🏙️ New York City

New York City: The One That Never Gets Old

June 17–22, 2026 • 5 Nights, 6 Days

I’ve been to New York City more times than I can count. Girls trips, couples trips, solo conferences, work events — I’ve done it all. But nothing — and I mean nothing — could have prepared me for what it felt like to experience this city through our girls’ eyes for the very first time.

The energy. The wonder. The moment our youngest stood in the middle of Times Square with her jaw on the floor. 😂

New York City is a trip I’ve taken many times, but this one? This one hit different. Five nights, six action-packed days, a lot of bagels (truly a lot of bagels), a Broadway show, scuba-worthy conversations on the subway, and memories I’ll be talking about for years.

We stayed at the Marriott Marquis in the heart of Times Square — and if you’re taking kids to NYC for the first time, I cannot recommend this enough. Being right in the thick of it means every time you step outside, the city is already happening. There’s something so electric about that. Here’s everything we did, ate, and loved across six unforgettable days. Let’s go. 🏙️

🏙️ Day 1: Welcome to the City That Never Sleeps

We landed, dropped our bags, and immediately hit the streets because that’s just what you do in New York. There’s no easing in — the city doesn’t allow it.

Our first stroll took us straight down Broadway, and the girls were completely overwhelmed in the best possible way. Skyscrapers in every direction. Street energy unlike anywhere else. The M&M Store was our first stop (because obviously), and then we stumbled into the most spectacular three-story Disney Store — cue absolute chaos and the girls wanting to see everything in one night. We lovingly told them to pace themselves. They did not.

For dinner, we headed to Sozai for Japanese food, and it was delicious — highly recommend it if you’re near Times Square and want something a little different from the usual tourist trap options.

After dinner, we wandered the streets in true New York fashion: looking for Broadway celebrities (no luck, but we tried), stopping to watch street painting artists do their thing, and making a mandatory late-night pit stop at NY Bakery & Desserts Times Square. Because dessert is always a good idea, especially when the city’s still humming at midnight.

✨ That first night energy in NYC is unmatched. Bottle it up.

☕ Day 2: Bagels, the Subway & a Visit to Ground Zero

One of the biggest travel lessons we’ve learned traveling with kiddos? Leave room for a slow morning. The girls slept in, we didn’t rush, and we were all better for it.

On the hunt for coffee — as always — we discovered Mokafe Coffee, and honestly? A hidden gem. The coffee was genuinely good (the bar is always high for me — you know me), and our teen treated herself to a Dubai chocolate strawberry cup that she’s still talking about. ☕️

We strolled the streets and made a stop into The New York Times building — a fun, iconic detour even just to step inside one of the most recognizable institutions in journalism history.

Next stop: bagels. Our first official NYC bagel experience was at Bagel Market, and let me tell you — there are NO bagels like New York bagels. Nowhere. Not even close. (Okay, maybe Montreal gives them a run for their money, but we’ll call it a very close second.)

🚇 Putting Our 15-Year-Old in Charge of the Subway

For this trip, we handed subway navigation duties to our 15-year-old. Full responsibility. No safety net. And she absolutely delivered — getting us downtown on her first ever attempt like a true New Yorker. We were proud. She was smug. Both were warranted.

🏛️ The 9/11 Memorial & Museum

I had budgeted about 2 hours for this. We ended up staying 4. And I wouldn’t change a single second of it.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is one of those places that demands your full presence. Spread across 110,000 square feet beneath the Memorial Plaza, the museum holds thousands of artifacts, photographs, videos, oral histories, and personal accounts that take you through one of the most pivotal days in modern history — step by step, story by story. It’s both heart-wrenching and profoundly human.

Our whole family was in complete awe. The exhibits are incredibly detailed — from the footage and remnants of the towers to the individual stories of the 2,977 people who lost their lives that day, plus the six victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. You leave with a weight that stays with you, but also an unexpected sense of hope and resilience.

Pro Tip: If you’re visiting with kids, the museum offers age-appropriate audio guides for children 8–11. Have a conversation with them beforehand about what they’ll see — it helps enormously. And give yourself more than 2 hours. Trust me on this one.

