Valentina, Parish, and Anna gave each other the gift of an experience this Christmas, 2025. Here are the details! Follow along for fun, or to plan your trip!
Plan ahead! You’ll need to get some tickets three months in advance to secure a spot, for example, to visit the crown of the Statue of Liberty! If you are going with the family or a group, use a travel app to plan your itinerary and upload your tickets and reservations. I use Tripit. (Tripit.com) I purchased the premium because I use it often, and I wanted to be able to share it with others. There is a free option. You could also use a Google Folder.
Books I purchased:
New York in Stride: An Insider’s Walking Guide (This has great information on all the museums.)
If you want to take the subway, read this: https://new.mta.info/maps and download the suggested app. If you are staying for a while, purchasing a pass rather than single tickets might be cost-efficient. I also love the app Rome2Rio, which can show you the cost of a train, bus, walking, subway, or taxi.
Day One
Transportation
Last year (February 2024), Parish and I traveled to New York for our anniversary celebration, and we decided to fly. This time, we decided to take the train, and I think this was the better choice, considering we left from Virginia.
- Lower cost, and you get there at the same time due to airline lines and regulations
- You can take more luggage without penalty
- No TSA line
- If you purchase business tickets, you can select seating and seats that are together in a square where you share a table, have outlets, and face each other. If you have less than four, you may face a new buddy; just keep that in mind. We put in a bid for the business section and got it! We traveled business on the way up there.
- Coach is fine, and the seats were wonderful. We traveled by coach upon our return.
We took Amtrak out of Richmond Main Street Station and parked in the Main Street station parking lot, which allowed 5 days of parking and only 6 dollars a day! If you are traveling for more than 5 days, you’ll have to park in the back lot. This lot is beside the station. We left at 6:59 and arrived at Penn Station at 2:15.
Rideshare is at the 33rd Street Exit. Look at the station map or ask around.
My husband uses Uber, and I use Lyft. Sometimes, we compare pricing or just take turns. You’ll be tired and most likely have some luggage, so treat yourself to someone picking you up and taking you to your hotel. Most hotels will hold your luggage if your room is not ready, so you can walk around before check-in.
Our hotel:
We stayed in the extended room, which had two Queens. We loved the small kitchenette for snacks, beverages, and leftovers. Our corner had many coffee shops, cafes, and little markets. The location was within walking distance of our major events.
Which borough should we stay in?
- Midtown: Most central location, ideal for first-time visitors who want to be close to Times Square, Broadway, and major tourist spots.
- Chelsea: Known for its art scene, Chelsea Market, and the High Line park, offering a mix of trendy and historic vibes.
- Greenwich Village: Historic bohemian neighborhood with Washington Square Park, great for experiencing authentic NYC culture and dining.
- Tribeca: Upscale area with stylish restaurants and boutique shops, close to the Financial District
- SoHo: Fashionable neighborhood with high-end shopping, trendy restaurants, and stylish architecture
Some advice: Use booking.com or other platforms to search, but book directly through the hotel. We had an issue using a third party (booking.com), and it was tricky to resolve what we needed once an issue with the hotel occurred at the last minute. It usually is the same price, or sometimes cheaper if you can claim discounts like military or AAA. Once you’ve figured out what borough you want to stay in, it really is only a matter of finding the “deal” that suits your family’s needs. Make sure you know your cancellation date and time, and add that to your calendar. I only book hotels that offer a good cancellation policy. Also, READ REVIEWS and look for patterns. There is always one person or two who seems off the wall — like they only gave me 3 towels. However, if you read the reviews and overall it seems to have some major complaints, don’t stay there. There is a reason it’s only 75 dollars a night. 🙂 Spend more so you don’t have to deal with issues. Larger families can consider joining rooms, which is another reason to book directly through the hotel so you can secure this option. Once you are there, make it your own by adding comfort items, and realize that the room’s main function is sleeping and taking showers. You don’t have to be so rigid, but each night, talk about shower order, timing, and whether we want to sleep in or not so you can be somewhat organized but be okay with changes. My favorite items for comfort are a good room spray, refreshing and sanitizing wipes, good coffee creamer, earplugs, my heating pad for the night, and a good blanket.
Activities:
This goes for all the days! Interview and talk to folks who have gone before. What did they like? This will usually take you to off-the-beaten-path places. We love that kind of thing, so some of our spots are random, fun places that might not be as popular. But it is great to come back home and connect with your friends or family–“Hey, we went…this is what we did….!” Also, you’ll get to know your neighborhood spots depending on where you decide to stay! Walk around early in the morning and see the sights in your own backyard!
