NYC: Broadway Dreams, Baseball Feasts & Pizza-Fueled Chaos
- Little Luxe Family Travel
- Sep 5
- 3 min read
Sometimes, you just need to pack the car, grab the kids, and drive four hours north for a little chaos, a little culture, and a lot of carbs. That’s exactly what we did with a last-minute weekend trip to The Big Apple—and spoiler alert—it was fabulous.
New York City- How to Travel?
We could’ve flown. We could’ve taken the train. But nothing says family bonding like I-95 traffic and a never-ending loop of "Are we there yet?" We drove from the DC area and honestly, it wasn’t bad. (I mean, the snacks helped.)
Where We Stayed in New York City:
We knew we wanted to be centrally located without being swallowed by the Times Square tourist tornado, so we picked the Thompson Central Park New York. Why?
Spacious suite for the four of us (no one had to sleep in the bathtub—always a win)
Walkable to nearly everything
They had their own valet parking garage (yes, in Manhattan, this is basically a unicorn)
The room was modern and just the right size, even if the view was... let’s call it “urban chic.” But we were out all day taking in the real sights, so we didn’t mind. Bonus: we got upgraded and scored access to the club lounge = complimentary breakfast, pre-dinner bites, and endless beverages. Cheers to that.
Food & Broadway in New York City: Chicken Parm Pizza & a Whole New World
We checked in, changed out of our “road trip chic” outfits, and headed to Quality Italian for dinner. If you’ve never had chicken parmesan in the form of a pizza, you haven’t lived. The truffle pasta was decadent, the bread service impressive, and even the kids’ pasta was top-tier. Also, I got a margarita with an Italian flag ice cube because... priorities.
From there, we dashed (literally—NYC rain decided to join the party) to Aladdin on Broadway. It was magical, hilarious, and surprisingly emotional. The Genie stole the show, and the kids were mesmerized. First Broadway show: 10/10. We’re raising theater nerds, and we’re not mad about it.
Post-show, we embraced the madness of Times Square (neon lights! people dressed as terrifying Elmo!) before a dessert stop at Serendipity 3. We shared a banana split the size of a small car and waddled back to the hotel for some much-needed sleep.
Saturday in New York City: No Plan = Best Plan
We slept like royalty and woke up refreshed (thank you, magical hotel bed). With no concrete plans until the Mets game, we explored:
Breakfast in the hotel lounge
MLB Flagship Store to load up on Mets merch
A stroll down 5th Ave
A peek at a wedding at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (uninvited, but totally inspired)
Lunch was almost Joe’s Pizza, but the line said “nope.” Plan B was Made in New York Pizza, and honestly... it might have ruined us for all other pizza. Crispy, cheesy, and straight-up dreamy.
Saturday Night: Let’s Go Mets (and Eat Everything in Sight)
We headed to Citi Field early and scored seats in Row 2 behind the Mets dugout—hello, bucket list! My son fist-bumped his favorite players. My daughter made besties with the Mets dancers. My son also noticed the dancers. It was a big night for everyone.
Thanks to our Metro tickets, we had unlimited access to food and drinks across the stadium. Our concessions adventure included:
Lobster rolls
Hot dogs
Cotton candy
Popcorn
Peanuts
Soft drinks
Possibly a second lobster roll
Plus, access to four stadium clubs, including the famous Clover Club, and—praise be—clean bathrooms. The Mets won, the kids were over the moon, and we left buzzing from sugar, victory, and one too many stadium sodas.
Sunday in New York City: Bagels, Pizza & Peace Out
We snagged a late check-out (never underestimate the power of sleeping in) and enjoyed one last breakfast before heading out. But first—bagels and pizza for the road.
Pro Tip: Order ahead at Liberty Bagels to avoid the massive line. Then hit Angelo’s Pizza to grab a slice (or four) to-go. Because what’s a road trip without a car that smells like mozzarella?
Final Thoughts
In just 48 hours, we squeezed in a Broadway show, a Mets game, five-star meals, iconic New York eats, and a whole lot of memories. NYC, you wild, beautiful beast—you’ve still got it. We’ll be back (and probably still hungry).
Want more last-minute family travel magic? Stick with us—at Little Luxe Family Travel, we do chaos, comfort, and carbs like pros.
