New York is a fun place to visit and I am so happy my mom and dad take me there.  You should take your children also. I really like the Alice in Wonderland sculpture in Central Park. The carousel is fun too.  The Eloise Tea at the Plaza Hotel is so yummy and fun with cute tea cups and cotton candy. If your little sister is tired and sleeps through tea in the stroller, it will be much more peaceful. You can just put her food in a box.  After tea, you can go to the Eloise store and shop around!  I enjoy seeing the Rockettes and Broadway shows.  I love the Statue of Liberty. My mom doesn’t like to ride the subway but I do at least one time each trip. I like to take taxis too but mostly we walk REALLY far. The pretzels on the street are delicious! Thank you for reading my blog about New York City. My mom has more info below.  –  Lucinda (the artist)

New York…. has any other city been written about, photographed or visited more? I don’t see how but I do understand why! We love New York! We love it in the summer, in the winter and everything in between. We love it for the familiar places and for the new discoveries that seem to be at every turn. We love it for the noise, the traffic-worn streets and for the peaceful places tucked away on park benches and in museums.  I’ve been with my husband, my children, friends and alone – and enjoy it every time.

We enjoy this city best when we are moving at a slower pace, allowing time with no specific destination on the agenda. You’ll find things we never have – and we’d love to hear about it!

In the past month, I’ve had 4 friends ask for our recommendations!  The list I shared with them is below.

And…..if  you ever get a chance to walk through Central Park covered in snow, please do…..something about it is good for your soul.

See you along the way! –Betsy (the recovering politician)

See + Do:

• Children’s Museum of the Arts: Hands-on activities in a creative downtown space. Our girls made take-home clay sculptures! Tip: Go mid-morning then enjoy a 10 minute walk to Jane Restaurant (see Yummy Food ). http://cmany.org
• Federal Hall: In middle of the financial district is the spot where General George Washington was sworn in as President of the United States. It’s a charming old building with a small museum. Get your Passport to Your National Parks book stamped here (see our blog on National Park Passport books). https://www.nps.gov/feha
• Statue of Liberty, The Battery (Battery Park), Castle Clinton: Give this a full half day and go as early in the day as possible. Tip: Save time with priority entry by purchasing tickets online. If you want to visit Lady Liberty’s crown, advanced reservations are always required and typically booked months out. Get your Passport Book stamped here. https://www.nps.gov/cacl + https://www.nps.gov/stli
• The High Line: An elevated urban trail with greenery, city and river views and public art. Tip: Start in the Meatpacking District and end at The Whitney Museum of Modern Art then explore the streets up to The Standard Grill (see Yummy Food).
• Chelsea Market: I love to dig around in the Artists & Fleas market, a collective of more than 30 independent vendors with art, fashion, design and other wares. http://chelseamarket.com and https://www.artistsandfleas.com
• The Frick: A more manageable art museum if you have less time than what is needed at the Met. http://www.frick.org
• The Metropolian Museum of Art: The Met lives up to the hype. It’s impressive and often has interactive activities for kids. http://www.metmuseum.org).
• Macy’s Flower Show: For two weeks each spring, Macy’s is covered in over the top floral displays. The show also has music and kids’ activities. https://www.macys.com/social/flower-show

Yummy Food:

• Jane Restaurant: Our absolute favorite NYC restaurant, both with and without the kids. It is a neighborhood restaurant with mostly locals. We’ve never had anything that wasn’t delicious. The toasted ricotta gnocchi with white truffle crème is the only reason you’ll ever need to give up low carb diets. Split it for an appetizer with the table. They have a yummy weekend brunch too. https://janerestaurant.com
• Empellon Taqueria: Not sure where to start…the guacamole or unique taco selection. Get a variety of tacos and split with the table. The brussel sprouts taco is surprisingly tasty. Tip: Not good for young kids who are picky eaters.  https://www.empellon.com/taqueria
• The Standard Grill: The burger is delicious but the chicken salad with watercress and 9-spice vinaigrette is literally the best grilled chicken salad I’ve ever had – and then I eat part of my husband’s burger. Tip: The Standard makes a great lunch stop after a long walk on the High Line. http://www.thestandardgrill.com
• Ess-a-bagel: I never realized bagels could melt in your mouth! Ok, that is a bit of an exaggeration but barely. There will be line, probably a long one, but wait, wait through rain, wind, snow, whatever, just wait – you’ll thank me later. http://www.ess-a-bagel.com
• Sarabeth’s: This one shows up on many “lists” and it should. There are five locations in the city. The baker (Ryan) recommends the Goldie Lox for breakfast. Tip: Take an early morning walk in Central Park then cross the street to the Central Park South location for breakfast.  http://sarabethsrestaurants.com
• Bar Sixty-five at the Rainbow Room: Cliché? Maybe but spectacular regardless. There is no way I can adequately describe the view. I usually opt to split a few things with the table and always get the cheese plate.  Tip: Reserve early and request a seat by the window or on the terrace when the weather is good. Not kid friendly. https://rainbowroom.com/bar-sixty-five
• Maialino in the Grammercy Park Hotel: A relaxed atmosphere with a delicious brunch. Eat at the bar for views of Grammercy Park. https://maialinonyc.com
• Bacado: Chorizo Flatbread…yum! An easy walk from The Met and Guggenheim. http://bocadocafenyc.com
• The Penrose: Love this casual laid-back upper east side restaurant! A fun atmosphere with comfort bar food kicked up a notch (or 2). https://www.penrosebar.com
• MAMO: A chic sister restaurant to MAMO Le Michelangelo on the French Riviera. http://www.mamonyc.com
• Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar: Just get a cheese plate + the dark chocolate fondue and call it a completely balanced meal. https://ayzanyc.com

Where to stay:

• The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park: It is tough to beat a Ritz-Carlton with Central Park as your front yard. The staff couldn’t be more accommodating. The rooms are super cozy and a good size for NYC. http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/new-york/central-park
• Essex House by JW Marriott: As with the Ritz, Central Park is as easy as a walk out of the front door. It is comparable to the Ritz in every other way as well – comfortable well-sized rooms with luxury accommodations and top notch service. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/nycex-jw-marriott-essex-house-new-york/
• The Algonquin Hotel: A charming historic hotel popular with writers dating back to the 1920s. It is a smaller hotel and limited on amenities (no room service, for example) but this hotel is such unique experience. Tip: If you don’t stay, a stop at the Round Table Restaurant for breakfast will not disappoint. Say hello to Matilda the cat! Read about the history of the hotel if nothing else. http://www.algonquinhotel.com

Other Tips:

• Empire State Building: Get Express Pass tickets in advance to skip the lines. http://www.esbnyc.com
• Top of the Rock: Get VIP Access tickets in advance to skip the lines. https://www.topoftherocknyc.com
• Uber from Newark is usually best but we cab to/from the other airports.
• Many hotels either don’t have rooms with 2 beds or it is very limited. If a specific hotel is important and you need 2 beds, book early.

###