After the museum, we spent quiet time at the outdoor National September 11 Memorial — two vast reflecting pools built into the exact footprints of the original Twin Towers. Each one bears the engraved names of every person lost that day. The largest man-made waterfalls in North America cascade into them, creating a sound that somehow manages to be both powerful and peaceful at the same time. It’s a space that asks nothing of you except to be still for a moment — and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

We crossed the street to stroll through the World Trade Center and grabbed froyo at Downtown Yogurt, which was the perfect light reset after such an emotionally full afternoon.

Screenshot

🌮 Dinner: Taco Mahal

Indian tacos. Yes, you read that right. INDIAN TACOS. Taco Mahal completely blew our minds and I genuinely cannot stop thinking about the food. If you haven’t experienced this concept, please add it to the list immediately.

And of course, NYC doesn’t let you stop at dinner — we followed it up with dessert at Schmachary’s and then Gelatoville. Because one dessert stop in this city is simply not enough.

Oh — and the city had one of the largest Knicks parades in recent memory that day after their NBA championship win. The energy on the streets was absolutely electric. Thousands of people, team colors everywhere, pure New York joy. 🏀

🥯 Day 3: Uptown Bagels, Central Park & Broadway

Today we ventured uptown, and it started with what I can only describe as a religious experience.

🔥 PopUp Bagels + Blank Street Coffee

HOT bagels. With a TUB of cream cheese. I don’t think I need to say anything else, but I will: PopUp Bagels is next level. If you thought Bagel Market was good (and it was), this takes things to an entirely different dimension. The girls were completely sold.

For coffee, we tried Blank Street Coffee for the very first time and were genuinely addicted at first sip. It is now a permanent part of our NYC rotation. ☕️❤️

🌳 Central Park with Old Friends

We met up with some dear college friends this morning — one of those reunions that picks up exactly where you left off — and spent a beautiful morning strolling through Central Park together.

Highlights of our park adventure:

Screenshot

🚴 Rickshaw Ride Through the Park

After we said goodbye to our friends, we decided to treat ourselves to a rickshaw ride through Central Park. I’ve done e-scooters before, but this was a first — and I would HIGHLY recommend it. Our guide was fantastic, took us through all the iconic spots, and even walked us through the many famous movies that were filmed right there in the park: Elf, Home Alone 2, When Harry Met Sally, Ghostbusters, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Spiderman, Maid in Manhattan and so many more. It’s one thing to know Central Park is famous — it’s another to ride through it and have someone point out exactly where your favorite scenes were shot. 🎬

Pro Tip: We paid $145 for 40 minutes and it was worth every penny — but make sure whatever company you book with takes you to the actual iconic spots. Ask before you commit.

Fun bonus: it was Juneteenth, and Times Square had a huge live concert going on. The city just layers experience on top of experience — you can’t plan for it, you just get to enjoy it.

🍪 Levain Cookies

I mean… did we even go to NYC if we didn’t go to Levain Bakery? These cookies have been famous since 1995 and there is a very good reason why. Founded by two friends — Pam and Connie — who started baking them while training for an Iron Man Triathlon (because they were hungry and regular cookies weren’t cutting it), Levain’s cookies are 6 ounces each. Six. Ounces. They’re golden and crunchy on the outside, and warm, gooey, and molten on the inside. The chocolate chip walnut is the classic for a reason. After a New York Times article once called them “the largest, most divine chocolate chip cookies in Manhattan,” the rest was history.

✨ Go warm. That’s all I’m saying.

🦵 Self-Care Intermission: Renew York Spa

Three days of walking the streets of New York catches up with you. We made the very wise decision to stop at Renew York Spa for foot and leg massages before heading into the evening. Clean, professional, incredibly friendly — 10/10 recommend as a mid-trip reset. A little self-care goes a long way when you’re averaging 20,000 steps a day.

Post-spa, we stopped at Carve Cafe & Pizza for a snack. The garlic bread was amazing. Legendary, even. Just… don’t make any plans after eating it. You’ll understand. 😂

🎭 Wicked on Broadway

The girls picked the show and they picked Wicked — which I had seen before, but it had been completely reimagined. It truly felt like watching it for the first time. Broadway never disappoints, and seeing our girls experience a live show at that level for the first time? A whole moment.

