.  It came with miso soup, katsu pork, 6 pieces of gyoza, a California Roll, 2 orange slices, side of rice, and to top it all off green tea ice cream.  It was a lot of food.  Jim got a sushi plate, he was expecting a roll and really it was sashimi, a plate of tuna, and rice balls.   After lunch we had to head back to the hotel because, well, my stomach hates me.  Stupid IBS started to act up.  It was not the food, but I think remnants of medication I was on. This is the second time I ended up not feeling great in NYC.   We spent the rest of the afternoon at the hotel and got ready to see the show at 7:00PM. 

For dinner before the show, we ate at Pasta Eater Hell’s Kitchen.  It was good Italian with fresh pasta. Simple place.  From there we walked down the street to The New World Stage, to see “The Play That Goes Wrong”.  The play is comedy about theater group trying to put on the play the Murder at Haversham Manor.   I knew it was going to interesting when the actors came out into the crowd/theater about 5 minutes before the show started, looking for a dog called Walter, and watching them hang set pieces with gaff tape.   The whole thing was hilarious. Plus, my husband thoroughly enjoyed it.  If you go see it, sit towards the middle or a little back, so you have a good view of the control box, which is part of the play.  We were in row N, which I thought had a good view of everything.

The next day we slept in some and started the day by visiting the Central Park Zoo.  The zoo is tiny. I mean super tiny, probably great for little kids, but my husband and I saw the whole zoo in about 30 minutes.   From there we walked over to Madison Avenue to catch a bus up to Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met).  The bus ride cost 3 dollars to go half way up Central Park. We were really tired of walking.   We grabbed lunch from a Nathen’s Hotdogs stand, whole claims it is the taste of New York.  Then we went to the museum.  I like the Met way better than the Natural History Museum.  It felt less crowded, better organized, and had a better recommended path through the museum.  I personally like all the sculptures, the armor room, and the picture of Washington Crossing the Delaware.  I also saw the portrait of Madame X by Singer Sarget, which lived up to expectations and was larger than I was expecting.    By the time we were done seeing all the museum our feet would let us, they were starting to hurt, it was 2:00PM. So, we hopped on a bus back to the hotel.  For dinner we got Pop’s Pizza. 

On Sunday morning we got up around 6:30AM, packed everything up, grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotel then caught an Uber to the train station.  You can either go to Penn Station, which is the old part of the station and connect to the local lines.  Or you can go to Moynihan Train Hall, which is the newer station across the street.  I recommend going to Moynihan Train Hall because that is Amtrack specific and a lot newer.   We got on the 9:00AM Acela back to Union Station, DC.  For this trip we got one of the new Acela trains, the seats have bolsters for your head, individual reading lights and are sleeker.  Same amount of overhead space, but the new train doesn’t have closeable compartment, like the earlier train.    Both trains have free wi-fi.   Honestly, I kind of like the older Acela train a little better, they just need to refresh the seat padding, and it would be fine.   Once I arrived back at Union Station it was simple to exit and hop on the metro to head back home.  

Overall, the trip was good except for me having stomach issues for part of the day.  This is the second time I have had issues in NYC.  I’m thinking I really shouldn’t visit the city anymore.   The train ride was good, a while 3 hours instead of 45 minutes by air, there was no having to show up three hours early to go through security and you are basically dropped off in the middle of the city.  So, I think the train is a better value in the long run and less stressful.    I really enjoyed the “The Play That Goes Wrong” and the Met.  This wasn’t a picture trip and I’m glad I didn’t bring my camera, my cell phone was sufficient for the pictures I took.  I’m not a street photographer.