Archive for the Category »New York «

Mar
22nd		   The Perfect Family Travel Destination on a Spring Day
Leave a Comment Category: New York, Travel Tags: , ,

Who doesn’t love spring? Bring it on.  It is cheerful…and a great time to travel – with one caveat: stay away from spring break crowds. During this shoulder season before summer you can generally find better airfare and hotel rates, and the weather is on the up and up.

Central Park

Take New York, for example – In the mid 70s this week… and Central Park is calling my name.


Of course, one of the best things to do is go to your favorite gourmet deli, pack a nice picnic lunch and bottle of wine, and watch life unfold from a peaceful plot of grass, in the most vibrant city in the world.

I did that recently, and I have to recommend the restaurant where I picked up my lunch: Mangia on West 57th and Ave of the Americas -  right near the entrance to the park.

Mangia specializes in hearty Mediterranean – think panini on artisan bread, and fresh salads. Mangia has other locations in the city – the one on 39th St strives for all organic dishes. The cafe claims to be able to deliver anywhere in the metro area. It’s not cheap – but what in New York is? www.mangiatogo.com

Once at the park, there is always something entertaining going on… we ate near a puppeteer who had a large group of  kids, including mine,  enthralled for a good half hour.

Another attraction that the kids (and adults!) will love is the Central Park Zoo. I might have to say it could be my very favorite zoo. Set in the park, the animals appear to be living on an Ivy League campus with vine covered brick buildings. Not only is it charming, it is intimate, and doesn’t have an amusement park sort of environment.

Sometimes it can feel a bit crowded, especially at the sea lion show which runs about three times a day. TIP : Note the time of the sea lion shows while you are there, get your spot early, before the show starts… and if you can bring an umbrella to shade yourself and your kids, that would be helpful. On a sunny day, you are fully exposed for the duration of the show.It is a cute program, with the sea lions constantly performing – impressing both children and adults.

Don’t miss the polar bear that swims right up to the glass wall that separates you… the penguins…

and the bird aviary  -

Who knew there were so many different kinds of birds? It is so interesting.

There is also the ever too-darn-cute children’s zoo within the zoo itself. This part is more petting zoo-interactive… with opportunities to buy food to feed the goats, and sheep.

Starting March 31, the zoo will be open 10-5:30 daily. Admission is $12 for adults, and $7 for those 12 and under. www.centralparkzoo.com

Enjoy the new season….

 
Nov
29th		   How to Navigate an Iconic Travel and Holiday Shopping Destination
Leave a Comment Category: New York, Shopping, Travel Tags: , ,

Black Friday… Cyber Monday.. all these terms to get you to shop! And with the news that Americans spent record retail dollars this past weekend, it looks like we’ll be seeing more encouragement to buy those holiday gifts.

Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be crazy. With access to the internet, you can do research in advance. And if you plan ahead (ha!), you  don’t have to rush through every store – start early.

The crowds can be annoying, but in some places, that is part of the charm – for instance, people watching on adorned and decked out Fifth Ave in New York – one of the most classic shopping and tourist destinations in the U.S., is especially vibrant this time of year.

The great thing about Fifth Ave is that there is something for every pocketbook, even though you may doubt it spotting a $700 pair of shoes at Bergdorf Goodman. That comes with the territory – New York is fashion forward, and designer driven. The best strip of Fifth for shopping is in the 30s up to 60th St.

If you have the kids, or are a kid at heart – there’s no place like FAO Schwarz…whether you buy anything or not, it is a fun place to visit. I am failing as a travel guide if I always tell you things you probably know, like that FAO Schwarz is a great place to visit, but I want  to show you inside.

What you may not know is that almost everywhere you turn in this mega toy store are demonstrations of toys that you and your kids (or not) can try. You can get hands on with remote control gadgets…

or toys to take out to Central Park.

How about this remote control floating in the air Nemo? The aisles are filled with kids just having fun with the products. Go right when it opens to avoid mobs.

FAO has toys you might not see anywhere else… and there’s a lot of them in  50,000 square feet…

The LEGO area is always cool…. and the kids love the candy area on steroids.

Right nearby is the Apple Store (under construction when I was there.) It is always an exciting and busy place, this is a store that belongs in a city that never sleeps – it is open 24 hours for your “shopping convenience.”

For the fashion focused – Bergdorf Goodman is the place. The window displays alone are reason to visit. But even though it is fun to browse, it is more for the ladies who lunch. A lot of designer labels at expensive prices. In my opinion, you don’t have to spend so much to still look chic. But this IS New York, and the place was packed with fashionistas when I was there.

Saks Fifth Ave is along the same lines as Bergdorf…

Henri Bendel was my personal favorite, and is also on Fifth Ave. BUT  – was I the last one to know Bendel doesn’t do clothes anymore?  Plenty of good stuff at that, but I miss the clothes. You will find beautiful jewelry, accessories, make up, and handbags… upscale, but you can still find items that are not outlandish. Be careful walking through the cosmetics department – you will be hounded to sample everything from overzealous salespeople.

