New York
We took our first trip back to New York as a family after relocating to California. The biggest difference was visiting with a baby in tow.
We stayed at The Freehand Hotel in the flatiron district which is central and great for getting around the city. The Freehand is in the former George Washington Hotel, which adds to its charm. The rooms are cozy, with just enough space to get around.
The Studio Café on the second floor serves great food, which is a bonus if you’ll be ordering room service (traveling with small children normally lends to at least one night in). They make a great breakfast and the coffee was excellent which is near the top of my list of priorities. Guest have special access to the rooftop bar- side note for those traveling with kids they do not allow children after 6pm; we learned this the hard way.
We spent the second part of the trip at our friend’s airbnb in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. BK has so much to offer for families it is slower paced and easy to get around. You can spend the better part of the day weaving in and out of neighborhoods filled with food, shops, and beautiful parks.
Some ideas to fill your time: Catch a concert or watch the Brooklyn Nets play at the Barclay Center. Head out to Red hook and enjoy the view of the Statue of Liberty followed by some BBQ at Hometown. The Brooklyn Museum is steps away from Prospect Park as well as the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Flea markets and farmers markets happen every weekend!
Some of our favorite spots in NYC and BK
Balthazar has a lovely breakfast, and the take away café has delicious little donuts (go early because they sell out).
Olives my favorite sandwich spot for grabbing something togo and sitting outside to people watch. Plus everything is made in house. Don’t pass on the baked goods.
The coffee at La Colombe will give you a jump start.
Awesome plant based food, creative and full of flavor.
Grass fed butter coffee here and creamy Greek yogurt dishes both in savory or sweet
Wood burning oven pizza and the best burger around.
They have a great brunch, also fun for dinner with low lighting and an excellent wine list (make sure to make reservations).
New market just off of the bustle of Canal St. Different food vendors and small vendors
A popular market great for grabbing a few staples or a quick lunch at the counter.
Amazing bread makes amazing sandwiches.
https://highstreetonhudson.com
Big open market lots of food choices.
https://www.gansevoortmarketnyc.com
Awesome take away café. Grab your lunch to go and find a park bench to people watch.
http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/bonsignour/menus/main.html
Awesome BBQ- the line gets long so go early or be prepared to wait. There is a full service bar and you can grab a drink while waiting in line.
Great little market with organic and specialty foods. Grab some food and walk over to Forte Green Park for a picnic.
Prepared foods, incredible cheese, and more.
There are just too many amazing spots to mention. Please send me a message if you’d like more recommendations or have questions.
Traveling Tips
The secret to making packing and flying easier is practice. Traveling with an infant doesn’t have to be complicated you just have to be flexible. A baby carrier, a car seat with a storage bag, and a carry on that doubles as a diaper bag is all you need (I love baggu bags they are easy to clean and most fold into themselves for storage). Depending on your child’s age you can skip the stroller. Wearing your baby through the city is convenient, keeps baby close, and helps you maneuver with the most ease on busy streets and in small restaurants.
When you choose your flight if you have any control over arrival time try planning not to lose sleep on either leg of the trip. Arrive before traffic and bring something to eat between the airport and getting to your destination. Nobody wants to start a trip off hangry! It’s also a good idea to have your first meal/ reservations planned out.
