Escaping the Bitter Cold in NYC

Going into NYC with children is never an easy feat. When Chloe was a toddler, it was a pain. Doable, but a pain. As Chloe got older and could walk and keep pace, it was easy and fun. But, now we have two kids and one is a toddler. We're back to going into the city with all the regalia and accouterments required to keep said toddler appeased.

It was bitterly cold this weekend and the boat show at the Jav*its Convention Center in NYC seemed like such a great solution to keep us from going stir crazy at home. Because we had all the toddler paraphanelia, we decided to drive. See, we forgot the golden rule of the city---taking the train in and taking taxis or walking is always the easier, faster, cheaper option. It's an easy rule to forget. Making it through the subway system with a stroller is not easy and it's easy to tell yourself it will be faster to take the car, but it never is.

Matt & Oliver checking out the specs. on a boat.

We made it into the city in good time, no traffic snarls on the *Geo*rge *Was*hington *Bri*dge*, but when we arrived at the convention center, it seemed all of the tri-state area had the same plans. There was no parking, cars were backed up and we got re-routed through the Lincoln Tunnel in the queue and back-up of traffic. Yes, THE LINCOLN TUNNEL. As in the tunnel that connects NYC to NJ. As in, great we just got to the city and now we are under the Hudson River going back to NJ and there is NO WAY to TURN AROUND because it's a tunnel!!

Back in NJ, we were able to turn around and head back into the City once again through the Lincoln Tunnel. We were back at the convention center after paying the $7 toll for the scenic tour and back in the snarl of traffic looking for parking spaces and trying to avoid the coned-lanes directing you to the Lincoln Tunnel! So, it seemed good luck when we saw a man holding a sign that said "CHEAPEST PARKING FOR CONVENTION CENTER THIS WAY!". We made an about left-turn from the outside lane along with 15 other cars and queued up for the parking spots. It turns out the cheapest parking for the convention center is $63. Seriously.

After biting the bullet, we left our car at the "cheap" parking garage, grabbed the kids, stroller, snacks and sippy cups and headed to the boat show, along with the other 2 million people. It was like Disneyland as people standing in line 20-30 minutes long to board a yacht or even a 36 foot cabin cruiser. This was the place to be on a cold day in NYC.

Matt & Chloe passing by a line for entry onto a yacht.

I tried to capture the line to board the yacht in the background.

We did have fun at the boat show, though we didn't stand in line for a tour of any of the super-yachts. We did get to stand in line for 25 minutes to pick up and pay for our car though!

Chloe giving the once over to a boat that is the rival to our boat manufacturer.