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USA - New York

This is more of a shopping trip with some sight seeing thrown in for Manhattan, New York. This round trip took us from Newark Airport to Maine before heading South to Manhattan for 4 nights. Along the way, we visited 4 factory outlets and shopped till our legs ached. Some highlights included countless clam chowder and lobster meals, driving in a snow storm, shopping and lots of walking in Manhattan !


Duration
12 days (14 days including time zone difference)
15 Feb to 28 Feb 2008

Singapore to Newark, NJ = Friday
Newark, NJ to Mahwah, NJ = Friday
Woodbury to Boston = Sunday
Boston to Kittery to Freeport = Tuesday
Freeport to Mystic = Thursday
Mystic to Manhattan, NY = Friday
Manhattan, NY to Singapore = Tuesday
Arrival Singapore = Thursday


Accomodation
1. Courtyard by Marriott Mahwah, New Jersey (NJ)
2. Holiday Inn Express Boston, Massachusetts (MA)
3. Holiday Inn Express Freeport, Maine (ME)
4. Holiday Inn Express Mystic, Connecticut (CT)
5. Holiday Inn Express Madison Square Garden Manhattan, New York (NY)

TIP
- Above hotels include hot breakfast, which means scrambled eggs or omellete, sausages, bacon besides the usual "ang mo" bread and cereals. The Holiday Inn Express breakfast is standardised every where, down to the presentation and food. You will get coffee (24hrs), bread, cinnamon buns, sausages, eggs, bagel and donuts. Coutyard by Marriott may not include complimentary breakfast in its room rates.

- Shop around for hotels and get one out of the city if you don't mind the travelling (usually by subway). Courtyard in Boston is only a short walk from Holiday Inn Express but the price difference can stretch your budget a long way.

- Accommodation is plentiful but I chose to go with the known brand since its winter and I do not want any surprises such as uncomfortable bed or showers that are not hot. If you do not want to wake up on a cold morning and go out looking for breakfast, book a hotel with breakfast. The hot food and coffee are a real treat (especially the 24hr coffee in the lobby).

-Some useful websites to do research;
1. New York City guide
2. City Pass
3. Factory Outlets
4. Freeport website

- It is good that you have a road map with you, better if you can bring along a GPS (or rent it). I survived the driving with the guidance from my Garmin Nuvi. Can you imagine how difficult it is to drive in a foreign land right after landing in Newark? in a left hand drive car (hello!! it's the "wrong side" of the road) and not familiar with the road system.

Trip Details

Day 1
Singapore to Newark, NJ
Newark to Mahwah, NJ = approx 42 miles, 1.5 hr (average speed of 50 mph).

Hertz has an office at the ground floor of P3 station. Turn left after exiting custom in terminal B and take the skytrain on the 2nd level to station P3.

Accommodation
Courtyard by Marriott Mahwah, New Jersey (NJ)
Hotel is 18 miles from the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets and there are Dunkin Donuts, Pizza joint and a minimart within walking distance.
Book this hotel with “Shop ‘til you Drop Package” and receive shopping package with discount coupons and US$25 credit for your factory outlet shopping.


TIP
- Have some loose change with you because there is a toll of US$1.40 along the way to the hotel. In fact there are tolls along the Interstate highway and across most big bridges, so always have small change when on the road. Read the signboard at the toll and avoid the EZpass lane and lanes that are meant to be no stopping, go for the lanes that are labelled "Any Vehicle, cash / receipts".



Day 2
Mahwah to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets > 18 miles, 0.5 hr

Start your day early (especially when it is a weekend or public holiday) and timed to arrive at the factory outlet by 10am. The crowd at this time is thin and parking lots are easily available. The toll is US$1 one way.

TIP
- Head to the administrative office (building in above picture) to exchange your discount coupons before starting your shopping.


Day 3
Mahwah to Boston = 210 miles, 4 hrs (average speed 60 mph)

Accommodation
Holiday Inn Express Boston, Massachusetts (MA)

This Holiday Inn Express is bounded by the Interstate highway, Courtyard by Marriott and a couple of mega shopping malls (supermarkets, DIY store, shoe store, electronics stores) and restaurants, all within walking distance. The nearest subway is just a 10 minutes walk and the hotel provides free shuttle to the subway station every hour if you don't wish to walk.
There are 2 PCs in the lobby that provide free internet access and like all Holiday Inn Express, hot coffee is provided free throughout the day and night.

- Grab your drinking water from the "Stop and Save" supermarket behind the hotel and you need not worry about drinking water until days later. We always have this 2.5 gallon water to keep ourselves hydrated throughout the trip.

- For a nice seafood meal, head to this big seafood joint called Legal Seafood located in Prudential Center, Boston. Try the baked lobster with scallop and bread crumps piled on it. The toppings are crispy and go well with the chunky lobster meat.



