Surprise!

Last weekend Jahred stepped into my decade!  To celebrate his 30th birthday I planned an ultra-secret getaway, one even I didn't know the destination of until 5 days before!

"I need you to book a weekend trip for me.  Budget - $1000.  Destination - Anywhere on this continent."  Those were my only instructions to a travel agent last Monday.

One hour later, Jane from Travel Leaders in North Oaks, MN called me back with 2 non-stop tickets and a lovely hotel in the Big Apple – 2 nights of NYC fun!

4:30am on Saturday morning the alarm went off.  Jahred rolled over to turn off what he thought was a beeping mistake. 

"Get up!  Our flight leaves in 2 hours."

"What?  Where are we going?"

That's when I presented him with his pre-packed bag (hidden in my bathtub since the day before) and said, "I'll tell you when you get in the car."  Ok...so that's the trick to get my kids to put their shoes on...turns out it works well on husbands as well.

On the way to the airport I filled him in on the details and we were leaving on a jet plane in record time (amazing how quickly security goes without children).

What is there to do with 48 hours in the greatest city in the world?

Saturday - 
Arrival - Noon
Taxi to Wall Street (New York Stock Exchange) $45
Walk to Staten Island Ferry - Ride Ferry past Lady Liberty and Ellis Island - FREE
Walk to Freedom Tower and 9/11 Memorial - FREE (donations accepted)
Subway to Chelsea Market and grab lunch to eat at Highline Park - Subway - $2.50/ea - Lunch - $11
Walk to Time Square to see the lights - FREE
Walk to hotel and watch cable (ok...we don't have this at home) 
Central Park Stroll beginning at the Central Park Zoo - FREE

Sunday - 
Run through Central Park (taking the windy way through...not around) - FREE
Subway to China Town and Little Italy - $2.50/ea
Morning spent bartering for a watch, several scarves and a toy for the kids - $40
Subway back uptown to meet awesome cousin+1 for lunch - $2.50/ea
Taxi across Central Park to the Natural History Museum - Taxi - $15 - Admission is SUGGESTED DONATION
Short walk to Levain bakery - WORTH THE WHOLE TRIP RIGHT HERE - COOKIES (Thanks Matt)
Subway back to hotel for cable and a nap - $2.50/ea
Dinner at Dos Caminos with cousin+1 - Priceless!

Monday - 
Last walk around Manhattan - Bittersweet
Taxi to LaGuardia - $35

48 hours and not a penny over $1500.  Such great bang for the buck.  Incidentals perhaps not mentioned...fruit from a market, hot dog and pretzel stand (THEY DON'T HAVE CHEESE WITH PRETZELS IN NYC)...you get the idea.

Thanks to Grandpa Moustache and Grandma for allowing us a worry-free escape!

Happy Birthday Beebs - Here's to the next 30!