Whirlwind East Coast Trip

Jared and I took off for a long weekend- 4 states in 3 days. We flew into NYC, drove up the coast and hit Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. We had talked about this trip for years and just finally did it. We went to Newport and saw the beautiful coastal mansions- you feel like at any time someone straight out of the early 1900s is going to step out of the house. Next we took the ferry to Martha's Vineyard, where there wasn't much going on in the off-season. I was surprised at the quiet, country feel, and had pictured something much smaller. We spent Friday in Boston, travelling by subway (loved it!), with our time divided between Cambridge and the Freedom Trail. Cambridge was one of Jared's areas on his mission so he was a great tour guide! We expanded our minds walking around Harvard, walked along the Charles River and saw Longfellow's home (also where George Washington was living as he commanded the Revolutionary War!). The Freedom Trail begins at Boston Common and winds through downtown, ending at Bunker Hill. It was awesome to see the sights of so many significant events in the early years of this country. Boston has done the most terrific job of preserving historic sights and building a beautiful city right around them. On Saturday we headed west, on our way back to NYC by way of northeast Connecticut (namely Canaan, Connecticut, the sight of a BD facility I have been dying for Jared to consider a transfer to). Saturday night we spent on the town in New York City. What can I say. It's everything the pictures say it is, times 100. We tried to see everything, and did a pretty good job. It was fabulous- a real smorgasbord for the senses. We could have extended our trip indefinitely if it weren't for missing the kids (a BIG shout out to Mike, Camille and Esther for taking care of them!!). We look forward to going back someday in the fall, but even then I'm not sure it will beat the wonder of seeing somewhere for the first time.