Dinner after the show was at Toloache — delicious Mexican food that was the perfect way to wrap an extraordinarily full day.

🛍️ Day 4: Macy’s, the Harbor & the Empire State Building at Golden Hour

💳 787 Coffee Co. & Shopping Day

Coffee first, always. Today’s spot was 787 Coffee Co., and I need you to picture this: coffee and matcha served in a plastic bag with a straw. Think adult Capri Suns — but make it artisan. The girls loved it. I loved it. 10/10 vibe.

Today was designated shopping day, and we made it count. Our first big stop: Macy’s Herald Square — the largest department store in America. With over 2.2 million square feet spread across 10 floors, this is not your average mall trip. The building has been a New York landmark since 1902 and was actually the first store in the world to feature a modern escalator — some of the original wooden ones are still running today. It’s a historic landmark that also happens to have everything you could ever want. We thoroughly explored it.

We broke for a late breakfast/lunch at Liberty Bagels because our daily carb quota demanded it, and every single bagel place we tried somehow managed to top the last one. Liberty Bagels continued the streak.

⛴️ Starship Landmark Harbor Cruise

After shopping, we headed to the pier for our Starship Landmark Harbor Cruise — and it did not disappoint. We got stunning views of the Statue of Liberty, the entire Manhattan skyline, and the Brooklyn Bridge, all from the water. There’s something about seeing New York from the harbor that puts the whole scale of the city into perspective. Highly recommend adding this to your NYC itinerary, especially with kids.

🌊 The Vessel at Hudson Yards

Our next stop was The Vessel at Hudson Yards — one of NYC’s newest iconic landmarks and honestly one of the most jaw-dropping structures I’ve seen. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, it’s a 16-story honeycomb-like structure with 154 interlocking flights of stairs, 2,500 steps, and 80 landings, each offering a completely different view of the city and the Hudson River. It’s part architectural wonder, part jungle gym, and 100% an Instagram moment. The copper-clad exterior catches the light beautifully, and climbing it with the girls was genuinely so fun.

Pro Tip: If you visit during sunset, the light reflecting off the copper panels is absolutely stunning. Hudson Yards also offers free Thursday entry for NYC residents — just book in advance!

🌇 Empire State Building at Sunset

We planned this one intentionally — sunset hour at the Empire State Building — and I cannot describe how spectacular it was. Standing on the iconic open-air 86th Floor Observation Deck, 1,050 feet above Midtown Manhattan, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the city’s lights began to flicker to life… it’s one of those moments where you just go quiet. On a clear day you can see six states from up there, and as the sky turned orange and pink over the city, I completely understood why this place has been featured in more films and photographs than almost anywhere else in the world.

Pro Tip: BOOK SUNSET. Do not go during the day, do not go at night for your first time — go at sunset. Buy timed tickets online in advance (they sell out), and grab the Eataly Empire State Building gelato on your way back down. You’re welcome.

🍝 Dinner at La Pecora Bianca – Nomad

Several friends had recommended La Pecora Bianca, and they were 100% right. The name means “the white sheep” in Italian, and the restaurant lives up to the charm. It’s a bright, lively, beautiful space in the Nomad neighborhood with a menu centered around house-made pastas crafted daily from whole grain wheat flour. The signature rigatoni vodka with burrata is a dream. We followed dinner with Anita’s Gelato — also highly recommended by friends, also completely justified. NYC desserts are a sport and we are athletes.

🍦 Day 5: Father’s Day at the Museum of Ice Cream

Happy Father’s Day to the best travel partner! Today was all about the hubs — the girls and I planned a special surprise: the Museum of Ice Cream, where his college roommate and long-time friend met us with his daughter. Watching two old friends reconnect while the kids ran wild in an ice cream museum… genuinely one of the most wholesome things I’ve ever witnessed. 🙏

The museum is exactly what it sounds like and somehow even more: interactive, colorful, and delightfully over-the-top. There were martinis for the adults (present), unlimited ice cream for everyone else (also present, also for me), and the kinds of activities that make kids’ faces light up in a way that makes the whole trip worth it.

The dads were fully committed — getting buried in a sprinkle pool, playing daughters vs. dads volleyball (the dads lost, naturally) — it was pure joy from start to finish.

