NYC, NY - Our Experience

Planning a trip to the Big Apple? Great! Let me help you save time and even a little money, and give you the big picture of what to expect while you're there.

My family and I took a trip to NYC July of 2018. While we did some planning prior to the trip we definitely learned a little bit about what we could have done differently to ensure a more meaningful and cost effective plan.

Walking: There is so much walking to be done. Don't think for one second you'll hail a cab everywhere you want to go. Sure you can hail cab all day, but then you won't have any money left to eat. WALK! And bring comfortable shoes to walk in. Even you, little miss fashionista, wear comfy shoes because even in comfy shoes your feet will hate you, just not as quickly!

Double Decker Bus: BUY THE TICKETS! If you plan to stay more than four days, buy a three day pass. We chose Gray Line Bus Tours. It was the best decision we made by far. We only purchased a two day pass but looking back, because we were in NYC for 5 full days, a three day pass would have been a better choice. 

Grey Line allows you to hop on and hop off at certain locations. So you if you really want to visit the American Museum of Natural History you can hop off the bus at that particular stop, and when you're finished learning all you can about everything from the Mayans to the Dinosaurs and every creature crawling the earth from dawn of day to current day, you just walk right over to the bus stop and hop on another bus to another destination. Oh and don't be fooled by the "suggested donation" price of $25 per person. You can donate a quarter and still have the full experience. Donate what you can and enjoy! 

Gray Line also has some of the most knowledgeable tour guides in the city. Our experience on both rides was amazing. While these guides are knowledgeable about the city, they're also quite entertaining keeping even the young ones attention while they learn fun and interesting facts. The only thing I took exception to was the political comments that were made. Most being of the innuendo type but

nonetheless a needless and tactless part of the tour. 

If it weren't for our Gray Line tickets our family may not have had the opportunity to see and learn all that we did about NYC. This is a must! You can purchase before you get there or when you get there. There are teams of people in red uniforms on every single corner of times square handing out information on the bus tours. So don't worry you'll always have an opportunity to hop a bus, see and learn about the city, even from the top deck in the sunshine which was my personal favorite. 

Lets talk about food! You have to eat right? So lets talk about all the food options available. Ready? The ONLY options available are the ones with a letter A on the window or door. Why you ask? Here's why. Because all restaurants are given a grade by the heath inspector and if they don't have an A you don't want to eat there. This includes food trucks! Look for a letter A before you walk in or place an order. 

Now we didn't find many places without a grade A on their window so don't worry, you won't be searching the city over trying find a good place to eat. Just be mindful. We made the mistake of not being mindful on our last day, out of sheer exhaustion and, well...lets just say what I saw made me lose my appetite midway through so we left. 

Here are a list of places we stopped in for a bite. And yes, they all had an A on their door or window. 

All Starbucks and McDonald's are the same. Our experience in those particular restaurants were no different than our experience back home. But lets start with my personal all time favorite spot. It was our very first place to stop in for a bite when we arrived in NYC and it did not disappoint. 

Ellen's Stardust Diner - NYC is full of entertainment options and this one is top of the list for me. You want dinner and a show? Well this must be added to your list of places to visit while in NYC. Its a diner serving diner type food so chicken strips to burgers to breakfast. And while you're ordering and eating there are servers and other employees of this restaurant putting on a show! They sing, they dance and in this two story diner there isn't one table safe from the comedic wilds of these fantastically talented showmen and women! One second your server is taking your order and the next second he's thrown on a pair of sunglasses and is belting Toxic by Brittney Spears...and might I add 

his rendition might just be better than hers especially when he ends his singing escapade in the splits on a bar! You can't miss this special experience. Ok, yes, There is a line wrapped around the building but don't worry, it moves fast and they don't always seat everyone in order. Our family of four skipped about twenty other people in line because the hostess had tables to be seated and well we fit the table specs. Stand in line. Wait. Its worth it! $$$

Schnippers New York - This was a perfect place to stop for lunch. Would have been great for dinner to but we opted to have lunch here. They have great food. Everything is al la carte and reasonably priced. Their Turkey sandwiches are amazing as are their burgers. It wasn't too crowded, ordering food was quick and easy, it was clean, and atmosphere was pleasant. $$$

Smith's Bar and Restaurant - Another one of our favorites! The menu is great in variety. The portions are enough for two to share, and the service was great! We stopped in for dinner around 10pm. The night air was mild so they had all the windows and doors open to the restaurant/bar area. The breeze blew in and the sounds of the city were the music by which you enjoyed your dinner. I 100% recommend this restaurant! $$$

Heartland Brewery - Another fantastic choice for dinner or lunch. This was our last stop for dinner on our journey in NYC and it was perfect. They have everything from wings to sliders to steak, all the favorites for a end of day meal. Their beer menu is amazing too; with a variety of handcrafted beer there is something for everyone. $$$

John's Pizzeria - Now you can't visit NYC without stopping for a slice of pizza pie... ok a slice or ten!  John's Pizzeria

While these were our favorite places to eat full meals we also ventured to the food trucks for pizza and hot dogs and little Chinese cuisine.