For a more affordable holiday shopping destination, go to Zara and H and M. I love Zara – runway fashions at bargain prices. This is a European brand, so there are some interesting finds…and it’s better quality than most cheaper brands. Avoid Abercrombie and Fitch!!! It always smells like they pump aftershave through the doors…and is usually packed with Europeans and is way too crowded.

Pop in for a drink at the nearby Plaza Hotel at Fifth Ave and Central Park… or for a more casual lunch try my favorite quick cafe – Mangia on W 57th. And to really get you in the spirit, the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center is right off Fifth Ave… a holiday tradition for years. http://www.rockefellercenter.com/tour-and-explore/the-ice-skating-rink/

Wow. Just thinking about spending the day here transported me. Seriously, I know Christmas spirit can’t be found shopping, but all the festivities really put you in the mood. I hope your holiday season is happy and bright.

 
Nov
17th		   WIth Thanksgiving a Week Away, The Best Place to Feast Is On The Brain
Leave a Comment Category: New York, Travel, restaurants Tags: ,

I broke my golden travel rule the last time I visited New York: Never, ever, eat at the same restaurant twice in the same visit.

And yet, I enjoyed “Eataly” so much, I almost went there a third time in 5 days. It had that much pull on me, and by the looks of it, everyone who goes there.

“Eataly” is a 40,000 square foot marketplace on steroids; the energy is magnetic. It is hard to describe because I’ve never seen anything like it – the San Francisco Ferry Building comes close, but then again, not – it is a mix of farmers market, gourmet products, and restaurants: all high quality, all from only Italian producers. It is located on 5th Ave, and 23rd St.

Whether it be cookies… or coffee.. there is a sign above each product indicating from which region of Italy it comes. So, of course, there are exciting products you won’t find anywhere else nearby…and are authentically Italian.

Excellent place to pack up a picnic lunch for Central Park!

But in between the dozens of aisles of products…Italian meats…

fabulous cheeses…

and hundreds of bottles of imported wine…

are various places to stop and eat – retaurant style. The magical thing about it, is everything is out in the open under one big roof, so it feels very communal.

The first time I went after a business meeting… and seriously lost track of time. The second time I took the kids for gelato. It was fresh,and not too sweet. Needless to say, they loved it.

One of my favorite cookbook authors, Mario Batali, is a partner in this venture – the first ‘Eataly” started in 2007 in Torino, Italy, and there are now more than a dozen – mostly in Italy and Japan.

Now… if they could only bring one to Los Angeles…per favore!

www.eatalyny.com

 
Oct
28th		   Happy 125th Birthday…
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..to Lady Liberty!

Today is the anniversary of the Statue of Liberty dedication  on Oct 28, 1886. There will be all sorts of celebrations today… but take note – starting tomorrow the interior areas of the statue will be closed while upgrades are made. When completed, the statue will have new stairways and elevators. Make sure to check the website before you go to check on progress if you really want to go inside.  http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm.

On a recent trip to New York, we saw the Statue of Liberty…

but from the Staten Island Ferry. If you have young kids, a full day on Liberty Island and inside the statue can be a little long since you are at the mercy of a ferry schedule. The Staten Island Ferry is free, you pick it up from Battery Park. It is a quick trip with a good view, and although you won’t get the educational audio tour, you can find all kinds of kids’ materials to teach them about the landmark.

During this renovation, views of Lady Liberty from land and sea will not be obstructed, so you still will be able to see her from the Staten Island ferry.

Have a great weekend!

 
Sep
21st		   Where to Take Your Kids Before They Move Out.
Leave a Comment Category: African Safari, Amusement Parks, Beaches, Educational Travel, Family Travel, Hawaii, History, Italy, New York, Travel, Walt DIsney World Tags: ,

School is back in session.. life is getting back to routine. My oldest started middle school… so last spring’s 5th grade graduation was a milestone for me: He was leaving the nurturing nest of our sweet elementary school.

Actually, it was compounded by the fact that my youngest graduated kindergarten just the day before… the stark contrast between the 5 year olds and 10 year olds made me realize they grow so fast. So me, being sentimental, started to think that – OMG – the empty nest doesn’t seem too far away. A bit dramatic? Maybe.

Have you thought about what you want your life to be when you are an empty-nester? (That is another blog post!) Or…have you thought about what you want to do with your kids while you still have them at home? Where would you like to take family vacations before they are too busy… or have moved away? You only have so many chances to create indelible travel moments together.

I have thought about this. Everyone is different, but there are some general themes that would make for memorable family get aways.

