Chinyere & Eric
Things To Do
American Museum of Natural History
My favorite museum of all time! If you don't like this museum, you aren't breathing! I first fell in love with this museam on a school field trip when I was 4 years old, so DO NOT HESITATE to bring your kids! This museum is made for children, preteens, teens, young adults, adults of all ages, and seniors. Absolutely incredible exhibits that transport you back in time to learn about the history of life on this planet on land, in the sea, and in the air. The Hall of Human Origins, on human species and pre-human species, is fascinating! The dinosaur collection will blow your mind too! Also home to my absolute favorite New York subway station! Only open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 am - 5:30 pm.
Princeton
Make a day of it! See historic Princeton's beautiful shops, Princeton University's gorgeous campus brimming with ivy-covered gothic-style buildings, oak trees, and art museum and walk along the banks of the Raritan River. From the hotel: accessible by free shuttle to Newark Airport, take the NJ Transit train to Princeton Junction (2 stops), then take the shuttle train to Princeton. Princeton Battlefield State Park website: In one of the fiercest battles of the American Revolution, American troops under General George Washington surprised and defeated a force of British Regulars[]. American soldiers, pushed back by a strong British assault, were rallied by Washington who rode his horse between the British and American lines, leading his men to his first field victory over British troops. The Battle of Princeton capped 10 days of maneuvering and fighting, including three battles, which began with Washington’s famous December 25, 1776 crossing of the Delaware.
Atlantic City
Slots, table games, outlet shopping and the Boardwalk, what more could you want!?!
The Loeb Boathouse
Located inside Central Park, you can rent a boat to take out on the lake, sit and have drinks at the lake, and eat food at their delicious restaurant.
Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty
Only accessible by ferry. Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is number two of my top three favorite museums of all time. Interactive exhibits, fantastic tours, breathtaking views, inspiring, historical, and informative. If you have relatives who could have made their way to the Americas through Ellis Island, you can look for their names on a marble wall wrapped outside the building listing each entrant. Referred to as the Island of Hope, Island of Tears. The ferry to Ellis Island also takes you to the Statue of Liberty!
Jersey Shore
New Jersey has over 130 miles of shoreline! Millions of people travel to New Jersey to visit the Jersey Shore. It is a popular destination up and down the coast. Visit the link above for information on different beaches. I have only selected Seaside Heights because it's popular with the natives and I have been there. They have a large boardwalk as well. It is about 1.5 hours drive from the hotel.
Independence Hall
See where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were debated and adopted. The Liberty Bell sits across the street. Independence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Metropolitan Museam of Art
My third favorite museum of all time. If archaeological discoveries have been made for any culture that has existed as reflecting in their jewelry, decor, sculptures, building structures, clothing, or art, you will find it here. If you devoted a day to each geographical cultural wing you may still wish you had more time. My favorite sections are: the Egyptian Art section paying special attention to the mummies and the Temple of Dendur (pictured above), the Arts of Africa section paying special attention to the Nigerian section (I am Nigerian after all and they have some incredible pieces of Igbo sculptures and masks), and the Greek and Roman Arts section.
Peter Luger Steakhouse
Established in 1887, a Michelin Star restaurant, and quintessential New York steakhouse. Two locations. Do NOT leave without getting the bacon! Please note: they do not accept credit cards!
Coney Island
Beach, boardwalk, and amusement park. Established in 1824, this was the place to be before amusement parks copied Coney Island and sprung up across the country. Summer attendance would reach one million people a day!
Lenape Indian Village
Located at Allamuchy Mountain State Park, this park includes a 17th-century Lenape Indian Village exhibit, including wigwams and longhouses, which revives the Lenape world set in 1630 to show how they hunted, lived, and traded. The park also includes an early 19th-century village containing a log cabin farmsite, working gristmill, a general store, blacksmith shop, a canal museum, and several historic houses.
Tenement Museum
This museum is on my bucket list! Tenements represented the primary style of urban housing for the working class until the reforms of the New Deal by Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This museum provides historical tours of two tenement buildings where over 7,000 people called home for about 70 years beginning in the 1860s as well as the lower east side neighborhood they lived in.