25 years - A Pictorial Celebration

[amaroo]

5 years since the last one - doesn't time fly! This TR is a follow up to the 20 year celebration you can see linked in my signature.

This time we're heading for a short but sweet trip to the USA. Highlights will include first time visit to Boston, driving through New England, Fall Colours, Saranac lake / Adirondack region, capped off with a few nights in NYC.

QFF / P1 were kind enough to release award seats on short notice - all flights are awards.

QF J BNE - SYD
QF F SYD - LAX
QF J LAX - JFK
QF J JFK - LAX
QF J LAX - BNE .... QF did release F back to SYD, but given the midnight departure and the PITA connection back to BNE mrsamaroo decided we'll be going direct to BNE.

Will be our first time on a 787.... hope we like it, we have three of them on this trip.

This trip will right a wrong from way back in 1996. 23 years ago we booked to stay at lodge that began life in the 1930s as a Rockefeller Great Camp, we had to cancel that trip due to work commitments. No such work issues this time!

The TR will contain the usual things you can expect from us, starting with a night at SYD Park Hyatt and a meal at Quay.

 

[NoName]

About time you did another trip report! Lock me in!

 

[ellen10]

Looking forward to following along

 

[Major]

Doesn't seem like 5 years

 

[goldenhorn]

Yay! Looking forward to another amazing TR from you.

 

[amaroo]

Itinerary!

QF J down to BNE and an overnight stay at SYD Park Hyatt with dinner at Quay.

QF first lounge SYD and F over to LAX, QF F lounge LAX, J QF11 to JFK.

Due to reduction of AA flights between JFK and BOS we ended up making the decision to hire a car and driver to collect us from QF11 - I certainly will not be in any state to drive after frying F from SYD Not the most ideal outcome, but better than waiting countless hours transiting or overnighting in a place you don't wont to be.

- 4 nights in Boston staying at the Four Seasons

- Collect hire car and drive to The Point .... what a great AFF name! We have three nights here.

The Point started out as a family camp for the Rockefeller's back in 1930s.

- Drive to NYC for three nights staying at the Four Seasons DT

- Thanks to some timely advice from @Flying mermaid we were able to secure a dinner booking at Eleven Madison Park

- The rest we'll make up as we go along.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Looking forward to this one . We ate at Quay in May for Dr FM’s birthday - only a few weeks after Eleven Madison Park!

 

[craven morehead]

Itinerary!

QF J down to BNE and an overnight stay at SYD Park Hyatt with dinner at Quay.

QF first lounge SYD and F over to LAX, QF F lounge LAX, J QF11 to JFK.

Due to reduction of AA flights between JFK and BOS we ended up making the decision to hire a car and driver to collect us from QF11 - I certainly will not be in any state to drive after frying F from SYD Not the most ideal outcome, but better than waiting countless hours transiting or overnighting in a place you don't wont to be.

- 4 nights in Boston staying at the Four Seasons

- Collect hire car and drive to The Point .... what a great AFF name! We have three nights here.

The Point started out as a family camp for the Rockefeller's back in 1930s.

- Drive to NYC for three nights staying at the Four Seasons DT

- Thanks to some timely advice from @Flying mermaid we were able to secure a dinner booking at Eleven Madison Park

- The rest we'll make up as we go along.

Nice enough shack

 

[amaroo]

The colours they are a changin'....




Some cracking photos in this report... Check out New York State foliage changes and sign up for weekly updates!

 

[drron]

And we have first hand experience that they are indeed changing.

 

[amaroo]

Foliage Update.

Fingers crossed we get the timing right! The Adirondacks / Saranac Lake area look to be turning first.

 

[tgh]

We were very disappointed after it looked like we were right on the money …..close was not close enough

 

[drron]

Of course if you are red/green colour blind it doesn't make much difference.

 

[carls888]

Looks like a fine time! Following along...

 

[Princess Fiona]

I am about to embark upon a 25th Anniversary world tour myself (well reluctantly Shrek is coming along). But as I am way too lazy and woeful at writing trip reports I will follow along with this one avidly !!

 

[amaroo]

I am about to embark upon a 25th Anniversary world tour myself (well reluctantly Shrek is coming along). But as I am way too lazy and woeful at writing trip reports I will follow along with this one avidly !!

Happy Anniversary! Hasn't 25 years just flown through. We've been a couple for 33 years, lived together for 31 .... happy to say just about all of those have involved very little hard labour

Pity about you not doing a trip report, we'll have to make do with a few teasers in the view from the office and what I ate threads.

Enjoy and safe travels!

 

[amaroo]

Foliage update ... progressing very well

Check out New York State foliage changes and sign up for weekly updates!

The New York Fall Foliage Report will help you stay up to date on fall colors in NY with our map and newsletter. Learn more about fall foliage in New York.

www.iloveny.com

 

[amaroo]

QF BNE-SYD

Nice enough flight, even the taco in the lounge was tasty.

I went for the chook, mrsamaroo went with the cheese.



Some nice views from the wrong side of the tube.

 

[amaroo]

Given the QF flight to LAX is a morning departure and connecting from BNE on the same day is a PITA, I thought we should fly down the day before and make an evening of it.

So I put some Hyatt points to good use and booked a night at the Park Hyatt, their best property IMO. Here’s what 30,000 points gets you...



View from the room...

 

[amaroo]

Beautiful day in Sydney, some last minute purchases and then it was back to the Hyatt for a pre-dinner G&T.