Spring Training 2026 - Day 5 (Pat)

After arriving late from Chicago last night due to train maintenance issues, I arrived at my hotel room at the Embassy Suites Hotel near Times Square. about 8:30 pm. We normally stayed at Embassy Suites if available when travelling without the RV.  The one here is very large (35 stories) and has the normal Embassy Suites amenities (cooked to order breakfast and a reception in the evening with free snacks and two beverage tickets).  There also appears to be a substantial number of international visitors here, based on languages overheard.

New York City has implemented a new fee to extract money from tourists.  Each hotel booking charges an extra $30.00 per night for what is called an “Urban Destination Fee”.  Embassy Suites charges this fee on your bill but also gives you a $30.00 meal /beverage credit at the hotel (e.g.$30.00 for three beef sliders and Sutter Home, cheap white wine, for $80.00 per bottle or $20.00 per glass). Welcome to the big city.

It was a $50.00 cab ride to the 9/11 site from the hotel or a $3.50 subway ride from two blocks away. Always ready for a new adventure, I decide to try the subway.  Everything worked well.  The station where I got off was connected to a huge shopping center and intermodal called the Oculus. I signed up for a guided tour, and it was well worth it. I joined the tour (12 people) at the Oculus, and we toured inside and outside the 9/11 memorial around the North and South Tower sites of the World Trade Center, It was bitter cold and I am glad I brought winter clothes. They are still clearing snow from the big storm, but the sidewalks and the roads are clear.

My goal for today was to tour the 9/11 memorial site and museum near the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.     The subways also looked very good, clean, well maintained and no graffiti.  Didn't see any security, but there were no social issues. A Hispanic busker band (4 people) did get on at a station and entertained everyone for a while before getting off down the line.  They were pretty good and everyone was having a good time with the music.

After the guided tour we were on our own to visit the 9/11 museum.  They have done a terrific job on memorializing 9/11 and it has multiple levels under the old tower sites with outstanding exhibits and artifacts.  It is overwhelming and very emotional.  If you ever go to New York City, it is an essential place to visit.

Back to the hotel for Happy Hour with two complementary glasses of cheap white wine (Sutter Home Sauvignon Blanc) and a cheese and cracker snack selection.  Dinner was in the room from the hotel with my $30.00 credit (meatballs and pasta with marina sauce).

My plan for tomorrow is to tour the New York Public Library and the Morgan Library and Museum.  Sounds boring, but so I am I most of the time.  They are also within walking distance from the hotel.

Spring Training 2026 - Day 5 - 9/11 Memorial and Museum

September 11 attacks - Wikipedia