New Jersey – HEY, NIKKA

It’s Day 2 of our adventure through four states in four days, and it’s a day filled with surprises and unforgettable moments.

Last night’s sleep was a bit of a struggle. The bed felt unfamiliar, and I found myself tossing and turning throughout the night. Luckily, Uncle refrained from cranking up the air conditioner, despite the freezing temperatures outside our cozy room.

Morning greeted me with laziness, and I dragged myself out of bed later than planned. Breakfast at the neighborhood inn didn’t quite hit the spot. I was yearning for something comforting, like a warm bowl of rice porridge, but we were in the land of sausages and eggs. So, I settled for a simple meal of sausage, egg, and apple juice, and skipping the usual dose of caffeine.

After fueling up, we decided to revisit the boardwalk in the broad daylight. I snagged a sweater from the souvenir shop to combat the chilly breeze, along with some keychains and fridge magnets to commemorate our journey. A quick walk to the beach followed before we hit the road again, bound for our next destination.

Philadelphia, PA

Parking proved to be a bit of a challenge upon our arrival in the city. After circling the streets in search of a parking spot, we eventually parked in a nearby building. Stepping out of the car, we were met with a wave of heat that made me regret wearing that sweater.

Our exploration of Philly was a whirlwind affair. We wandered around, soaking in the sights, and indulging in a bit of souvenir shopping. The Liberty Bell was a highlight, though the tight security and my nephew’s tendency to bolt kept us on our toes.

After a quick tour, we went to look for the famed cheesesteak joints.

After our bustling day exploring Philly, we were all feeling a bit worn out, so we decided to call it a day and drive to Holiday Inn. But you know what? The Holiday Inn turned out to be a hidden gem—affordable and squeaky clean.

Once we were settled in, the temptation to keep exploring tugged at us once more. The exhaustion had a tight grip on us, and even our designated driver couldn’t resist the siren song of sleep.

Instead of going out, we opted for delivery and treated ourselves to a feast of Asian cuisine. With each dish that arrived, our order seemed enough. We surrendered to the embrace of sleep, dreaming of the adventures that awaited us on the next day.

Thanks a lot to my Uncle for being the organizer of this trip. If it were up to just us, we’d probably still be debating where to go! As someone who’s used to planning trips back home, organizing adventures in US is a whole new challenge. With my Uncle and Rajha’s knack for planning, we were all set to roll. My Uncle had this whole itinerary mapped out, and all we had to do was nod along. I mean, it’s my first time venturing out of state, so I was game for wherever we go. Literally.

So, when departure rolled around on Friday night and the return was set for Tuesday, I was like, “Four days and five nights of adventure, here we come!” Little did I know, it was gonna be quite the ride.

We kicked things off by picking up our rental car. Yep, we needed a whole car because squeezing into ours wasn’t an option. Then, after 9 pm, we hit the road straight for New Jersey. Shoutout to my brother-in-law for pulling off that epic drive. Seriously, 11 hours including pit stops? That’s dedication right there.

Jersey City, NJ

Now, picture this – windy, chilly weather, and me without a jacket. Smart move, right? Long sleeves were all I had to brave the chilly wind. But hey, with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as the backdrop, I couldn’t complain. Snapping pics left and right at Liberty State Park, trying to capture the whole park with the stunning NYC skyline in the distance – unforgettable.

As we strolled back to the car, my stomach was rumbling like a thunderstorm, reminding me that it was time for lunch. We skipped breakfast, so I was definitely overdue for a hearty meal. My Uncle mentioned White Castle burgers. I figured, why not? Well, let me tell you, those two-bite burger didn’t just fill me up but also knocked my taste buds. No wonder my uncle is such a fan! It’s a shame they’re nowhere to be found in North Carolina, let alone the Philippines.

Atlantic City, NJ

We checked into Eldorado Motor Inn around 3 pm and, boy, were we ready to stretch our legs. Well, except it was freezing outside, so we opted to cozy up indoors for a while. But eventually, we hit the boardwalk around 7pm. And let me tell you, it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. My Uncle mentioned how it used to be bustling with people, but hey, I kind of liked the quiet vibe too.

As for food, we stumbled upon this Mexican diner – a total jackpot. Wraps, sandwiches, chicken wings – you name it, we devoured it. And the portions? Huge! Definitely meant for sharing, but who’s got time for that when the food’s this good?

Stay tuned for Day 2 of our adventure!