🥯 The Ice-A-Bagel: An NYC Exclusive

Inside the Museum of Ice Cream, we discovered what might be one of the most uniquely New York things I’ve ever eaten: the Ice-A-Bagel. A bagel. With cream cheese soft serve. If you have never tried this, you are missing out — trust me. It sounds like a fever dream but it tastes like a masterpiece. Only in New York City.

🍍 Washington Square Park & the World Cup

After hours of ice cream and laughter, we found some Mediterranean food and boba tea, and then strolled through Washington Square Park to enjoy the absolutely gorgeous weather. The park had this wonderful, buzzy outdoor energy — live music, people watching, and the feeling that summer in New York is truly something special.

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 happening across the country, Times Square was electric that evening. And then we witnessed something we will never forget: hundreds of Norwegian fans in full Viking gear, sitting down together in the middle of Times Square and performing the “Viking Row” — their now-viral World Cup celebration. Picture this: fans shoulder to shoulder, chanting “RO!” (Norwegian for “row”), pulling their arms back in perfect unison as if rowing a Viking longboat, led by a fan banging a drum. It had become the signature celebration of Norway’s World Cup campaign after their 3-2 win over Senegal sent them to the knockout stage for the first time in 28 years. The whole crowd stopped to watch. It was extraordinary. 🛶

✨ Of all the things I expected to see in Times Square, a Viking rowing flash mob was not on my bingo card. New York never lets you down.

🏙️ Dinner at The View – Marriott Marquis

We ended Father’s Day with dinner at The View, the rotating restaurant at the top of our hotel — and watching Times Square and the Manhattan skyline spin slowly below us as we ate was the perfect way to close out the day. Great food. Even better views. A full-circle moment.

👋 Day 6: One Last DoorDash & Farewell to the City

Every final day of a trip has its own bittersweet energy — and our NYC finale was no exception. We kept it simple and slow: DoorDash’d our favorites from PopUp Bagels and Blank Street Coffee straight to the hotel room and had a leisurely morning savoring every last bite.

We squeezed in one last round of souvenir shopping — M&M Store, because you truly cannot come to NYC and leave without loading up at the M&M Store. It’s a law, I’m pretty sure.

We bid farewell to NYC mid-afternoon and made our way to the airport, bags full, hearts full, and already low-key planning the next visit. ❤️

✨ New York never gets old. It just gets better.

🧠 Jalpa’s Pro Tips for NYC with Kids

Pro Tip: Stay in the heart of it. Marriott Marquis Times Square put us in the middle of everything — the energy alone is worth it when you’re experiencing NYC with kids for the first time.

Pro Tip: Slow mornings are non-negotiable. Build them in intentionally. A later start means happier kids and a much better day for everyone.

Pro Tip: Hand your teen the subway map. Seriously — giving our 15-year-old the responsibility of navigating the subway was one of the best decisions we made. She thrived, and it gave her so much ownership over the trip.

Pro Tip: Give yourself double the time at the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Budget 4 hours minimum and go in with an open heart. It’s one of the most meaningful things you can do in this city.

Pro Tip: Book the Empire State Building at sunset. This is not negotiable. The views at golden hour are on another level entirely.

Pro Tip: Bagel strategy: try a different spot every day. Every single one will somehow be better than the last.

Pro Tip: Mid-trip foot massage at Renew York Spa. You’ll thank yourself by Day 4.

🍴 Our NYC Food Guide

Coffee

Bagels (a daily event)

Restaurants

Desserts & Sweets (a city-wide tour)

💭 Final Thoughts

I’ve been to New York City many times. And every single time, it gives me something new.

But seeing it through our girls’ eyes for the first time — the wide-eyed wonder, the subway pride, the way they absorbed every sound and sight and flavor of this city — that was something I’ll carry with me for a long time.

New York City is a lot. It’s loud and chaotic and overwhelming and expensive and exhausting and completely, utterly worth every single second of it. It’s a city that meets you where you are — whether you’re a first-timer or a repeat offender like me — and gives you exactly what you need.

This trip gave us connection. Laughter. Culture. A Viking flash mob. A lot of cream cheese.

I’ll take it. Every time. 🏙️❤️

www.jalpajourneys.com • @jalpajourneys