New York City and I go back a long way.
I lived in Queens years ago, before September 11, 2001, and although I’ve returned for visits since then, New York will always hold memories of a very fun chapter of my life.
This September, I had a particularly wonderful reason to return. My son, Joel, was getting married to Meredith in Brooklyn!
It was a beautiful celebration, and I came home with a lovely new daughter-in-law. And with family arriving from different places, we also had the opportunity to spend several days exploring the city together.
We truly made the most of it.
There were boat rides, museums, neighborhood walks, subway adventures, wonderful meals, and more than a few late NYC nights. We saw some of New York’s most famous landmarks, but many of my favorite moments happened in the little places in between.
New York from the Water
One of our adventures was a Circle Line sightseeing cruise around Manhattan with my parents, my brother, my niece, their partners, and my plus one, my son, Zachary.
If you’ve never seen New York City from the water, I highly recommend it.
There’s something extraordinary about watching that familiar skyline unfold from the harbor. The bridges, the buildings, the Statue of Liberty, and the sheer size of Manhattan are even more impressive when you’re looking at them from the River.
It’s also a wonderful way to get a sense of the city’s geography. You begin to appreciate how the rivers, islands, and bridges all fit together.
And for a family group with different ages and interests, a sightseeing cruise is an easy way to enjoy the city together.
I took one of my favorite photographs of the trip from the water, with the Statue of Liberty silhouetted against a beautiful evening sky and a sailboat passing in front of her.
It was one of those picture perfect New York moments.
A Little Florence, a Little Yosemite, and an Afternoon at the Met
We also made time for a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and we happened to have our own unofficial art history guide.
Zachary had flown in from Florence, Italy, for the wedding, and my mother thought it would be a wonderful idea to put his knowledge to good use.
So off we went to explore the Met!
I particularly enjoyed wandering through the Italian Renaissance galleries with Zachary, listening to him share things he’d learned while living and studying in Florence.
There’s something special about exploring a museum with someone who can tell you a little more about what you’re seeing. And I loved having the opportunity to learn from my son.
But one of the paintings that stayed with me wasn’t Italian at all.
It was an oil painting by William Keith, Yosemite Falls, from Glacier Point, painted in 1879.
The painting depicts a dramatic rocky ledge overlooking Yosemite Valley, with Yosemite Falls in the distance.
I recognized the landscape immediately.
I’ve hiked the trail to Glacier Point with my children many times over the years. Yosemite holds so many wonderful memories for our family, and there I was, standing in one of the world’s great art museums, looking at a place I know so well.
I later learned that William Keith had explored Yosemite with John Muir, which made the painting even more interesting to me.
That’s something I love about art and travel. Sometimes they introduce us to entirely new places and ideas. Other times, they take us right back to somewhere we’ve been.
I certainly didn’t expect an afternoon at the Met to bring back memories of hiking in Yosemite with my kids.
If you’re planning a New York visit, give yourself a few hours (or days!) at the Met. It’s enormous, and you could spend days exploring its collections. Pick a few galleries that interest you and enjoy wandering.
You never know what might catch your attention.
Brooklyn, One Neighborhood at a Time
Although Manhattan has its famous attractions, Brooklyn was really the center of our visit.
We spent time wandering through DUMBO, with its old industrial buildings, cobblestone streets, and beautiful views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges.
The waterfront is a wonderful place to walk, take photographs, or simply sit for a while and enjoy the skyline.
But Brooklyn’s appeal goes well beyond its famous waterfront.
One evening, we had pizza and ice cream in a park in Bedford-Stuyvesant as the sun went down.
Nothing fancy. Just good food, family, and a beautiful evening.
And honestly, those are some of my favorite travel memories.
I love visiting historic sites, museums, and famous landmarks, but I also love discovering what everyday life looks like in the places I visit.
A neighborhood park, a local restaurant, people walking their dogs, children playing, and friends gathering at the end of the day.
Those moments offer a different perspective on a city.
And Then There Was the Pie
Whenever we’re in New York, a stop at Four & Twenty Blackbirds in Brooklyn is practically mandatory. My parents know the original founders and owners, and visiting for a slice of pie has become a family tradition.
Frankly, it’s a tradition I am very happy to maintain!
