Sydney's 2nd Birthday Trip to NYC
I took Sydney to New York City for her 2nd birthday. Easter weekend was the weekend before her birthday so I thought this would be an excellent opportunity for her to experience her first flight and one of the greatest cities in the world. We left on Thursday night after work and returned Monday morning. I planned this trip before we went. I have found that when traveling with children it is easier to travel with an itinerary. Sometimes we go off book but it is easy to just get back on track if it is planned. Also, Sydney is a picky eater so I had to look up restaurants near our activities for meals. I learned a lot about flying with a toddler with this experience. I learned to dress Sydney more casually when flying because we have to go through TSA and she may require an outfit change. I did dress her in layers because I anticipated the weather change from Louisiana to New York. I also learned to pack lighter. It is easier to pack for both of us in one suitcase than two. My mother, Donna, traveled with us on this trip. Grandparents are lifesavers when you are a single parent that loves to travel. They love your child as much as you do and they are great help on trips because they have already raised children.
We stayed at the Marriott Marquis because it is centrally located in Times Square and I wanted to be close to everything with a two year old. It was a beautiful hotel with room service and large rooms that made playtime easier. They also placed a refrigerator and microwave in our room. This made it easier to store snacks and reheat meals. Sydney was not walking so I took her umbrella stroller on this trip. I like the umbrella stroller because it is lightweight and easy to put in the back of taxis. New York City is a very busy place and often people view it as a vacation site for older children and adults. Sydney was able to visit the Tisch Children’s Zoo at Central Park where she experienced a 4D movie at the IMAX theater, fed animals, and saw different exotic animals. She also visited the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. I know that there are children’s museums in every city but I have found that each museum has different exhibits and provides different experiences for children. We purchased Sydney’s birthday present from the American Girl store in Manhattan. It is an amazing experience for young girls. There is an opportunity to eat a meal with the dolls, a salon for the dolls, and other activities. Sydney loves to shop so even walking through Saks was a treat for her.
We visited the promenade in Brooklyn where we met one of my dear friends, Ariel, that now lives in New York City. The promenade had lots of outdoor activities as well as a great view of the Statue of Liberty. We also ventured to Harlem on Easter Sunday to attend church at the historic First Corinthian Baptist Church with my cousin Nia and her husband Brooks. Afterward, we enjoyed soul food and a stroll through beautiful Harlem. I found a toy store in Harlem, Grandma’s Place, that turned out to be a gem. It was full of educational toys and beautiful doll houses. Our day did not end there. Sydney attended her first Broadway play, FLY, at New Victory Theater. She was delighted to see her cousin Brooks in the play. After the play, we were able to go backstage.
New York City is a great place to take your child for a short weekend. I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked during this trip. We were so busy enjoying all of the sites that we forgot to capture the moments. I never made that mistake again. We will go to New York several more times. There are always flight deals and opportunities to book inexpensive hotel stays. I am a Marriott rewards member. I was able to use the points from this trip to pay for a couple of nights on another stay. It is very possible to stay in a budget while traveling to this great city especially if you plan ahead. Don’t forget to try the pizza!
We stayed at the Marriott Marquis because it is centrally located in Times Square and I wanted to be close to everything with a two year old. It was a beautiful hotel with room service and large rooms that made playtime easier. They also placed a refrigerator and microwave in our room. This made it easier to store snacks and reheat meals. Sydney was not walking so I took her umbrella stroller on this trip. I like the umbrella stroller because it is lightweight and easy to put in the back of taxis. New York City is a very busy place and often people view it as a vacation site for older children and adults. Sydney was able to visit the Tisch Children’s Zoo at Central Park where she experienced a 4D movie at the IMAX theater, fed animals, and saw different exotic animals. She also visited the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. I know that there are children’s museums in every city but I have found that each museum has different exhibits and provides different experiences for children. We purchased Sydney’s birthday present from the American Girl store in Manhattan. It is an amazing experience for young girls. There is an opportunity to eat a meal with the dolls, a salon for the dolls, and other activities. Sydney loves to shop so even walking through Saks was a treat for her.
We visited the promenade in Brooklyn where we met one of my dear friends, Ariel, that now lives in New York City. The promenade had lots of outdoor activities as well as a great view of the Statue of Liberty. We also ventured to Harlem on Easter Sunday to attend church at the historic First Corinthian Baptist Church with my cousin Nia and her husband Brooks. Afterward, we enjoyed soul food and a stroll through beautiful Harlem. I found a toy store in Harlem, Grandma’s Place, that turned out to be a gem. It was full of educational toys and beautiful doll houses. Our day did not end there. Sydney attended her first Broadway play, FLY, at New Victory Theater. She was delighted to see her cousin Brooks in the play. After the play, we were able to go backstage.
New York City is a great place to take your child for a short weekend. I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked during this trip. We were so busy enjoying all of the sites that we forgot to capture the moments. I never made that mistake again. We will go to New York several more times. There are always flight deals and opportunities to book inexpensive hotel stays. I am a Marriott rewards member. I was able to use the points from this trip to pay for a couple of nights on another stay. It is very possible to stay in a budget while traveling to this great city especially if you plan ahead. Don’t forget to try the pizza!
