New York Botanical Gardens in Brooklyn

New York City in the summer! I'm having a ball staying in Brooklyn. Yesterday, we went to the Botanical gardens in Brooklyn http://www.nybg.org/. It is amazing to see such an oasis of green in the middle of the city. And on Tuesdays it's Free!
We walked through the Japanese garden with a pond full of Koi and turtles. Then I wanted to go through the Shakespeare Garden that has all of the plants that he mentions in his plays. On each of the plaques, it names the plant and then lists Shakespeare's quote.
The most unique part was the Garden for the Blind. This garden was about the smells and touching the plants. Did you know that there are some types of geranium that when you rub their leaves, your fingers come away smelling like roses or peppermint?
And right now the Rose garden is at it's peak. That's where most of the people were hanging out. There were school kids running in and out of all the plants. It was beautiful and amazingly fragrant.
All this and it's only the second day! Next stop, a Broadway play and Ellis Island.

Great day trip to Bannerman's Castle

A great day trip from Westport is a visit to Bannerman’s Castle on an island in the middle of the Hudson River in Newburgh, NY. Built in the 1900’s to safely house an immense warehouse of ammunition (After the Civil War, Frank Bannerman purchased large quantities of surplus military supplies—he ran a mail order company that sold these items). Thee castle is visible from the Hudson River Train Line and from atop the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge on I84. Your trip begins with a short cruse to the island where you will learn the history of the island and its residents. When you disembark, you’ll receive a hardhat to wear throughout your visit. Wander the ruins of the castle and mansion, both built in the early 1900’s and now in a state of decay. All boats leave Newburgh Landing. For more information, call (845) 782-0685 or visit the Bannerman’s Castle website at http://www.hudsonriver.com/bannerman.htm