Christmastime in NYC with 2 Kids
In 2022, Brandon accepted a new job, which came with waaaay less time off than he had previously. This was a big deal for us as we’d been in the habit of traveling on school breaks 2 - 3 times per year. The week before we left, we booked our Christmastime adventure to NYC for the four of us. Here’s how we spent our 4 days in the city…
Day 1
MCO to JFK
JFK to Manhattan
NYC Public Library
Bryant Park Holiday Market
Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center and Saks 5th Avenue
We left our house just after 3:45 AM on Saturday morning and arrived at Orlando International Airport around 5:45 AM. It didn’t take us long to get through security. We were determined not the check any bags, so we each had a carryon and a backpack as our 1 personal item.
We found ourselves seated by the gate around 6:15. Thankfully, the Starbucks in the terminal now accepts mobile orders, so I had enough time to get us each a mocha before boarding started around 6:45. Our flight with Delta Airlines took off just after 7 AM.
We landed at JFK around 9:15 AM and used the Airtrain and MTA (subway system) to get into the city. The Airtrain took us from the terminal and we got off at Jamaica station. You actually cannot get out of the Airtrain station until you pay the fare, which was $8 per adult to exit. Then we paid a separate fare (and separate card) to take the subway from Jamaica station to 53rd & 5th via the E train. We purchased the 7-day unlimited pass for $33 per adult. Luckily, the boys were just short enough to not need their own passes. The whole trip from the terminal to the streets of Manhattan took us about an hour. Here are more detailed directions for using the trains to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan.
The first thing the boys did when they got up onto the street was stare straight up to the sky with a long and loud, “Woah.” After quickly shuffling them away from the stairs, we headed to our hotel because we did not want to carry our luggage through the city with us. Because we arrived before check-in (3 pm) and our room was not yet ready, the Hilton Midtown led us to the check bag room in their lobby (after the elevator bays, make a right). It cost us $5/bag + tip.
By the time we checked our bags and got back onto the streets, it was about 12:30 PM and we were starving. We spent about 2 blocks looking for somewhere closeby and quick to eat before we decided on the Roxy Delicatessen (834 Seventh Ave). The restaurant was short-staffed, so there was a short wait. Seats were empty, but tables were still littered with empty plates and tips. Eventually, a server came over, apologized for the wait and took our order. Jonah ordered the All Natural Beef Footlong and fries. ($14.99), Jacob got a grilled cheese and fries ($16.99), Brandon had the Roxy’s burger and fries ($22.99), and I went with the Roxy chicken salad sandwich ($23.99). Everything was good, but pricey. By the time we made it to the streets again, we were hungry for some sight-seeing.
We took the subway to 5th Ave & 42nd street to visit the NYC Public Library. It was mildly busy and our bags were checked by security before being let in. There were several reading rooms open to the public and the opportunity to pay to see the Virginia Woolf exhibit. We wondered around admiring the architecture and art work, snapped a few photos, and then headed outside again.
Right behind this NYC Public Library location is Bryant Park and the Christmas Market was in full swing. We quickly found ourselves in a tightly packed walkway, which ended up discouraging us from going into the shops. However, from what we saw there was a lovely variety of gift/craft shops and places to snack. We did end up near the ice rink where many were enjoying hot chocolate. Inspired by the movie, Turning Red, Jacob asked if he could try steamed bao. We ordered some with popcorn chicken, found a small bistro table around the corner, and sat down to enjoy the snack. Jacob also learned (kind of) how to use chopsticks.
After the market, we returned to the hotel to checkin, rest, and layer up for the colder evening temperatures since the sun would soon be setting. Since we were ready to go earlier than we needed to leave for our dinner reservation, we decided to check out Rockefeller Center and the light show at Saks 5th Avenue. Boy was this a mistake. The Saturday night before Christmas when everyone has avoided the city for 2 years (Covid) was NOT the time to go see the lights. The police were determined to keep the streets open, so they put up baracades to keep the pedestrians on the sidewalks. To say they became overcrowded is the understatement of the century.
