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Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
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July 19, 2009

Rockefeller Center, NY

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Ah, Rockefeller Center.  For most visitors to New York City it is the place where the famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree stands ever year.  It is also the location of the famous and beautiful ice skating rink.  For most New Yorkers, if not a place of work, it is a place to avoid because of the crowds and the prices. But I love Rockefeller Center because of the amazing art that can be seen throughout and the history of the place, something I like sharing with my oldest when we visit there and will continue to do with my youngest as they grow.

And now I had another reason to venture to midtown Manhattan and visit Rockefeller Center.  We had an out-of-town visitor and though I refused to do 80% of the touristy things during his stay (just because it was so short and I felt like there were so many better places to visit), I did feel that taking this first-time visitor to New York City and show him Rockefeller Center was something that could not be missed.

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In the warmer months, there is no tall evergreen to be seen, the ice skating rink is now a warm, dry spot filled with tables and chairs that serve as out door seating for the posh eateries. However, the tourists still flock to the site to take pictures with the Statue of Prometheus as a backdrop.

IMG_9007Nearby are the NBC studios, and the windows where the crowds stand to wave at the The Today Show cameras.  A block away is  Christie’s auction house, as well as the one and only Radio City Music Hall.

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Across the street on Fifth Avenue is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and all the famous department stores and shops that tourists love so much, and of which New Yorkers are so proud of.

And I pointed it all to our visitor. We squeezed past tourists taking flashing photos of all these incredibly recognizable and beautiful New York City sites and landmarks.

But after all of that, I wanted to show him a place that most tourists don’t even know about or care to visit. Right there, in the midst of  all the other wonderful art and architecture and inside the lobby of the GE Building is the breathtaking mural titled American Progress, painted by Catalan artist Jose Maria Sert.  But even more wonderful than the mural one finds there today is the history of the one it replaces. And that is the mural, Man at the Cross Roads, originally painted by one of my favorite Mexican artists, Diego Rivera, which was destroyed due to Nelson Rockefeller’s protest of its depiction of Lenin and other communist leaders.  And though the mural that is there is quite wonderful, and though I never saw Diego Rivera’s mural while it was in place, I can’t help but think of him as I also admires Jose Maria Sert’s work. Diego Rivera was able to send in his assistant who snuck in a camera and photographed the mural before it was destroyed. He later reproduced it and it is currently on display in Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes.

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IMG_9013When it comes to walking around with little kids in this area, just know that it can be hard. It’s too much of a hassle, it’s too crowded, and not easy to navigate through with a stroller. But if this is your only visit to New York City, it’s worth to take the trip, and now, you know that you can escape the crowds by entering the GE Building to admire the mural, and go down the escalator for restaurants, cafes (they have a Starbucks down there) and even restrooms.

It’s easy to get lost in all the hustle and bustle around you, and it’s very easy to become overwhelmed. As a matter of fact, my visitor did, a few times.  So my advice is to slow down, drink a latte or a glass a wine at one of the eateries, and really look around. Rockefeller Center is an adventure surrounded by art and beauty, and deserve a better look than one given by just rushing through.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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2 Comments
  • Single Mama NYC
    July 21, 2009

    It's kinda pathetic that I am a native Manhattanite and I've never been inside the GE building to admire the artwork/murals. Makes me wonder how many other places of significant interest in NYC I haven't experienced. I'll be sure to expose Theo to as much of what I've missed out as as possible!

    Reply
  • Carol
    July 22, 2009

    Single Mama: That's a great plan! There's a lot of little secrets that I've found out through out the years, and I am happy to share them with you any time : )

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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