Some advice: Use your phone map app to get around. However, before you go, spend a moment orienting yourself to the overall map on your app and talk it out. For example, “We go to 8th Street, make a right, go to 34th, and make a left, and it is on the left.” Pay attention to how the streets run so you know where you are generally. Sometimes, your app does not work; it’s a busy street, and many people are vying for the sidewalk. The longer you stay, the more acquainted you become with your surroundings. Some folks purchase a map, but I find Google Maps to be good enough. Also, purchase a portable battery charger for your phone.
On the way to the coffee shop, we stopped and got a New York Slice! Take the time to do this! They are everywhere with fast service.
This coffee shop was next door to The Drama Bookshop and was recommended by one of Valentina’s friends. After a long train ride, we walked to get some coffee and sat at the window to watch the people go by and wonder what they were doing in NYC! I love people-watching! She was super nice, and because we were there towards the end of the day, she gave us free pastries!
You can’t take your coffee in, but they sell it there. This is next door to Corvo, a lovely shop for all things theatre, old and new. We purchased The Chicago script and read aloud some funny parts together at Corvo, along with a few tunes. Seeing all the students in the bookshop hanging out and studying gave the place a hip vibe, and they have friendly staff.
We walked through Times Square and visited a few spots before our dinner. Do make reservations, and be kind and cancel if you change your mind. Most of the restaurants were on Open Table. I ensured we had various plans for a place to eat, even if we changed our minds and decided to stay in or grab a hotdog. We also took the time to visit the M and M store! It was a great experience, especially for kids! There was lots to do there, too. Take a look at the NYC store options for things you can do beyond just purchasing products. Also, the toy store had some things you could sign up for, so make sure you plan ahead if you are taking children.
We ventured to our favorite restaurant, Haven Rooftop. This unique and beautiful rooftop restaurant is also a hotel! The food is superb, and the atmosphere is warm, cozy, and fun! We got there early and sat in the bar before we were seated. If you did not make a reservation, the bar area is comfortable and offers many seating options. We were next to a window, and I loved taking pictures from my point of view. Can you see that below?
From there, we walked to the Top of the Rock, which allowed us to see the sights in that area and visit the F.A.O. Schwarz Toy Store! You will need to purchase tickets for Top of The Rock!
Top of the Rock–an ocean of magnificent architecture.
We walked home from Top of the Rock and settled in for a good night’s sleep!
Day 2
As Rick Steves suggests, get up early and walk the area before the hustle and bustle begins. We agreed upon a lighter schedule in the morning, so this worked out great! I had my “throw-on clothes” ready the night before, and I seriously just got up, dressed, and walked. We loved the local coffee shop Vanilla Gorilla! They had great sandwiches, and their vanilla latte was divine!
After our walk, we brought food back to Valentina and then got ready to head to the Rockettes in the Christmas Spectacular! You definitely need to purchase the tickets ahead of time. You can book tours if you do not want to watch a show at Radio City! We were on a budget, so we purchased tickets for the mezzanine in the back. You can still see the show perfectly fine! However, if you are taking little kids, being on the floor and in front might be fun because of some of the interactions they have. It seemed more to the right as you looked at the stage for seating purposes. Not far right, more center-right. They are good about sending you all the directions you need closer to your time so you can enjoy the show.
Oops! We made a last-minute decision to cancel our lunch reservation (the night before) and try out the Ellen’s Stardust Diner! We did this BEFORE Radio City, and it worked out perfectly! We hustled to Stardust, and although the line seemed too long, it moved FAST—trust this! We had a great light lunch, and then we walked for about 6 minutes to Radio City! I would say we got there around 11:30, were seated by 11:55, and got out of there by 12:45. The food was great. To save time, look at the menu ahead of time and know what you want! We got to sit downstairs this time, and that was a treat!
Okay, so now that I remembered that, let’s go back to AFTER the Rockettes, which is the only show I’ve ever been a part of that I just kept saying, “WOW! WOW! WOW! A MUST SEE!” I cried when Santa came on and started talking to me, well, us, and wishing me a Merry Christmas.
We again decided to walk back to the hotel and see what shops and cafes were on the way! We found a fabulous French Cafe (connected to an artsy hotel; make sure you check that out) and a vintage shop, and we enjoyed the sights.
Once we returned, we rested a little from all the activity. We discovered my niece, Chrissy, and her husband, Ben, were also in New York City, where we were headed for ice skating! Bryant Park offers a larger ice skating rink and shops and is next door to the famous New York City Library! The library is free and worth a tour. It has a great gift shop, too. Get your Bryant Park tickets early! Expect a crowd, but they are well organized. Read all the rules and how to have a good time. We loved going after the Christmas rush because the shops and Lodge were not busy at all. We thought about going to the Whitney Museum after because Friday nights are free. You just need to reserve your spot, but we chose to hang out at Bryant Park instead.