One of my favorite evenings was spent doing something wonderfully ordinary.
We gathered in a neighborhood park in Bedford-Stuyvesant with boxes of pizza from a local shop, found ourselves a spot on the grass, and settled in for the evening.
The kids ran around, played by the fountains, and eventually someone organized an impromptu ice cream run.
We sat together as the sun went down, eating pizza, talking, and watching the neighborhood go about its evening.
To me, this is such a New York experience.
You don’t need an elaborate itinerary to enjoy the city. Pick up something delicious from a neighborhood pizza shop or food cart, find a bench or spread out a blanket in the park, and watch the world go by.
Central Park is wonderful for this, of course, but so are the smaller neighborhood parks scattered throughout the boroughs.
It’s an easy, inexpensive way to spend an afternoon or evening, and one of the best ways to experience the city beyond its famous attractions.
Sometimes the best seat in New York is simply a patch of grass in the park.
Brooklyn After Dark
The celebrations didn’t end with dinner.
Following the pre-wedding party, we headed out for a little pub crawl around Brooklyn.
It was great fun, and a chance to experience the borough after dark.
We also discovered that the Ace Hotel Brooklyn makes excellent mocktails.
I always appreciate finding a place that puts some creativity into its nonalcoholic drinks, and the Ace certainly delivered. The bar itself has a wonderful atmosphere, making it a lovely place to stop and spend some time.
One of the things I enjoy about New York is the variety. You can spend an afternoon surrounded by Renaissance paintings, enjoy pizza in a neighborhood park at sunset, and finish the evening in a beautiful hotel bar.
All in the same city.
Finding Our Way Around
Finding Our Way Around
Getting around New York was an adventure of its own.
We learned our way around the subway, took plenty of Uber rides, and walked and walked.
My brother and his partner took a different approach. They rented e-bikes and rode all over the city, and absolutely loved it!
That’s one of the wonderful things about New York. There are so many ways to explore, and you don’t necessarily need a car.
The subway is a great way to cover longer distances, while walking gives you the chance to discover the little places you might otherwise miss. And for those who enjoy cycling, the city’s bike paths and bike-share options offer another way to see the sights.
Of course, after a long day of exploring, sometimes an Uber is exactly what you need.
Between the subways, bikes, rideshares, and miles of walking, we certainly found our way around!
Where We Stayed in Brooklyn
For this trip, we stayed at the EVEN Hotel by IHG in Brooklyn, right across the street. A nice stay.
Other members of our family stayed at the Ace Hotel Brooklyn, which was also quite nice. We enjoyed visiting them there, and it was where we discovered those excellent mocktails.
When planning a New York visit, I’d encourage you to think about where you’ll spend most of your time rather than automatically booking a hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
Brooklyn worked well for our visit because so many of our activities and family celebrations were taking place there.
And with the subway, walking, and rideshares, we had plenty of ways to explore the rest of the city.
Finding Your Own New York
One of the things I’ve always loved about New York is that there are so many different ways to experience it.
You can spend your days visiting museums, seeing Broadway shows, exploring historic landmarks, or admiring the skyline.
Or you can choose a neighborhood, find a good place for breakfast, wander through a park, and see where the day takes you.
I think the best visits include a little of both.
If you’re planning your first trip, absolutely make time for the places you’ve always wanted to see. The Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Met, the Brooklyn Bridge, and all those famous New York sights are worth experiencing.
But leave some room in your itinerary for the unexpected, too.
Stop for pie. Take the subway somewhere new. Walk a few streets that aren’t on your sightseeing list. Enjoy a quiet moment along the waterfront.
And if you’re lucky enough to be traveling with people you love, make time to simply enjoy being together.
I went to New York to celebrate a wonderful new beginning for Joel and Meredith.
I came home with memories of a beautiful wedding, a new daughter-in-law, and several days of adventures with family in a city that once felt like home.
And somewhere between the art museums, harbor views, Brooklyn streets, and slices of pie, I was reminded of something I love about travel.
Sometimes the best adventures aren’t the ones you plan.
They’re the moments you discover along the way.
Now that I’ve got family in yet another amazing city, I’ll be visiting often.
Stay tuned for more, I’m bound to find some hidden travel treasures and secrets the next time I’m there!
