Lifestyle

New York and New Jersey: Perfect Together

By Adriane Berg

It’s been 39 years since my husband, Stuart, and I were married. Sigh. The truth is that I forgot my anniversary, and he didn’t. He tried to wait me out until midnight to see if I would remember, but by eleven a.m. he couldn’t hold out any longer. He presented me with a robe to match our new bath and pajamas. The next day I bought him Three Stooges videos.

Is that best we could do after 39 years? A vague dissatisfaction caught us. But with our youngest daughter entering college and our business demands, there was no way we could take an exciting vacation. Then the thought hit us: Let’s take a three-day expedition to New York City, sprinkled with at-home New Jersey joys.

We began at twilight on August 12th with a sunset Statue Cruise. StautueCrusies.com takes you to the Statue of Liberty from both the New York and New Jersey side. If you have never visited the Lady from the New Jersey side, do so. The views are breathtaking. In our case, we went for a special evening, when a dinner of salads, fried chicken and burgers was served at the Statute. I indulged in my first Ben and Jerry’s Brownie Pop. Decadently delicious. The National Parks Department Ranger told us how the Statue was designed and funded, showing us statues of Eiffel, Pulitzer, and Millay that I never knew were on the island. The tour costs $33, $28 for seniors The sunset cruise with dinner takes place only intermittently.

We then had the pleasure of going home, back to the wilds of Tewksbury New Jersey, a township that has a sister city in England where I walked the Tewksbury Way for my 59th birthday. We saved the airfare to the Cotswolds and walked our own Tewksbury trail, enjoying the fireflies and the sounds of nearby horses neighing. Take a morning and come on down to the Columbia Trail, a 7-mile flat walk between Califon and High Bridge with some benches and plenty of resting space.
The next day we were off to New York again, this time for a Food Cart Tour conducted by Urbanoyster.com, named for the oyster carts that dotted NYC decades ago. Do you know which food carts have won the VENDY award? Which serve 5 star restaurant lamb for $8? Which cart is run by a chef trained in the Russian Tea Room? Or how Caribbean and Pakistani food combine for exotic flavor? If you have never eaten a waffle with pulled pork, Korean fast food, or tasted a cupcake like momma never made, take this tour. ($45 and all the food included.)

Yes, we went to see a Broadway show, getting half price tickets for “A Little Night Music” ($135). If you love Elaine Stritch and Bernadette Peters, you must see this operetta, which is thoughtful, adult, inspiring, and the only entertainment that ends in death that left me feeling good.
Saturday, the last day of the expedition, brought us to a three-mile walk along pedestrian-only Park Avenue, where you can walk, run, bike, skate, and swim in pools made of cleaned out dumpsters. It was wonderful to see the city come alive in a sportive manner.

We were inspired to walk the Hi Line, the above-ground rail system we used to call the El (elevated.) It’s defunct and now revitalized into a botanical garden, view way, and restaurant venue with access to the Chelsea art galleries below. Take an afternoon and go. It’s a great place for beautiful people watching.

Then on to Dos Caminos (675 Hudson Street, at 14th, 212.699.2400 ) for great food, wonderful service, and charm in the trendy Meat Packing district. A meal at Dos Caminos transports you to a posh restaurant south of the border, with authentic high style Mexican cuisine. We were joined by foodie Arthur Bochner, our twenty eight year old son, who gave the restaurant his blessing.
Home at last, early on a Saturday night. What to do? Simple: We ended with a trip to our favorite New Jersey art house in Montgomery to see a movie, have a cappuccino, and browse in the nearby used book store.

Ah, New York and New Jersey, perfect together.

Adriane Berg is CEO of Generation Bold, a marketing, branding and business development consultant to reach boomers, seniors and caregivers. She is also the founder of AgelessTraveler.com, Life Long Travel Made Easy.

Lifestyle

New York and New Jersey: Perfect Together

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