DAY 5

 We let the kids sleep in till 9 a.m.  Ate breakfast at the Hampton and then ventured out. Unfortunately it was still pretty cold this day but we survived.  Went over to One Vanderbilt building but couldn't get up at that time.  We bought tickets for Friday morning for the kids.  

Then we took the subway from Grand Central to the 9/11 Memorial.  This was crazy to see.  

One Vanderbilt

Grand Central Subway Station

Riding the subway

9/11 area

9/11 Memorial - very sobering.  There was a long line to get into the museum and we decided to not go into the museum this time.  We kinda got museum'd out in DC.  

Then we walked past Trinity Church where Alexander Hamilton is buried.

Then outside the NYSE (stock exchange) and Wall Street

The charging bull outside of Wall Street area

Then walked down to the Staton Island Ferry.  

We boarded the free ferry to Staton Island (about a 20 minute ferry ride).  We did this to see the Statue of Liberty instead of paying for the Ellis Island Ferry and to walk up the Statue of Liberty.  This was a group decision, but saved us a ton of money.  We still got a really good view of the Statue of Liberty. She looks really small compared to the whole city.  

We got an UBER to take us across the Brooklyn bridge.  We ate at a pizza place called Julianna's that was recommended to me. It was right under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side. 

The pizza was so good!

Then we walked the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan. This was really cool!

Once back in Manhattan we walked toward Chinatown.  We walked through Chinatown and then ended up on Canal street where they sell fake pursed, sunglasses, and watches of expensive brands.  

Just walking around NYC was so iconic. 

Chinatown - bought the kids "I LOVE NY" shirts here and grammy her lipstick holder that she likes to us.  

On Canal street Alegra and I made a purchase with a little chinese lady that we followed to an alley and she would come out with different purses.  I got a Louis Vuitton and Alegra got a prada.  She wanted $120 for mine and $65 for Alegra's.  We ended up getting both for $140.  Lexi was our bargainer.  Supposedly the chinese ladies have the better knock off bags than the people that just have them laying on the street.  

We were close to Soho and we ate at 2 different places next to each other. The boys wanted burgers but they only had an outside seating area and the girls and I were too cold at this point, so we just went to the bar and grill next door to eat inside.  

Walked through Brandy Melville and Nike in the Soho area.  Alegra was in heaven. Lexi and Shawn actually both bought shoes at Nike. Shawn's shoes were literally falling apart on the trip and Lexi really wanted a pair of shoes that she bought.  

Levain Bakery cookies in NOHO (near SOHO) to take back to our hotel for a little dessert in our room.  

Tired day but such a good day.  We went back to our room at 8 p.m.  to eat our dessert and watch Outer Banks.