The boat ride tour of the harbor to see Lady Liberty was amazing as well. We didn't get off the boat to walk around Liberty Island but we didn't feel like we missed anything either. The boat ride was wonderful, we didn't have to fight the crowds, and yet we still felt the majesty of the Statue of Liberty! 

We saw Wicked on Broadway! I think I cried the whole show because it was so wonderful!  Both my 19 year old and 15 year old were in awe and loved it, as did my husband surprisingly! There wasn't a moment in the show that didn't captivate and amaze! If you don't see Wicked, see something! A broadway show is a must! 

Central Park was just as beautiful as its shown to be on T.V. There are people everywhere and trails leading in every direction. There are some monk like men walking around saying "peace be with you" and placing bracelets on your wrists. When you accept the bracelet the monk will open a notebook and ask for money. When you don't offer money or decline to pay the suggested donation, he will quickly take that bracelet off your wrist and move on to the next unsuspecting tourist. It's up to if you want to donate and keep the peace inspired bracelet. 

Our trip overall was busy and slightly rushed every day but it was fun and memorable and something we can now, as a family, say we have experienced. 

I hope this blog helps those of you as you plan your NYC excursion. 

Have fun and be safe! 

What if they never know

what kind of example have i been to my children?

I ask myself this question more often than anyone knows. i wonder if I've shown them too much or too little.

I'm good at holding in my emotion in times of severe grief, and in times of anger or frustration I'm good at exploding verbally usually with so much regret after.

They've watched me lose my temper. They've watched me hold my tongue and turn a blind eye.

I know there are so many times I wished I could have a do over.

What if my actions have made them question their value to me? What if they don't know just how beautiful their existence is in my world? What if I was supposed to meet them where their were in a time of need and I was only half way what they needed?

What if they decided that their life isn't valuable? What if I have failed them so many times they don't know who they are to me?

Do they have questions I haven't answered? Do they have needs I haven't met? Do they know who they are to me? Do they know how much I value them?

Do they know they're loved beyond any measurable amount?

If I could give my children something it would be something that would sustain them in this life. An ability to know and understand the unfathomable love I feel for them.

Having my children question their worth in their mother's eyes is a nightmare I don't want to suffer.

I don't have any reason to believe that they don't know, as much as any child would normally know, the love I have for them.

The fear of missing the mark with my children overwhelms me.

Will there come a day when they ask me why I didn't show them my love for them in more ways?

Will there come a day when I have to answer for my inadequacies as a mother?

What if I messed everything up so badly that it can't be fixed and its too late?

What if the consequences of my mistakes are only moments away from revealing themselves in ways that I will have to suffer the turmoil of regret for the rest of my life.

How can I know that I've given them everything they need to feel valued, wanted, needed and loved?

What if I never know?

What if they never know? 

Where was the hope he needed.

Contemporary Christian music is probably my favorite music.

It gives me a sense of hope and encouragement. I find answers that sometimes I hear for the first time and sometimes I'm reminded that I already know the answer.

Four years ago I lost my brother. My very first best friend. My very first sibling. Life became a little too much to bear for him.  He was strong and yet so vulnerable and weak emotionally.

I never thought in a million years he would take his life as a way to escape the burdens of his life.

Suicide and God

When I listen to my songs of hope and encouragement I often wonder why my brother hadn't heard these songs. If he'd only heard the words "good things are coming" or "hold on for the victory" or "you're an over-comer" maybe he would have been able to keep going and not give up.

He should have been reminded to lay his burdens at the Lord's feet.

He should have been reminded to trust in God.

He should have been encouraged by every song that encourages me.

He deserved to have a chance to overcome his circumstances.

He deserved to hear that his life was worth more than diamonds.

He deserved to have someone sent to bring him out of the depths of despair and show him the promises for his life.

We hear stories from people who are so lost or those who have struggled so much to rise above the hardships of their life but couldn't. Not on their own.

But they heard a song and it gave them the courage to keep going.

Or someone walked into their life at just the right moment and served as the support or help they needed to keep pushing through the hard times.

Where were these songs for my brother?

Where were the people who could have been what he needed?

Why didn't he know that no matter the bumps and bruises of his life's choices he was still flawless, loved, wanted, his life valued.

Why didn't he know that no matter the bumps and bruises of his life's choices he was still flawless, loved, wanted, his life valued.

Where was that amazing grace? The grace that would comfort him in his weakness?

I'd give anything to know that a song saved him. Or that a random person walked into his life and showed him what he needed to overcome the hardships.

I wish I'd been the one who shared a song of encouragement. I wish I'd been the one to show up on his door step at just the right time.

Now he's gone.