Day 4
Boston to Kittery to Freeport = 2.5 hrs (average speed 65 mph)

Kittery is about 2 hours from Boston and it's a place you want to stop for lunch and shopping. Located along Route 1 at the boundary of Maine, it's the first place you will pass from New Hampshire.
With more than 120 famous name outlet stores located along both sides of Route 1, it's going to be the most enjoyable mile for the journey.
There are 5 clusters of Kittery Premium Outlets (factory outlets) spread along the road and the first one is very near the exit from I-95. Grab a copy of the Kittery Outlets brochure when in Holiday Inn Express Boston.

Kittery Premium Outlet 4

Outlets on both sides of Route 1

Hungry? Head for this old eatery along the roadside for some most talked about clam chowder, calamari and clam sticks. It's called Bob's Clam Hut and can be recognised by an unpaved parking lot and blue wooden house. If you like fried stuff from Old Chang kee, you will like Bob's Clam Hut. We went back for more clam stick and shrimps on our way back to New York.

Bob's Clam Hut


Delicious Calamari and Clam Chowder


Freeport
Take exit 17 from I-295 into Route 1 to Freeport. There is a Maine Tourist Information Center on the left when you enter Route 1 from exit 17, stop there for some friendly advice and grab some brochures. Most hotels and eateries are located along Route 1, watch out for Holiday Inn on the left after the Tourist Information Center.

Accommodation
Holiday Inn Express Freeport, Maine (ME)

This hotel is relatively new and has big rooms equipped with microwave, coffee maker and dining table. There is a big supermarket just a short drive down the road and most hotels seem to be located along this Route 1. We had 2 nights of microwave dinner because the temptation was too strong; given the two rows of microwave food along the supermarket aisle and the availability of microwave in the room.






Day 5
Freeport is a village rich in history, much of which is preserved. The Main Street has some 18th, 19th and 20th century buildings and over 170 stores, including factory outlet. This was our 3rd factory outlet shopping and the main highlight for me is the L.L.Bean flagship store in Maine.

L.L.Bean store


Everything you need for outdoor activities

More lobster and clam Chowder. This time, it is lobster roll. It's merely chunks of lobster meat tucked in a roll, nothing to rave about. I will skip the roll anytime for a nice hot bowl of clam chowder.



Day 6
Freeport to Mystic = 5 hrs (average speed 65 mph)


Accommodation
Holiday Inn Express Mystic, Connecticut (CT)

Arrival day - Holiday Inn Express Mystic, hotel front

We have been following the weather forecast on TV everyday and yearning for a snow fall. Our prayers were answered when a snow storm hit the Eastern coast from inner USA. We woke up to a white Mystic and it snowed for a good whole day.




Appreciate the size because the Manhattan ones are miserably small and yet cost twice. That's the price to pay for a city hotel right in the middle of everything.








Day 7
Mystic to Manhattan, NY


Accommodation
Holiday Inn Express Madison Square Garden Manhattan, New York (NY)
Hotel located on West 29th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue right in the heart of Chelsea and Madison Square Garden Area. The subway is just a 2 minutes walk from the hotel on both 7th and 8th avenue.
Holiday Inn Express Madison Square Garden, NY




There is this chinese food store round the corner at Street 34 (between Wendy's and Burger King) that serves relatively inexpensive delicious chinese food. If you are not keen in going for a proper sit down meal and spend tips and big bucks, this is the place to go for take away.
A take away meal of 5 dishes cost US$5 and it is enough for 2. Another food that is a "must have" is at street 86. It's called Popover and he shop has the same name.
Popover Cafe

So here it is, a plain popover with their signature strawberry butter spread and a creamy chicken pie popover. Try both and be warned, the chicken popover is big and the plain popover can be refilled.
Plain Popover
Creamy chicken pie popover

Next, another dinner place and both are in Times Square.

Times Square at dusk, impression - people, cars and lights!

First stop, TGIF. We used to have one in Singapore but not now. Try their delicious ribs, the sauce was so good, we asked for a 2nd helping.
On our honeymoon in Maui, Hawaii, we visted this eating place call Bubba Gump and I was delighted to see one in Times Square. Try their shrimps, cooked in different style and for chocolate fans out there, you have to try their "That Chocolate Thing" desert. Here's the picture to illustrate.

Bubba Gump - see the yellow signboard at right, below LEVIS

That Chocolate Thing....MAN ! it's full of rich chocolate that I can't take it.

Now back to some touristy stuff, such as touching the bull's xxxx.

Visit the glass cube entrance of Apple Store at 5th Avenue









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If you have any comments to add in this itinerary, please email me.