• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
/
April 30, 2010

Friday Fun: A Sunny NYC Day with Kids in Tow

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

Another perfect day in New York City.  Anyone who can will do whatever it takes to enjoy it. Whether it be during lunch, or on a sudden sick day. And the fact that it is a Friday makes it that much better, or worse, depending on where you stand.

I was awakened by the sounds of battle between a man and a 4-year-old.

“But I don’t want to wear those pants!”

“Why not? Why won’t you? It’s going to be hot today!”

“NO! Everyone will laugh at me!”

“No one is going to laugh. C’mon.” Followed by a strong sigh of frustration that not even the dramatic cries of the 4-year-old could drain out.

I hate waking up early. With every fiber of my being. I am not exactly sure how late I can sleep in till, but I am pretty sure I can make it past 11:00am if left to my own devices. But for my son, and mostly for my poor husband, I got up, and sleepily started the soothing mechanics of bribery. I bribe my kids all the time. It works well. You do this (what I want). I do that in turn (what you want, that isn’t too annoying or expensive for me). And you are happier for it (because I am). Works like a charm.

The bribe du jour? Wear the (dang) shorts and Mama will take you somewhere special. Where? The “Mario” store.

And with that the shorts were on, and we even managed to get a clean t-shirt on the kid out of the deal.

That is how the adventures of the day started. And though I am not a video game lover, my boys are. And taking them to the Nintendo World Store at Rockefeller Center was a better excursion for me today than the daily routine of playground visits.

As soon as I picked up my 4-year-old from Pre-K, we got on the train, and the boys were wide-eyed the entire way. I took a longer path and walked along Fifth Avenue and back down 48th Street to the store entrance on 10 Rockefeller Plaza. I stood outside and asked the boys to please stay near me and not run. “Ok Mama,” they both promised and as soon as I opened the door they bolted in, in separate directions, with me choking on the dust behind them.

The Nintendo World Store is 2 stories of whatever the latest and greatest Nintendo gadgets and games are. Both my boys wanted one thing mainly, and it was “the bad guy” from their Mario Brothers video game. Who that was, what he looked like, and whether or not they had him was unknown to me. It mattered little because when the sales clerk approached us, my 4 year described in full detail what he wanted. He also successfully managed to carry on the discussion of whether or not the store even carried the wanted toy, which they didn’t, but my son accepted the alternative offered to him during the discussion.

They played a few games, and posed for a few good photos for me. I watched as both children and grown ups set themselves up in front of one of the screens and played the various Wii game options. There was a man, dressed in a business suit, playing tennis on the Wii, and I am so bummed I couldn’t sneak a photo because I swear this man’s smile made it seem like he was having the time of his life!

We walked out without too much damage: $30.00 in toys. It could’ve been much worse. Especially if my 12-year-old had been with us.

I was obviously on a “this is your day boys, whatever you want” kick. So I asked, “What do you want for lunch?” not realizing that I had asked this question clear within view of the Golden Arches themselves. “HAPPY MEAL!” they screamed in unison, and not wanting to disappoint, I grabbed my boys’ hands and walked right in towards the cashier yelling, “NEXT ON LINE!”

After consuming 3 days worth of calories from a burger I had been craving for about as long (dang internet ads!), we decided to walk towards Fifth Avenue again, by way of the diamond district.

Walking through the diamond district in the middle of a week day will expose you to two things: the hard sales attempts of the diamond world and second-hand smoking. And though I could feel my lungs hardening by each passing second I was there, I had to smile when my little ones kept stopping to admire one precious stone or another telling me how they were going to buy it for me.

You don’t see a lot of people with kids walking down Fifth Avenue, and I wouldn’t recommend taking a stroller down there either, but my boys have me as a mom, and I just love window shopping for things I can only dream of owning. My kids on the other hand, oooh and ahhh over the Marilyn Monroe trinkets, or huge I LOVE NY anything they see. If it were up to them, we would’ve been in every single gift shop along Fifth Avenue between Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park.

When we finally arrived to Bryant Park it was crowded (because it was a nice day, remember?), and my kids kept running off, but would somehow manage to find me again, because I think they knew the chances of my splitting in two and running after them, in their separate directions, were slim. And because neither of them knows who of the two is my favorite, then they are unsure of which one I would end up chasing after for safety.

We did the carousel a few times. Met a lovely Upper East Side mom, who, poor soul, attempted to lift my 3-year-old on to a wooden horse and almost snapped her size 2 frame in half. I apologized for her pain, as I do to anyone who unexpectedly picks up my child, then blamed my husband’s Irish/Scottish heritage for the lead weight of our children. Though it’s clear, to look at me, that I might have something to do with it as well, but that’s neither here nor there.

Bryant Park has tons of activities, like chess, tai-chi, yoga, and, just for those like us, a little book stand, called the Reading Room. We sat on the little chairs, next to a little table, and just read and read books. My absolute favorite was The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle because aside from the fact that it is a wonderfully illustrated children’s book, it also had a personal inscription from Mr. Carle for those who enjoy the book there. I thought that was just priceless and felt giddy to be holding a book once touched by someone who is such a huge part of my children’s evening story time.

We took a stroll to the library steps, where we sat for a cool drink, and talked about everything that had to do with monsters and heroes, Mario and friends, pigeons, and something about my getting them a dog. We headed home with the working crowd who was doing the same.