At one point, I looked down and could not see my tall-for-his-age, six-year old who was standing right next to me. I could feel him there and was holding his hand, but the sidewalks had become so congested that literally every adult was pressed up next to each other with no room in between. Then the pushing began. I asked my husband if we should be worried about the kids being trampled (I was worried one of them might fall down) and we decided to pick up each son. Before I knew it, everyone was holding their child and no one was moving. Someone asked the police to open the barrier to relieve some of the congestion, which they declined, so the pushing continued. After shuffling forward a few feet, someone eventually opened the barrier for themselves. Thankfully, we were able to get out of the crowd and redirected ourselves away from 5th avenue. Deciding the stress was too much, we headed towards dinner. On our way, the boys found a lady with a cart of light-up swords. Determined to make it a positive memory, we let them each purchase one.
Our last stop of the night was dinner at Iguana (240 West 54th Street). We had made a reservation for 7pm on Open Table and arrived at 6:45. Even though there were tables available, the hostess informed us we’d need to wait until 7 to be seated. At 7, we returned and were seated. Juan, our server, was AMAZING and the food was delicious. Even though there wasn’t a kids menu, our server asked if the boys wanted chicken tenders and fries and offered to put their order in first while we looked at the menu. We accepted and he returned with their food to take our order. Brandon ordered the Iguana Nachos ($18) and I had the grilled veggies and goat cheese quesadilla ($18) & Acai margarita.
Day 2
Central Park
The Harry Potter Store
The Lego Store
Times Square
We began Day 2 by grabbing breakfast from Starbucks and entering Central Park from Columbus Circle. Once in the park we explored Hallet Nature Sanctuary, The Mall & Literary Walk, Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, and read a chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (The boys just got into the series and it was a special request of theirs to bring the book and read in the park.). Inspired by their enthusiasm for the book, we headed toward the Flatiron building.
Once we got off the subway, we realized it was getting close to lunchtime. We ate at La Pain Quotidien (921 Broadway) before heading to the Harry Potter store. Jonah ordered the Dutch Mini-Pancakes ($10), Jacob had two soft-boiled eggs ($9.50), Brandon ate the Toasted Ham & Gruyere Croissant ($11), and I went with the Tomato Mozarella Sandwich ($11.50). Everything was delicious, but we realized we were quickly outspending what we thought we’d spend in NYC for food, especially since neither kid was finishing any of their meals.
We spent a long time in the Harry Potter Store (935 Broadway). After looking at the shirts and plushes, touring each of the themed rooms, and looking at the books, someone had the idea that we should all get our wands. Being a fan of the Harry Potter books since I was 12 years old, I am soooooo glad I never got a wand before. It was absolutely wonderful being chosen together. The store literally has thousands of wands, so it took time, but Jacob ended up with Neville’s, Jonah got Ron’s, Brandon went with Dumbledore’s and I got Hermoine’s. We snapped a cheesy picture and then decided to get the Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Jelly Beans we passed up before the wand idea. Later in the hotel, we poured the beans in a bowl and took turns blindly picking one, used the card to identify the flavor, and then ate the jelly bean. The boys thought it was hilarious. Before leaving the store, we stopped at The Leaky Cauldron and got 2 butterbeer drinks to split.
On our way back to the subway station, Jonah noticed the Lego Store (200 5th Ave). Since the mob kept us out of the one on 5th Avenue the night before, we agreed to go inside. The store was smaller than the one we have here at Disney Springs, but the boys enjoyed the Christmas and NYC-specific items. After taking pictures with the light up Lego Christmas tree and Statue of Liberty hand/torch, we headed back to the hotel to rest and layer up for dinner.
Dinner was at Angelo Bellini’s, another Open Table reservation. The restaurant was fancier with linen table cloths and bound menus. Since they also did not have a kids menu and the boys were habitually not finishing their meals, we decided to order 3 entrees and split them. We ordered the Fettuccine All'Alfredo con Pollo ($20.95), 12” white pizza ($17), and spinach ravioli ($19.95). Jacob declared the alredo “the best he’s ever had” and Jonah finished about half of the pizza. Since the food was authentically Italian, we decided to split a cannoli ($10.95), just to try it. The cannoli was yummy and the filling was light and fluffy with a creamy lemon flavor.
After dinner we visited Times Square. The boys liked seeing all the lights and screens. The peoplewatching was also entertaining. There were also barricades along the sidewalks in Times Square, but it was nowhere as busy as 5th Avenue was the night before. While there, we stopped at a few stores. The boys’ grandparents gave them tip money to buy a souvenir, which they found at I ❤️ NY Gifts (1657 Broadway). Since they both play soccer, we stopped at Pele Soccer Store (1560 Broadway), which happened to before right before his passing. Our last stop of the night was to the M&M Store (1600 Broadway). There was a line around the corner to get in, but it moved quickly. Again, the boys loved seeing the NYC-specific displays.
Day 3
Iceskating at Rockefeller Center
5th Avenue Shops
World Trade Center & Oculus
Wall Street
Dumbo Bridge
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge
SoHo
Irish Car Bombs, Our New Tradition
Day 3 was our last full day in NYC and we definitely got our money’s worth. Since we booked the trip a week before going on it, appointments for ice skating at The Rink were limited and we ended up with the 7:10 AM time slot. This ended up being a blessing in disguise. We arrived just before 7 and were on the ice by 7:15. It cost $200 for 2 adults, 2 kids and 4 skate rentals. The rink was empty when we got on the ice, but it quickly became crowded. The music was festive and the statue and tree were popular photo opportunities. This created a bit of congestion on that side of the rink. That combined with the number of novice skaters made for some great peoplewatching. If you’re going for the skating, you’re going to be disappointed. The upclose look at the tree was impressive and the boys really liked that you could see the pine needles sealed into the ice by the zamboni. The ice was rough along the edge but smooth in the center. We ended up leaving after 1/2 hour. On our way out, we found a wall where we were encouraged to add our skate stickers in a rainbow pattern. The boys liked the creativity.
Since it was early and 5th Avenue was practically empty, we took advantage of the opportunity to see the holiday window displays and decorations. Then, we grabbed breakfast at Starbucks and used the subway to head to the World Trade Center.
Before we made it to the site of the original towers, we ran into a man selling 9/11 books on the street. He was a responding firefighter in 2001, took the time to point out some of the buildings still standing in the area, and then pointed out the same buildings in the photos on the pages. The boys had a general understanding of what happened before we got there, but his photos helped them better understand the immediate magnitude of those towers coming down.
After saying goodbye to the firefighter, we went into the Oculus. The last time we were in NYC, I had read about the building’s design so we took a minute to examine the building and appreciate Santiago Calatrava’s architectural intention for the building resembling a dove taking flight. We discussed how beautiful humanity can be, especially in our history’s worst moments. This remained our lens as we explored the area and took in all the different murals and other artwork in the area.
After we made it through the Oculus and up to the street on the other side, we found ourselves looking out over the fountains. The boys had a hard time wrapping their heads around the towers’ massive footprints and how buidlings that big could possibly tumble down. We did end up watching a short video montage of that morning’s events, but the most beautiful moment was watching the family and friends of a fallen firefighter honor their loved one with a single rose.
The wind coming off the water was so strong and cold, we found ourselves at another Starbucks to collect ourselves and for a second breakfast. After we defrosted and were ready for the next sight, we headed towards Wall Street. The boys got a picture with the bull and then we crossed the street to Battery Park to see if we could get lucky with an available tour to the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, the lines were long and the tour we found was going to cost us 3 hours, so we pointed Lady Liberty out over the horizon and promised we’ll visit her the next time we’re in the city.
Then, we took the subway to Brooklyn. Dumbo Bridge can be seen at 64 Front St, Brooklyn. It’s actually the Manhattan Bridge that’s visible from Front St. The shops and restaurants in the area look fun, but it was a Monday morning and not much was open, yet. Thankfully, the sun came out and the day was warming up, so we decided to walk the Brooklyn Bridge back into the city. We got onto the bridge by using the staircase located in the underpass on Washington Street/Cadman Plaza East and Prospect Street.
During the Thanksgiving break before this trip, the boys and I attempted to make French macarons from scratch. They were typical for a first time and we learned lots of things about making them. We decided to take advantage of being in the city and looked up authentic French bakeries in NYC so we could see what they were supposed to taste like. We ended up at Laduree in SoHo (398 Broadway) for a macaron tasting. We purchased a box of 8 and took turns taking the first bite. Jacob’s favorite was the chocolate. Jonah liked all of the fruit flavors. I liked the rose and champagne ones. Brandon liked them all. We also purchased a box of their bestsellers to take home for Brandon’s mom.
Continuing the spirit of “when in Rome,” we decided to visit the B&H Store (420 9th Street), a favorite of Brandon’s. The boys enjoyed the tracks and belts the store uses to transport boxes around the store before sending them out for delivery. Brandon oogled the Leica cameras.
As if the macarons weren’t enough sugar, we headed to Hudson Yards to visit Dylan’s Candy Bar (20 Hudson Yards) - a friend’s recommended stop. We each picked out a treat and then found a tackle box style candy sampler to take home for Brandon’s dad.
As if the day didn’t include enough food stops, we headed back to the hotel to rest and layer up before heading out to dinner at Wagamama (100 W 55th Street) - another OpenTable reservation. The service here was the best we experienced in the city. The vibe was great and the booth we were at had a radiator between it and the window. It was cozy and wonderful. Jacob ordered the Chicken Ramen, Jonah (obsessed with chicken wings - cue the song) had the Chicken Asian Wings with sweet and spicy sauce on the side, Brandon tried the Spicy salmon teriyaki & an Old Fashioned, and I ordered a teriyaki chicken donburi and blossom (sake) cocktail. There was no room for dessert.
The last time Brandon and I were in NYC, we were running the 50th TCS NYC Marathon. The next day after a day of sightseeing, we took our medals to the bar across the street from our hotel and ordered celebratory Irish Car Bombs. During this trip with the boys, we decided to make it a tradition and stopped by McGee’s Pub (240 West 55th Street). We downed the drinks and headed back to our hotel for the our final night.
Day 4
Since we booked and planned our trip to NYC in less than a week, we had a general list of ideas of what to do rather than an intinerary. Admittedly, this has become my favorite way to vacation (which is a HUGE departure from my type-A personality and upbringing). One of the items on our Christmastime in NYC list was seeing the gingerbread houses in the lobby of Le Parker Meridien. Unfortunately, we learned the hard way that this exhibit is no longer hosted by the hotel. From what I was able to find online on my phone in the lobby, the exhibit was purchased by a museum.
Instead we took the opportunity to view the 5th Avenue storefronts again on our way back to the hotel to pack for our afternoon flight. After we packed, we had a little time to kill so we dumped out the Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Jelly Beans and played another round of Guess the Flavor.
After checking out of the hotel, we took the E train to the Jamaica station, got on the Airtrain to the JFK terminals and made it through security with about an hour to spare. We decided on lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings in Terminal 2. The restaurant was different than we expected. Instead of menus, there were QR codes on the tables. Since there were no kid menu items, we ordered wings, fries, and mozarella sticks to split. After checking out, we headed to our gate just in time for boarding where Delta had the Grinch and a Whoville character welcoming us onboard and passing out candy to children.
Overall, it was the trip of a lifetime. Jonah cried the whole train ride back to the airport because he didn’t want to leave. He and Brandon are convinced we need to move to the city. Jacob enjoyed the trip, but in typical native-Floridian fashion, he was ready to return to the land of warmth and humidity.