NYC - First Truly Solo Vacation - NYC - Bermuda - DC - October 10

Refreshed from a good night's sleep, I was ready to tackle New York City.  With an 8:00 a.m. ticket to Top of the Rock, I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m. (which I later realized was 5:00 a.m. my home time).  Breakfast was the standard Hampton food and then I set out and encountered a whole different early morning vibe to New York City that I much preferred.

Shaved Portions by Chakaia Booker

The pigeons took over the art sculpture while I was standing there.

I arrived at Rockefeller Center about 20 minutes early giving me some time to walk around the area.

Then I got in the line that had just started forming and at 8:00 a.m. the doors opened.  After climbing a flight of stairs with this beautiful chandelier, we went through security.  Those that didn't have much on them just walked through the type of security I've seen at sports games.  My camera bag set off that sensor so my bag and self went through more of a screening.  They took your photos in front of two backdrops (which you can later buy for $40) before sending you into a theater for a five minute film about the Rockefeller Center.  

A model of the Rockefeller Center

I believe I was in the first elevator of people up.  The elevator stopped on the 67th floor where we all got off.  Everyone else went to explore the views from that floor.  I instead decided to keep going up and found the escalator to the 69th floor and then stairs to the 70th floor which is where you can get photos of the city without battling the glare and grime of glass.  I had that upper platform to myself (aside from all the Top of the Rock employees) for quite a bit before people started finding their way up.  I later explored the other observation floors.  The views were spectacular!  I don't know how this observation deck truly compares to the other observation decks found throughout New York City but I am really happy I chose this one.

A great view of Central Park (where I planned to spend the rest of my day)

For an additional fee, you can get your photo taken on one of these beams.

From the 70th floor looking down on the 69th floor

Liberty of the Seas was docked just past the Statue of Liberty at the New Jersey Port

The cafe on the 67th floor.

I spent about an hour and a half exploring the three levels of observation decks before I decided I needed to move on to my next plan of exploring Central Park.

Central Park is 2.5 miles long and half a mile wide.  It is full of trails, woods, fields, artists selling their work, restaurants and food stands, ponds, a castle, and even a waterfall.  The diversity of people who enjoy this amazing space in the middle of Manhattan is really something.  I would discover that it is an ambitious goal to try to do the entire park in a day.  There definitely were parts I missed.

This is in the Hallett Nature Sanctuary which appears to have only one way in and out and lots of dead ends like this one with a peek-a-boo view of the city skyline.  At one point, I wasn't sure I was going to find my way out!

Gapstow Bridge

The breeze would come and ripple the water and then calm down and leave more of a reflection like in the next photos.

Pickleball courts

The mall - vendors of local art, food, hats, found spaces in this area to sell their goods.

Bethesda Terrace & Fountain

The Lake

Alice in Wonderland by Jose de Creeft

The Obelisk

Belvedere Castle

Turtle Pond

A waterfall in The North Woods

By this point, my feet were so weary.  By the time I would make it back to the hotel, I had walked almost 24,000 steps.  So I finished the last bit of the park and made my way to the metro station on the north side of Central Park.  By this point I was 4 miles from my hotel and so was really glad the subway system was so easy to navigate.  I scanned my phone to pay using Apple Pay for my ticket, found the platform, and the red 3 line arrived within a couple minutes.  Three stops later, I was making my way back up to the street level and just a few blocks from my hotel.

I know it was early but I spent almost 9 hours on my feet and was so exhausted so I spent the rest of the evening in the hotel and was sound asleep not long after 9:00 p.m.