My boys later asked to be sent to bed before we even suggested such a thing, and were snoring minutes after. I, exhausted from the adventures of walking around the city with my boys, feel a smile in my heart wider than my tired face can muster. It was, in the end, the best bribe to date.

For more information on the various activities that are taking place in Bryant Park, please visit their website here.

For more information on the various activities, restaurants, and shops in Rockefeller Center, please visit their website here.

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
1 Comment
  • jonesie
    May 21, 2010

    You are THE coolest mom EVER! Now I gotta take hubby to Nintendo World (our 8month old too) he'll be just like the man in the suit I'm sure lol

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Previous Post
All About Family Fun at Woodloch Pines Resort
Next Post
Taking a Bus Tour to NYC Landmarks with Kids in Tow

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 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

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe53 Post(s)
  • North America316 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

Contact

  • carol@girlgonetravel.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

Photo dump from our first day out and about in Ber Photo dump from our first day out and about in Berlin.

Last time I stared up at these gates I was left with tears in my eyes. It was my last day in the city, a beautiful spring day and the sunset was perfect. In fact, the whole city was and I was left with this overwhelming sadness to not be sharing it with my family. And for the first time in my years as a travel blogger, often times alone, I felt an aching pang of loneliness. This moment would be the motivating factor to figure out another way. To travel in a way that made ME happiest and truly fulfilled me.

For a lot of people solo travel is their thing. And I think the courage and lessons gained from doing so are powerful and life changing. I am glad to have learned from all the years I did so.

But I really most enjoy traveling with my kids or husband. Not necessarily because it’s easier or even cheaper, but because I love watching them navigate these new experiences. I love the easy willingness with which they will practice a local language they’ve never studied on an unsuspecting local just trying to ask them if they are paying cash or card…or the confidence in learning how the local transportation works…or the willingness to try new foods…or the ease with which they roll with mishaps or getting lost or plans not working out, but most of all, I look forward to watching them fall in love with places that I’ve falling in love with, like Berlin, or when we fall in love with a new place together.

All this to say, how you travel, how often you travel, where you go, what you spend - these are things that should matter to only you. No one is better or worse, or luckier or less fortunate for doing it differently.

I have been to Berlin 3 times. But this moment, with these people, was a dream in the making for years because as great as this city is, they were really the missing link to making it absolutely amazing to be here for me.

Can’t wait to share more photos from our shenanigans here!

#berlin #germany #familytravel #summertime #returntoberlin #imonvacation
Celebrating some of the best of this first year in Celebrating some of the best of this first year in the Finger Lakes! More on my blog, GirlGoneTravel.com. 🎉

#fingerlakes #lifeintheflx #myflx #thisissoflx #soflx #relocation #upstateny #lifeinupstateny
NEW ON GIRLGONETRAVEL.COM: It's hard to believe by NEW ON GIRLGONETRAVEL.COM: It's hard to believe by it's officially been one year since we moved to the Finger Lakes! So much has happened, I really couldn't put it all into words! If my latest blog left you wondering,  I am happy to answer any questions you may have about life here or a move like ours! Thanks for reading!

#relocation #Lifeinflx #movetoflx #fingerlakes
Hello world. I’d like to introduce you to a new Hello world. I’d like to introduce you to a new angel to this world, my beautiful little niece, Solénn 🥰

Did I cry? Of course. She is precious and as the oldest of 10 kids, I got to carry almost all of my siblings when they were this age too and care for them as they grew up. So, it is surreal to now have my “first babies” having babies! ♥️ It’s so sweet and beautiful and man, I can’t wait to see them give it to their parents as much as their parents gave it to me 😂. Being a Titi is the best!

#titi #auntie #iwanttoseethebaby #cutebabies
One of the coolest brewery vibes I’ve experience One of the coolest brewery vibes I’ve experienced has been in @bigalicebrewing in Brooklyn, NY (they also have an Queens location). So you know I was excited when they opened up a spot in the Finger Lakes (Geneva)! 

It’s been a minute since I’ve visited and they’ve expanded their outdoor space (shown here) and now regularly host music as well as a food truck to pair goodies with your brew.

The sunsets here are pretty epic too, and it’s such a cool place to chill and be with friends. The staff is also super friendly. Definitely add them to your list of places to check out! Also, kinda have to have a special place in my heart for fellow city-folk who fell in love with this magical place too and are doing awesome things here. 🍻

#flxbrew #fingerlakes #brewery #myflx #beer #geneva
To think I went so much of my life unaware of all To think I went so much of my life unaware of all the beauty right at my finger tips. I will forever to my core be proud to be born and raised in New York City, and for a moment I thought nothing could ever be greater. Turns out the world is filled with endless pockets of beauty and breathtaking spots. Some of them don’t always make it onto TikTok or Insta but they really are special.

I was out and about shooting for work in Tompkins County, and love that I get to experience beautiful places daily. 

I didn’t filter, and I edited only to fit this video, a glimpse into a day in the life here. I wish and hope people appreciate how this truly is a wonderful place to be. 

Featured are: Views of Dryden Lake (in the rain!), scenes from @underhill.farm (for a country stay, blueberry picking, and sheep!), @hopshirebrews (for photos but also a drink to cool off!), then we stopped at the super cute @thebigsbymarket where we got the sweetest peaches ever! 

#fingerlakes #myoffice #worklife #photographer #fingerlakes #drydenny #tompkinscounty

Copyright © 2022 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice