The months of June, July, and August are exciting for U.S. workers. Studies show that 60% of working Americans take a summer vacation, allowing space to relax, recharge, and spend quality time with their families.
The benefits of taking time off are well-documented and include positive effects on employee happiness, mental capacity, and overall health/wellbeing.
As a company that actively promotes health and safety in the workplace, Swiss-Tech supports a strong dose of rest. So, when our Chief Financial Officer (CFO) told us of his plans to take a weeklong summer trip to New York City, we were understandably excited for him.
We were also eager to hear all of the details upon his family’s return.
Summer Vacation: Carl’s Trip to the Big Apple
“My wife and I hadn’t been to NYC in quite some time, and our daughter had never been. After tossing around a few vacation ideas, we decided it was the perfect time to experience one of the largest cities in the U.S. together.” – Swiss-Tech CFO, Carl Bardenwerper
Serving as CFO at Swiss-Tech since 2011, Carl Bardenwerper is a valued member of our executive team. His experience in industrial manufacturing accounting is a critical asset for our operational success.
As it turns out, Carl’s expertise extends beyond bookkeeping into sightseeing once he’s off the clock. The Bardenwerpers were able to pack a significant number of highlights into their time spent in New York.
Tours & Attractions
As a premier destination for shopping, architecture, and history, NYC offers a variety of meaningful ways to explore the city.
Carl and his family chose to book several intriguing tours of the Big Apple, featuring landmarks such as:
- Statue of Liberty, Manhattan Skyline, and Brooklyn Bridge via Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- NBC Studio Tour
- Central Park & The Dakota Building
- Plaza Hotel
“The sights were really impressive and presented such a diverse range of elements. It was cool to see things like the set of Saturday Night Live or the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, but also quite moving to visit ground zero and the 9/11 Museum.
I had also never been to Central Park before, so getting the chance to view its gates as well as John Lennon’s memorial was pretty special.”
Broadway Shows
Another highlight of the Bardenwerpers’ trip to New York was the chance to see live musical shows. Comprised of 41 professional theatres of at least 500 seats apiece, Broadway is widely considered the highest level of commercial performance.
Along with his wife and daughter, Carl caught two spectacular Broadway shows:
“There’s nothing quite like watching some of the best performers in the world on a live stage. Phantom of the Opera was incredible, and during Jersey Boys – I don’t think my foot stopped tapping the entire time! It was a true New York Theatre experience.”
Authentic Cuisine
And, of course, you can’t take a trip to NYC without sampling the local fare. Famous for thin-sliced pizza, bagels, and deli sandwiches (among other classics), there is a laundry list of delicious menu items to try.
The Bardenwerper family took full advantage of New York’s wealth of mouthwatering options, touring local hotspots for authentic cuisine, such as:
“The history of Chinatown and Little Italy was both bizarre and intriguing – many of the neighborhoods dealt with violent pasts. But a few of the places we ate were fourth and even fifth generation restaurants, which was pretty amazing. Plus, the Hard Rock Café’s collection of iconic music memorabilia was amazing to see.
We really enjoyed the hometown, New York-Style pizza slices too. You can’t beat it!”
A Summer Vacation Well-Spent
Carl, his wife, and his daughter stayed just a few blocks from Times Square and discovered walking to be one of the most enjoyable ways to take in the sights and sounds of the city that never sleeps.
On average, they walked approximately five to six miles per day. This helped the Bardenwerpers slow down and appreciate the experiences they were able to share with one another. It was truly a family trip to remember.
“I fell in love with the city the first time I visited as a high school trumpet player when my marching band had the opportunity to play in the Macy’s Thanksgiving’s Day Parade!
I was happy to get back to New York and share the experience with my wife and daughter. It’s one I’ll cherish for years to come.”
Want to learn more about our high performing team? Feel free to reach out online, or give us a call at 262-728-2058.