NYC, CIA, FDR & Vanderbilt Fun (#10S)

We had so many fun activities in our Half Moon Bay stop, we decided to create a separate category to share our explorations of the areas we visit.

Trip 1: Visit to New York City on MTA Commuter Train

We took the commuter train and arrived in the always glorious Grand Central Station. We didn't realize that two days later we would be at the home of a son of Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt who build this beautiful location.

We dined at at Irish Pub on 7th street on the way to our play.

We saw the amazing Water for Elephants. We bought the tickets from the 1/2 price tickets on Times Square. We were in the back but got to see the impressive acrobatics and a really fun show.

Trip 2: Car rental to Culinary Institute of America, Vanderbilt Mansion, and Franklin Delanor Roosevelt library and estate

2a: We had amazing meal at the Culinary Institue of America. The food was magnificient and is a bucket list experience.

Spring Pea Soup (without ham)

Caramelized Fig Salad

Grilled Caulifloweer Steak

Pan Roasted Lamb Loin

Chocolate Mousse

Pavlova (Herbed Ice cream, fruit, merengue straws)

Yummy!

2b: Our next stop was the Vanderbilt Mansion. where saw the understated home of Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt. The quiet home could only entertain 18, with 5 guest rooms.

The roses smelled delicous and reminded my of my Papa, Dwight Lyons. He used to grow roses and share with all his staff in the LA School Districts.

Tip of the day: Another visitor shared with me that her grandmother would cut roses and then place them in the ground with a mayonaise jar (to create a greenhouse) to propogate a new rose bush. Her friend told her she does the same but adds root stimulator.

Love the woman of the houses room. There was no AC at that time, but this was only a spring and fall home. The Vanderbilts and others of the Gilded Age traveled to different homes based on the seasons. Their paths mimic our Great Loop migration to the best weather.

The new-ish Vanderbilt mansion was built with steel beams. This picture si from the servants staircase and shows the interior structure for this five story home. It's also a little modern in appearance.

Entertaining rooms on first floor.

The library books are decorative apparently, but gorgeous for this comfy looking room.

2c: Our last major stop at the end of the day was Franklin Delano Roosevelt's home and Presidential library.

Curious to have cannon's on your front porch.

Breathtaking views.

Quiet simplicity of the additions to this family home.

Views were preserved. The Hudson is on the other side of the trees. On the next day we confirmed that you can not see the residence from the Hudson. The sign shares that FDR planted the trees, but probably didn't intend for them to block the view of the river from his home.

We were thankful for the rental car that made this day possible.

Overall a wonderful stay in Half Moon Bay. There is so much to see in this area of the country.