Look At Me! THE Cool Grandma

Yes, THE COOL Grandma is me! I am her! I AM THE NON!

How Do I KNOW I’m The Cool Grandma?? Read on……..

Daughter Selena, SIL Dan and Alice went to the 8th grade (CAN YOU BELIEVE ALICE IS IN THE EIGHTH GRADE?!?! Sorry for yelling but 8TH GRADE?!!? Wasn’t she just reading Pajama Time?) As I was saying before I started yelling…. 8th grade meeting regarding the class trip at the end of the school year.  Alice was absolutely in. Ready to go. When the conversation started to go south.

Selena “I am going to sign up to go with you”

Alice “WHY?!?!”

Selena “because I would feel better if I was with you while you are so far away”

Alice “No! MOM! You HATE people. You HATE crowds. Just NO! Can I ask Non?”

Drum Roll PLEASE!!!

HOT DIGGITY! (You didn’t REALLY think I would say NO did you?!?!) I get to go on the 8th-grade class trip! NOT as a chaperone either! The school contracts with a company that provides chaperones and guards as well! I am just a guest!!!

Insert lots of screaming, hand clapping, and excited jumping up and down. (Me, I’m not sure Alice is as excited as I am!)

First thought that came to mind is this Grandma is in need of REALLY good walking shoes like YESTERDAY! I also need some comfort insoles for these new shoes. Seriously, wait until you SEE all the places we are going!!! It’s an awful lot of walking. I’m gonna need some cushion!

Second thought that popped into my mind was I have GOT to get my tush on the treadmill.  RIGHT NOW! I will NOT be that little old Grandma that can’t keep up with the group. (Please!)

LOOK at the list of places that I get to see… ya ya ya and Alice and all the other 13/14 year olds (WAIT WHAT?! I’ll be with an entire bus full of 13/14 year olds?!?! It’s gonna be REALLY loud isn’t it?)

Here is the list of places. NONE of which I’ve ever seen! I’m giddy!!

This is the itinerary! It’s a doozy! The company that handles the tours is Apple Student Tours  They been doing this for over 20 years!

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

 Motor coach departs from Valley Middle School for Los Angeles (LAX)
 Overnight flight to Washington, DC

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

 Motor coach picks up at Washington Dulles (IAD) and departs for breakfast
 Breakfast at IHOP
 Depart for Gettysburg, PA
 Gettysburg National Park Visitor Center, Museum, see the film, A New Birth of Freedom & Cyclorama
 Lunch at the Visitors Center ($20 Stipend Provided)
 Guided Tour of Gettysburg National Military Park
 Depart for Washington DC
 Dinner at a local restaurant
 Meet the guide for a night tour of the Lincoln & Jefferson Memorial
 Check into the Washington, DC hotel
 Security checks in

SUNDAY, JUNE 8

 Breakfast buffet at the hotel
 Guided Tour of George Washington’s Mt. Vernon
 Appointment to visit the mansion
 Meet the guide for tour of Arlington National Cemetery
 Lunch ($20 Stipend Provided)
 Visit the Smithsonian Museums
 White House Photo Stop
 Go to the MLK Jr. Memorial
 Depart for the dinner and dance cruise on the Potomac River
 Boarding time
 Evening dinner cruise on the Potomac River
 Return to Hotel
 Security checks in

MONDAY, JUNE 9

 Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out
 Drop at the Circle Below the U.S. Capitol Building
 Guided Tour of the U.S. Capitol Building & Visitor Center
 Library of Congress & U.S. Supreme Court Photo Stop
 Lunch ($20 Stipend Provided)
 Depart for New York, NY
 Dinner in Little Italy
 Check into the New York Marriott Marquis hotel

TUESDAY, JUNE 10

 Breakfast at Ellen’s Stardust Diner
 Meet guide for walking tour of Midtown Manhattan to include Rockefeller Plaza,
Today Show Window, St Patrick’s Cathedral & Grand Central Station
 Broadway Rehearsal Workshop
 Lunch ($20 Stipend Provided)
 Statue of Liberty Beast Speedboat (Pier 83)
 Bus Departs for Hotel to Change for Broadway Show
 Dinner at Connolly’s
 See the Broadway Show
 Times Square and Shopping
 Return to Hotel
 Security Checks In

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11

 Hotel Check-Out and Load Luggage
 Depart for Lower Manhattan
 Breakfast at 100 Marketplace ($20 stipend provided)
 Meet the guided for walking tour of Lower Manhattan to include the 9/11 Memorial
 Trinity Church, Federal Hall & the NYSE
 One World Trade Center Observation Deck
 Lunch ($20 Cash Stipend Provided)
 Depart for Boston, MA
 Dinner at Bertucci’s in Medford
 Check into the Boston Marriott Burlington hotel
 Security checks in

THURSDAY, JUNE 12

 Breakfast at the hotel
 Meet the guide for a tour of Lexington Green & Concord Minute Man National Park
 Walk thru the Boston Commons
 Lunch at Quincy Market ($20 stipend provided) w/ free time for shopping
 Visit the JFK Library
 Depart for Fenway Park
 Boston Red Sox’s Baseball Game (pending 2025 MLB schedule), have dinner at the game ($20 Stipend Provided)
 Return to Hotel
 Security checks in

FRIDAY, JUNE 13

 Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out
 Meet the guide for a walking tour of the Freedom Trail, which will include Paul Revere’s House, Old North Church & More!
 Boston Tea Party Ship
 Lunch ($20 stipend provided)
 Depart for Airport to check in for the return flight; have lunch & dinner at the airport prior to boarding ($20 Stipend Provided)
 Non-stop return flight
 Motor coach picks up at the airport and returns the group to Valley Middle School
 Private Overnight Security

WOW That is a trip I will remember!!

Are your eyes as big as mine were when I first read it? This Grandma will return to Idaho exhausted, happy and ready for quiet. Right??

I am so excited.

Anyone have travel tips? I did grab a pair of Hoka shoes that are supposed to amazing for a lot of walking. Of course the cushion insoles will help as well.  Did I mention the kind I got are MOLDABLE!! TO MY FOOT!?!? I’m gonna be so ready to walk and walk and walk……. and I’m already soooo tired.

I bought a front crossbody bag with thick straps. I mean hello… New York and a ton of kids really screams TOURISTS doesn’t it?

What else do I need? Come on Little Peanuts? Put your thinking caps on, what else should I pack?