1) I will start with the most obvious, and probably easiest: Hit the beach. Rent a beach house, plant your toes in the sand, BBQ at sunset, play on the beach, and bring board games. With just simple pleasures, there are many opportunities for bonding time. Hawaii will also work here – there is nothing like getting to an island – can’t recreate that vibe as much as I have tried. Hawaii is the easiest for many reasons: With kids you want things simple, and it is an English speaking, American state…. everything is pretty convenient. Cue the sea breeze please.

2) Brave a World-Class Big City or Two. World class museums, taxis zipping by, wonderful parks. I would put New York City, Paris, London, and Rome on that list. San Francisco too – but it is more laid back.

You can also find many free things to do in large cities – take advantage of free days at museums, the many free activities in parks from puppet shows to concerts to playgrounds. When I took my kids to Paris, it was unbelievable how long we could sit in a park and watch our kids play on all the play areas so different than anything we have in America, as well as multi-generational pick-up games of soccer that they joined.

3) Sneak in a History Lesson: Everyone would love their children to have a sense of the world, and historic moments. Seeing is believing over just learning in textbooks. Some locations steeped in history make awesome family vacations. Did I mention Rome? I am again. The birthplace of Western civilization, there are many a history lesson to be found here. There are tours about Julius Caesar… and standing relics of ancient Rome like the Forum and Coliseum. Vatican city is important whether you are a practicing Catholic or not  - what a statement it makes about organized religion, and it’s importance to many people. No to mention, the art history lesson there…the Sistine Chapel and the architecture of Basilica di San Pietro.

Also on my list: Greece, Washington DC – tour the capitol and White House, visit the monuments, and if you have time go to Gettysburg, Boston, or London.

4) Lions and Tigers and Bears and Nature. Expose your kids to the good old outdoors, and all the creatures that call  it home. Kids love animals – even teens find them interesting. In Alaska, I met some teens who said Alaska was their best family vacation – believe me, if you’ve been to Alaska, you know how original it is compared to the rest of America. Bear viewing, kayaking with bald eagles, hiking glaciers are all possible in the Last Frontier.

Easier to get to for most, are our national parks. Yellowstone may be one of the best I’ve visited for animal viewing, along with being an incredible geological lab for all! Your kids will love the spouting geysers, bubbling mudpots, and hissing steam vents… Yellowstone has the greatest concentration of thermal features in the country—nearly 10,000 of them.

There is also the Galapagos Islands – home of the blue-footed booby, the Great Barrier Reef for some amazing viewing of marine life, and Africa for an organized safari, which is better for older kids.

5) Lastly – it is a rite of passage for a child to visit a theme park. You only capture that thrill for a short time, so indulge them, no matter how crowded and how bad the food.:)

Some of these trips can be done on a budget. Forgive me if I have missed some other potential trips.

But now, you have time, and hopefully inspiration to plan for next summer… these are trips that will last a lifetime.

 
Sep
11th		   I’m in a New York State of Mind
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Beautiful New York….

Central Park and Upper West and East Side, NY

Resilient New York…

Energizing New York…

5th Ave, NY City

Always loving you, New York.

 
Sep
09th		   Hotel of the Week: Where the US Open Stars Stay
Leave a Comment Category: Cool Hotels, Luxury Travel, New York, Travel, hotels, sports travel Tags: , , ,

My son was thrilled to bump into defending US Open champ Rafa Nadal in the elevator of the St. Regis Hotel in New York. He was staying there at the same time we were on a recent trip. We got a brush with athletic greatness on his way to the 2011 Open…

We also had a brush with hospitality greatness at the St. Regis. I understand why Nadal stays there. Location? Perfect. Can walk to Central Park, shopping on 5th, Time Square, and Magnolia Bakery :) Rooms? Not my style – very traditional and old NY, but lovely and spacious! Bed? I want it! Had the best night sleep when I finally went to sleep.. Service? Spectacular.

The St Regis butler service is legendary – 24/7 a butler can assist you with anything. Toothbrush? No problem. Shoe shine? At your service. French Press coffee to my room every morning, along with the NY Times and Wall St Journal? Done.  The expense is – a nice tip for them at the end of your stay.

Warning: The only down sides to the hotel are that since it is on UH-MAZ-ING 55th and 5th Ave,   it can also be loud – two nights the jackhammering on those busy streets lasted until 12:30AM. I don’t think that’s what Frank meant when he referred to the Apple as “… a city that doesn’t sleep.”

The other down side: we didn’t find any truly good NY bagel places nearby. ( H & H was about 10 blocks away)

But let’s not be too picky! I’m just sayin…If it’s good enough for Nadal it’s good enough for me.

