Introducing some new gemstones…
So this post is a little late, but I figured it was better late than never. We returned to New York last November and had a wonderful time. Not only did we have perhaps the best weather ever, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and it was unseasonably warm enough for us to wear light jackets. – We had the opportunity to revisit some favorite places we hadn’t been to in years and discover some new gems. It’s time to share!! If you’re new to my New York guide, it might be best to start with my original post (although it’s from 2017, so it’s a little outdated!). My post is more up-to-date, revised in 2020, but it’s a great way to browse. My picks are all about this map that has been viewed a whopping 140,000 times. How crazy is that? It’s very useful, if I do say so myself, and includes color-coded guides for hotels, brunch, dinner, coffee, shopping, nightlife, sightseeing, and more…
Travel points:
Jet lag is deadly. Especially if your child has been reprogrammed to start work at 6 a.m. every day. I was able to sleep until 5am on the last day at the latest!! To hack this, book an early breakfast and dinner and try to be in bed by around 9pm. It wasn’t all that appealing, especially in the city that never sleeps, but we actually weren’t that jet-lagged when we got home.
You no longer need a MetroCard to ride the subway. With Apple Pay, you just tap to start your trip. The subway remains the cheapest, fastest and best way to travel.
I think I’m a convert to staying in Williamsburg. I love the atmosphere of this neighborhood and the restaurants there are also great. I never felt like I was missing out by not being based in Manhattan. It’s perfect for the stage of life we’re in (although if I was visiting with my girlfriend I’d definitely go for a more central location, it just depends on what you’re looking for!).
Leave extra space in your suitcase. We had a lot of fun shopping (and ended up paying for excess baggage on the way back!).
4 day itinerary:
I always find it useful to display the itinerary here. In case you are looking for a great place to start or start your trip. Remember, we are exhausted parents. Ha! We could have crammed in a lot more, but ultimately we wanted to travel at a slightly slower pace than usual. Also, we’ve been several times before and never did anything classic touristy. You’re lucky because you’ve already done them. My previous two New York posts have more prepared itineraries.
Day 1
3pm – Arrive at JFK.
5pm – Check in to hotel and drop off your luggage. We explored the local area and did a lot of Christmas shopping at Smoochy Baby.
7:00pm – We had dinner at Cafe Mogador and could have had a slice at Joe’s afterwards. I was still hungry, so I bought some ice cream, and since I love overseas supermarkets, I also took a detour to my local Trader Joe’s.
9:00pm – Back to the hotel and back to bed.
2nd day
9am – Sunday Breakfast in Brooklyn – I always recommend this place.
10:30am – Shopping in Williamsburg – Find all my recommendations here. Please check out Credo. Return to the hotel, drop off your luggage, and buy some snacks.
2pm – Walk across the Williamsburg Bridge to Vintage Twin (great, but expensive for Levi’s 501s), then to FAO Schwarz to pick up something for the little guy.
7:00pm – Dinner at ABC Kitchen then return to hotel.
3rd day
9am – Breakfast at the hotel, then head to Peloton Studio for a live class.
12:00 PM – Return to Williamsburg, have lunch at Frankel’s, and stop at a few stores on the way back to the hotel.
3pm – Time to head back to the hotel and relax – we were tired from our early start.
7pm – Dinner at Rule of Thirds. Return to hotel.
Day 4
9am – Breakfast at Russ & Daughters and meet up with Lizzie!
10:30pm – Enter Awoke Vintage and Whole Foods, then take the subway to Sephora.
12pm – Buy a sandwich at Misson Sandwich Social. If we’re busy, we recommend ordering online and picking up. This place is crowded.
3:00 PM – Check out of hotel and return to JFK.
Photo: Mark Newton