Funny family video:
Funny, not so funny: Apparently, I was given ice skates that professional skaters use, with the ice stopper on the foot; well, that thing took me down, and I grabbed Valentina, which made her lose her balance, and we all tumbled. I still have the bruise to remember! We couldn’t stop laughing. Valentina said, “You did not grab me, Mom; you pushed me!” Probably so.
We walked to Bryant Park to ice skate and took an Uber back! We were cold, it was late, and we were tired. I should mention that we bought thermal undergarments, including socks, and we purchased the “hot hands and feet” that skiers use. This worked! There was never a time I was overly cold if you dress well. Go back and watch the video about hats! 🙂 Skip cute for warm.
Day 3
Broadway show day! After walking to Bryant Park for ice skating and passing the wax museum, we decided to add that to the day! With that said, we dressed up for the play, which made the museum pictures fun! During our tour, we received news that our train was canceled due to impending weather. While enjoying our time, we were rescheduling trains, calling the Lambs to move our car so it would not get towed (thanks, Lambs), adding another day to our hotel stay, and all the things. Working together as a team was great, and Valentina was a huge help! We said, “Let it go!” and “Let’s have fun!” Part of traveling is adjusting. It was great to have real-life experiences for Valentina to work through and see that traveling can be stressful, but embracing it with a solution-minded focus can turn into an adventure.
An early morning walk to Liberty Bagel (long lines, so you can order ahead and do a pick-up order), we decided to wait in the line and have the full experience. We took the bagels back and ate on the hotel’s patio.
Madame Tussauds New York
Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre
The theatre seating is close! We were there with all our coats and hats and could fit, but we were surprised at the closeness of the seats. The play is a classic, and the cast is immensely talented.
After Chicago, we had dinner at The Papillon (a French restaurant that was beautifully decorated for the holidays). We took a Lyft there, and it was worth the drive!
It was a great way to end the night, and we thought we would take a Lyft back, but we decided to walk to the hotel and, along the way, see the sights and shop on 5th Avenue! We tried to visit The St. Regis Hotel around the corner, even sitting down, but we opened the drink menu and realized we needed to exit.
Day 4
Wanted my Vanilla Gorilla this morning!
We purchased our tickets from City Experiences, an authorized seller. Make sure you only buy tickets from authorized sellers. Once you get there, you must go to Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park – Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004, USA, to pick up your tickets. You’ll need your driver’s license and the credit card you purchased the tickets on. Then, you’ll go to the security line, which is much like a TSA line, so be prepared. After that, you’ll wait in line for the ferry. Give yourself enough time to do all of this, and order your crown and/or pedestal tickets 3 months prior. When you walk the stairs to the crown, take the elevator for the portion of the way. The stairs are narrow. If it’s winter, you’ll get hot climbing, so keep that in mind. Go slow, and rest along the way if needed. The crown experience is priceless, and we have no words–it’s awe-inspiring.
We decided not to go to Ellis Isle; it will add extensive time to your day, but it is worth it! Parish and I went the previous year; it was a full-day event.
We then took a Lyft over the Brooklyn Bridge to Grimaldi’s Pizza! If you can walk the bridge, do this! Parish and I did this the previous year when the weather was slightly warmer. We walked Brooklyn and stopped in some shops and cafes along the way. The restaurant was under the Brooklyn Bridge. Check out the bridge at night! You can’t imagine the view on the way back into Manhattan!
In anticipation of the snow, I got some fun pictures! Spencer, Jr. is wearing one of my crochet hats.
Day 5
We have an extra day! Today, we woke up to snow in New York and a new coffee cafe, Mokafe, that Valentina found in her research! It was spontaneous fun, and walking in the snow was magic!
We went to a local market for soup and White Castle for the famous sliders.
One more Broadway Show, Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World
Traveling Home
Parish woke up early to get us Vanilla Gorilla and off to the train for our ride home. It was a great ride, and we slept most of the way. Due to the weather, we had to take a Lyft home. Thank goodness our car was safe at home. Thanks again, Lamb family. I wore my NYC vest made by my Aunt Adell! She made this for me over 20 years ago! I had to mark the memory.
Other places that Parish and I loved when we visited New York in 2024
Katz Diner ( Do NOT lose your ticket; you pay at the end, and everyone has to show their ticket if you get one.)
Museum of Modern Art (great cafe’)
I did not write a post on this trip, but here is the list from Tripit!
ARRESTED BY GRACE 