Our Trip to New Jersey & New York

 
Hello readers,

First of all, let me wish you a Happy New Year 2024. May peace, love and prosperity follow you always. 

Yes, I know things have been uncharacteristically quiet around here. The past year saw me completely swamped by our relocation from Singapore to India, leaving little room for blogging on my agenda. Embarking on a brand new year, my primary resolution is to rekindle my presence in the blogging realm. I am one of the most stubborn people I know so rest assured, you'll be hearing more from me in this space 😁

For those who have been following my journey on Instagram, you might recall our family's extensive holiday across North America last spring. The trip served as a well-deserved break, painstakingly planned over several months. While my husband and I had previously holidayed in the United States, our visit to Canada marked a first for us, and it was a maiden voyage for our twin daughters to both countries. Eager to make the most of our time there, we curated an itinerary that was packed full of places to visit and activities to do. It turned out to be one of the best holidays we have had as a family and we came back rejuvenated with a treasure trove of experiences and memories. 

Given the number of photographs in my arsenal, consolidating them into a single blog post seemed rather impractical to me. Opting for a more reader-friendly approach, I've chosen to distribute them across multiple posts. This way, I can save you from being saturated with excess content while ensuring a sustained flow of material to keep the blog going for the next few weeks 😉

The last time I was in New Jersey and New York, it was the start of winter and I loved seeing New York dressed up in white for Christmas. I was able to witness the Christmas spirit in full swing and the city's transformation into a winter wonderland. This time, our visit coincided with the onset of spring and I was delighted to see all the flowering fruit trees in different hues of pinks and snowy white set against verdant green landscapes. 

We stayed at a cousin's house and with that as our base, we blazed through our sightseeing itinerary.

One of the first places we explored was the beautiful Princeton University campus. It was a glorious sunny day with a slight nip in the air, perfect weather to go out and get some fresh air. 

Steeped in history, the architecture of this Ivy League institution transports visitors back in time. Century-old buildings, resplendent in collegiate gothic design, grace the expansive campus. The residence halls, auditoriums, and iconic chapel boast intricately designed curved ceilings and outdoor walkways. Ivy gracefully climbs the facades, seamlessly blending architectural splendor with the surrounding natural beauty. 

Manicured lawns, vibrant gardens, and tree-lined pathways further enhance the campus's allure. During our springtime visit, blossoming cherry trees, shrubs, and meticulously landscaped gardens featuring tulips, daffodils, and perennials adorned the spaces between educational buildings and residence halls. Lush green quads provided students with serene spots for studying or leisure. The twins were quite taken with it all and were prancing across the green spaces like wild horses. 

Following a leisurely stroll through the campus, we indulged in a delicious lunch at Mamoun's Falafel. After tending to our tummies, we immersed our minds in the intellectual haven of the Princeton Public Library, where we spent a large part of the afternoon. "My kids went to Princeton" is something I can say one day, can't I? 😆

While in the US, shopping is an essential part of my itinerary. The allure of truly incredible deals makes the experience unmissable so any free time available will be devoted to retail therapy. And I must mention that I have the habit of intertwining my shopping excursions with visits to familiar foodie havens from past trips 😁

When in New Jersey, a day trip to New York City is inevitable. Initially, I had considered extending our stay in NYC to take the twins to Niagara falls but given the time constraints combined with the anticipated jetlag, I scaled back my ambitious plans. 

We kicked off our day early to explore the The Big Apple. We intentionally skipped breakfast at home because I was eager to grab coffee and a bagel in the city. 

After stopping by Macy's Herald Square for a spot of retail therapy, we headed toward Empire State Building. I had seen the NYC skyline nighttime views from the Empire State Building on my previous visit so it was a nice change admiring the daytime views of the skyline. 

From the Empire State Building we made our way to Central Park. The timing of our visit couldn't have been more perfect because the park looked more beautiful than I remembered it. With delightful weather and blooming Yoshino cherry trees and Magnolia trees all around, it was a sight to behold and made for a very pleasant afternoon walk. We stopped for ice-cream and spent the afternoon lazing in the park while the girls were engrossed observing birds and squirrels. 

After some much-needed rest, we continued exploring the city on foot, checking out iconic landmarks. We went to Magnolia Bakery and bought some of their delectable cupcakes. 

After that we made our way towards Times Square where the girls were captivated with all the sights and sounds. 

After an early dinner at Applebee's, we made our way towards New Amsterdam Theatre to watch Aladdin the Musical. Going to watch a show at Broadway had been on my bucket list and I was so glad that I was able to tick it off. The show was spectacular and we all enjoyed it immensely. 

At the end of the day, my Apple watch let me know that we had walked more than 13 kilometers with a whopping 20K steps and it was only then that we actually felt the weariness set in. We called it a day and headed back. 

One of the unexpected highlights of our trip to New Jersey was a visit to Holland Ridge Farms. I had no prior knowledge of the presence of tulip fields in the vicinity. When I think of tulip fields, my mind naturally drifts to Holland in Europe. Since my cousin and his wife had the day off, they suggested that we go together to checkout this local family farm. 

On entering the farm, there was a breathtaking sight to behold. There were rows upon rows of gorgeous tulips in every imaginable color. After going completely bonkers taking photographs, we carefully picked a few tulips to take home (you have to pay for them of course!), bought some grub at the food trucks and took the delighted twins for two rounds of pony riding.

 

One one day, my cousin also took us to the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Akshardham Temple), Robbinsville. This is the largest Hindu temple outside of Asia, apparently built by volunteers. I was barely out of the car park and I could already appreciate the expanse of the temple grounds, the beautiful surroundings and the cleanliness. 

The exterior of the main temple was still under construction when we visited but we were able to visit the pristine white interiors of the mandir with its jaw-droppingly intricate marble carvings and decorated pillars (photography is prohibited here). There is a wonderful cafe on the temple premises where you get really good vegetarian food so we made it a point to go there. 

Image Source: MyCentralJersey.com

We were given a suggestion to visit Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. This is a 42-acre sculpture park founded in 1992 by John Seward Johnson II. The venue is dedicated to promoting an understanding of and appreciation for contemporary sculpture by organizing exhibitions, publishing catalogues, and offering a variety of educational programs and special community events.

The park's exhibits include sculptures by distinguished artists Clement Meadmore, Anthony Caro, Beverly Pepper, Kiki Smith, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Boaz Vaadia, and New Jersey sculptor George Segal.

We had an amazing time at this park. The highlight for the twins were the parks many free-roaming peacocks who seemed more than eager to put on a show for the adoring crowds.

And with this, our journey through New Jersey and New York came to a close. We were lucky to not get affected by jet-lag and enjoy blissful weather throughout the trip which enabled us to make the most out of it. 

There were so many fun things we did on this trip that I haven't detailed above. We cherished quality moments with my cousin's family, a rarity until then. We strolled through the neighborhood admiring the flowering trees, wishing on dandelions and checking out local outdoor play areas. We had giant American-sized donuts for breakfast which thrilled the twins to no end. The girls camped in the basement with their second cousin which they thought was so fun. They also visited her while she attended her Bollywood dance classes. We visited one of my close friend from Singapore and we spent a memorable evening with her family. We went on an outlet shopping spree from sunup till sundown that necessitated buying an extra suitcase 😆 What else can I say except - good times!

I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed reviving my memory.

Until I post the next installment of our North American adventure....

Cheers,
Megha