You wont find the style of the hotel many other places- it is rich and detailed, with marble floors even in the elevators. As I said before, elegant but of a certain era. A brand new suite  the Tiffany suite, conjures up memories of my favorite Audrey Hepburn classic…

and brings a newer vibe to the hotel…

…but at a price. Truman Capote’s Holly Golightly may have talked her way into staying in that suite….but we regular girls can only look. It is reportedly $8500 a night. 1700 square feet, and beautiful Tiffany & Co blue….and hmmmm it was occupied the entire week we were there – possibly a stay only a pro tennis player could afford?

Whether it be the US Open.. or the 9/11 10 year anniversary tributes this weekend… NY is ready for it’s spotlight with special luxury hotels like this. Have a great weekend – pray for the victims and families of 9/11.

www.stregisnewyork.com

 
Sep
07th		   A Moving Tribute You’ll Want to See
Leave a Comment Category: Educational Travel, History, New York, Travel Tags: , , ,

While I am sure this week you will be reading many heart-wrenching articles honoring the lives of those souls we lost… and see unveiling of memorials 10 years after the tragedy of 9/11, I want to include one small bit of interesting travel information to the whole reflective landscape.

No doubt many who visit New York City after this Sunday will pay homage to the new memorial at the site of the Twin Towers. But one other riveting item that would be moving to see is at Battery Park. If you happen to do some sightseeing and take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island… or take the Staten Island Ferry, you will be in the vicinity of the Sphere sculpture, by artist Fritz Koenig.

The Sphere, Battery Park, NY

I saw it recently, and had never heard about it. It is a sculpture that was in the plaza of the Twin Towers for three decades, and somewhat “survived” the brutal wreckage of 9/11. It symbolizes hope… and the indestructible spirit of Americans.

It is chilling, however, to see the dents, bent metal, and charred parts of the sculpture – a tangible reminder of that terrible day. It touches you to see something left from the horror, something that was there, that actually got away relatively intact…but not without deep scars. Truly art imitating life.

It has been moved to Battery park for people to see, and honor those who died in the event…Definitely moving us… And hopefully helping to heal some of our scars.

 
Mar
08th		   Do You Believe In Destiny? One Place Where Thousands Have Written Their Own Story…
Leave a Comment Category: Educational Travel, Family Travel, History, New York, Travel Tags: , , , , ,

From The Adjustment Bureau

If you don’t think like a scientist, but instead let your heart lead, go see “The Adjustment Bureau.” Great premise that lingers long after you leave the theater.

If you haven’t been privy to any of the massive marketing for this movie, it stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, a couple, who like magnets, keep appearing in each others lives, and risk everything to “rewrite” the plan that life has pre-set for them.

If you are fatalistic, you  believe that there’s nothing you can do to change your path. However, the message of this film, without getting to “woo-woo” is that sometimes the energy to follow a different path is so great, that you should listen.

The Statue of Liberty appears in the movie at a pivotal time  – at the climax when we don’t know if the couple will prevail. Metaphor? I couldn’t miss the symbolism – it is the first thing thousands of people saw as they arrived on Ellis Island….rewriting the story they were born into by risking it all and coming to America. The American Museum of Immigration is also on Liberty Island.

Since it is Lady Liberty’s 125th birthday this year, it might be time to take the family to New York for an educational but still fun experience.

Begin with the boat ride over from Manhattan’s Battery Park – kids love looking back at the city, and being on the water. Then, once on Liberty Island, you can view the statue’s magnificent construction, learn about its history in the museum and discover the spectacular views from the top of the pedestal (Visitors must be able to climb 24 steps after exiting the elevator to reach the pedestal observatory). You can also buy special “Crown Tickets” to go all the way up to the crown – highly recommended if you aren’t afraid of heights.

Even without Pedestal/Museum or Crown Tickets, visitors can follow ranger-led walking tours of the island. An audio tour, available in nine languages, provides interesting commentary about Lady Liberty, her history, and significance as a worldwide symbol of freedom. A 30-minute tour of Liberty Island explores outside the Statue, and a special children’s tour is offered in five languages. Audio tours can be purchased from Statue Cruises along with ferry tickets or on site at the Discovery Audio booth.

Entry to the monument pedestal is by Pedestal/Museum Ticket only, which is available in advance with the purchase of a Reserve Ticket online at www.statuecruises.com or by calling 1-877-LADY TIX or 1-877-523-9849.

Nearby Ellis Island, also part of the Statue of Liberty National Park, is also worth a visit – but younger children may have a hard time appreciating the significance and the museum. There is a 45 minute audio tour where the immigrant experience comes to life,  and thank goodness one especially for children. You can see interesting artifacts, and even research your family’s immigration history.

Like the main characters of  “The Adjustment Bureau,” those immigrants who passed through Ellis Island hundreds of years ago must have believed they had the power to influence the story of their lives.

I don’t think there are any coincidences in life. Some things are put in front of you for a reason.  But our actions do matter. It is what you do with the situations or gifts life presents that determine your destiny.  You can re-set your purpose. Your life is in your hands… Live it fully.