• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
/
December 24, 2009

Holiday in New York City: Grand Central Station

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

Well, here it is. The holidays in New York City. My kids have not been sleeping well…or rather, I have not been sleeping well. The little ones have been waking up way too early for my liking and I am not sure why.  It may have something to do with the excitement in the air overall.

This is our second Christmas in New York City since we moved back from Wisconsin. When I lived in WI, and any time I lived anywhere other than New York and spent the Holidays there, I was miserable. I missed the lights, and music. The sounds of the songs coming from stores, the bells ringing from the Salvation Army volunteers on every corner. It always made my heart sink.

And since I have returned, I have made sure to take it all in, not miss a thing…and in the process expose my kids to all the magic that is New York City during the Holidays.

So, in the next couple of days or so, I will share with you some of the things we are doing during the holiday season, and if you aren’t here, or can’t partake in some of the fun going on, I hope, as is always my wish at any season, that you will decide to celebrate it here next year.

Today we headed to Grand Central Station. You know, the same place I wrote about when I told you about the awesome marketplace they have there. Well, Grand Central Station has a few things going on during the holidays.  I made a brief mention of it on NY Metropolista, but our real-life adventure was way more fun.

IMG_4498

We started off by visiting the Holiday Fair. It wasn’t too crowded. Very colorful and a lot of handmade products and products made with natural materials, which made each gift very crafty and unique. One of my favorite booths was the Ka Kee Organics booth. Such cute little outfits and toys. I immediately thought about my little nephew out in Austin, TX, and all the cute little things I could get him from there.

IMG_4469

IMG_4470

IMG_4473

IMG_4475

IMG_4476

The rest of the fair had hand made jewelry, soaps, wool hats, ceramics, and glassware. The fair is only on till tomorrow, Dec. 24, but if you have a chance to stop by, even if just to look and pick up some business cards for online shopping, later on, it’s a nice experience.

After browsing through the Holiday Fair, we walked over to the Main Concourse and waited to see the Holiday Light Show. It starts every day at 11:00 am and continues every half hour to 9:00 PM till Dec. 31. Once the music and display started, the boys sat on the floor and watched in awe. It’s pretty cool, and the kids really enjoyed it. I looked around as people rushed past all the displays and thought to myself what a shame it was the so many missed it in their hurried frenzy.

IMG_4483

IMG_4490

IMG_4497

IMG_4499After watching the Light Show, we walked over to the NY Transit Museum to catch the 8th Annual Train Show, a display of Lionel trains honoring all the various MTA trains recent and past. For my boys, this was the cherry on the cake. They were totally into it…and to tell the truth, so were the very many other little boys and dads in the store. The display is on till Jan. 18.

IMG_4502

IMG_4503

IMG_4507

IMG_4515

IMG_4522

IMG_4525

We soon started feeling hungry. A lot of people don’t know this, but Grand Central’s Food Court is the best food court in the city. This is because the vendors are from some of the best eateries in town. From Junior’s Cheesecake to Manhattan Chili Company to Cafe Spice, this is such great food that we often just go there, because it’s all the great stuff in one location. But our absolute favorite place with the kids is Two Boots. There are several locations throughout the city, and I have to say it is one of the most kid-friendly pizza joints I know, and man is the pizza delicious!

I usually order a cheese pizza for the kids, and hubby ordered a Po’ Boy, but I ordered my favorite pizza there, the Bayou Beast. Spicy hot, with shrimp and andouille…it is yummy. We had a great time and it was a perfect ending to our time at Grand Central, which made for a good 2 hours of Holiday fun we all enjoyed.

IMG_4530

IMG_4539

IMG_4533

Check again soon to read about our next Holiday Adventure!

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
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.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
2 Comments
  • Meryl
    February 21, 2010

    I was there this week, but I missed all the Christmas fun. I love Grand Central.

    Reply
  • New York City prepares for the holidays | Babble New York
    October 25, 2010

    […] on 42nd and Park already has set November 15, 2010 as the date on which they will set up their Holiday Fair. I would suggest to keep checking out their list of events for the many special events they often […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Next Post
Ice Skating in The Pond, Bryant Park, NY

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe54 Post(s)
  • North America318 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

About me

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. 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

Contact

  • caincarol@gmail.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! @travisjcain will be painting MARK YOUR CALENDAR! @travisjcain will be painting a beautiful new mural at Elmira’s Mural Fest this year (weather permitting on Saturday, if not on a less rainy day)! Last year he painted this board which was recently on display still at @communityartselmira. 

Hopefully we have a sunny day and you can come out to support Travis and all the muralists that day! See you there!

#elmirany #painter #artist #communityarts
Sometimes it’s like I never left. #newyork Sometimes it’s like I never left. 

#newyork
SHOUT OUT to our oldest, @davidacain_, who carries SHOUT OUT to our oldest, @davidacain_, who carries with him the entrepreneurial spirit he’s inherited from his parents. 

While successfully working in supply chain management for a global corporation based in NYC, he continues to manage and operate his own product, @getcalma, a comforting heated eye mask that is currently on the Amazon top seller list for two years in a row and has a growing consumer following! 

We are so incredibly proud of David and his growing success as an entrepreneur and in his career, and know the future will continue to be bright for him!

To learn more about Calma and make a purchase, visit his website at GetCalma.com. 

#proudmomma #getcalma #entreprenuer #smallbusiness
The time has come to move on from my role as a bar The time has come to move on from my role as a barista at @the_garage_at_rye and towards my next adventure. 

I started this journey with a curiosity for a craft I admired and wanted to learn more about. It turned into a job. Then a serious passion. And now here I am, launching Café Cómodo (KOH-moh-doh), which means “Comfortable/cozy” in Spanish, a pop-up café serving espresso and seasonal drinks at local farmers markets and private events! (@cafecomodony)

Starting yet another business was never my intent…and yet, I fell further in love with the craft, the industry, and the culture.

I owe so much of what I have learned to @seschieber, who took me under her wings and taught me so much (and still does) and who embraced my nerdiness and eagerness with patience and kindness….and in the process became one of my dearest friends. Working alongside her has felt like winning the golden ticket. She further instilled in me a respect for the craft, the industry, and a commitment to always strive for a quality product, even in a world of Dunkins and Starbucks. 

Grateful for @abbdawes, @hannahmariee93, and Amanda who tolerated my clumsiness at the start while I fumbled my way through the register and the various drink recipes!

I wasn’t sure where this journey would lead, and as I look back at these clips I realize how much I have changed in the process. It’s not always a place that impacts you, but rather the people in it.

I will miss the regulars I’ve gotten to know whose names and drink orders I memorized and who I looked forward to serving. 

I’m so grateful for everything I learned, beyond just making coffee, because I know it will help me to further grow as a leader, an entrepreneur, and a team member wherever I go and in everything I do next.

I won’t miss the dark morning wake ups and long drives before sunrise though! 

I’m proudest of myself for wanting to develop a new skill and ✨DOING IT✨ even when it felt awkward, nerving, and impossible. I hope you will follow me on this next chapter and come say hi at the market (and hire me for your next event)!

Thank you to Charlie Hunter, owner of The Garage for this opportunity.

#coffee #cafe #popupcafe
Recently took a moment to slow down and enjoy the Recently took a moment to slow down and enjoy the sounds of this beautiful place I call home. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #upstateny
Barista training = Trial by fire. 🔥 This is the Barista training = Trial by fire. 🔥 This is the way. 

@shellyk_025

#baristalife #barista #coffeeislife

Copyright © 2025 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice