New York New York | The 10 Year Trip in the Making


I thought that after we moved to Pittsburgh in 2015, it wouldn't take us long to visit New York City. But in the ten years since, we have gone everywhere except New York. I wanted to go, but it always got pushed back on our priority list. Another significant factor in our decision to wait as long as we did was that many of the things we wanted to do and experience would have been challenging or less enjoyable with our younger kids. We decided that we were finally at a point as a family where our kids were now old enough and wouldn't hinder the things we wanted to do. 


Traveling with the whole family is not exactly a photographer's dream. I am often rushed and at the mercy of not one but three people's patience levels simultaneously. I would have wondered all day for several hours in various neighborhoods, but it's just not the reality. 


Driving into Brooklyn was just as much of a nightmare as I imagined it would be. My husband assured me it would be fine, but I somehow ended up as the one driving. It was also storming. We arrived at our hotel in the evening and walked up to Luigi's Pizza for a slice. They were no frills, not warm, but not rude. Exactly how we hoped and imagined a NYC pizza place would be—great first experience. 

Dark dramatic storm clouds loom over a busy highway with green exit signs visible ahead.

Day 1 | Manhattan, Broadway,& Central Park


Day 1, we hit the pavement hard. We woke up and had to nervously make our way to the subway station. This was our kid's first subway experience. After spending two weeks in Japan not long ago, I felt a lot more confident than I had in years past. Still, I knew it wouldn't be as smooth and efficient as the Japanese system, so I remained nervous having the kids in tow this time. For the most part, scanning in and tracking trains was easy. Remembering the train letters was significantly easier than the colors and difficult train line names in Japan. I think using European and Japanese public transportation before using American public transportation helped us navigate the "big daunting city" more effectively than if we had chosen to go the first few years we lived in the East and had never really been anywhere before yet. 

A man smiles with two children on a New York City subway train during a family outing.

Larrin booked us Top of the Rock at Rockefeller as our first big experience. I have to compare it to the wild Shibuya Sky experience in Tokyo. I enjoyed Top of the Rock significantly more. The 360 views of New York was really awesome. We shared the space with a moderate amount of people, but it wasn't crowded and was very manageable. They didn't make us use lockers for personal items or cram 50 of us in a tiny elevator (things we had to do at Shibuya)

A girl with a large pink bow watches the New York City skyline from a rooftop observation deck.
Aerial view of Central Park surrounded by Manhattan skyscrapers under blue sky in New York City.
The Empire State Building dominates the iconic Manhattan skyline on a clear sunny day in New York City.
Rainbow pride flag reflection on glass overlooking New York City skyline with Empire State Building on sunny day.
A man peers through a coin-operated tower viewer on a sunny rooftop observation deck in New York City.
Smiling teenage boy posing with NYC skyline and Empire State Building on sunny rooftop observation deck.
Stunning aerial view of Manhattan skyscrapers including Empire State Building on a clear sunny day.
Mother kissing teenage son on cheek with daughter and NYC skyline visible from rooftop observation deck.

Of course, I didn't get to take nearly as many photos as I had wanted, but that is part of traveling with the family. We also stopped at several shops in the neighborhood, including FAO Schwarz, where Hannah saved up her money to buy a Jelly Cat stuffy and walked across the piano, The American Girl Doll store (wow), Nintendo Store (meh, not nearly as cool as the one in Kyoto), and Hershey (again, nothing can beat the real Hershey store in PA). For lunch, we wanted to let the kids experience a tiny bit of what we did in Japan, so we all ate at Ichiran. Ichiran is a very popular chain ramen place in Japan. They sell just one ramen. There are haters, but we loved it when we were in Japan, and we loved it here in NYC as well. The kids love ramen, so it was a big hit. 

Family of three posing on New York City street near subway entrance on a sunny summer day.
Young girl standing on giant floor piano at FAO Schwarz toy store in New York City.
Iconic Art Deco Radio City Music Hall building facade on Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan NYC.
Young girl eating noodles from black bowl at Japanese ramen restaurant in New York City.
Close-up of traditional Japanese tonkotsu ramen with red chili and green onions in decorative bowl.
Girl smiling through circular cutout at American Girl store photo backdrop.
Girl posing in front of large American Girl store mural display.
Smiling girl with crossbody bag inside American Girl store.
Couple sharing a drink with straws at a dimly lit venue.
Girl holding Hersheys milkshake at Milkshakes and Smores restaurant.

Then, it was time to go to Broadway. One of my all-time favorite movies (unapologetically) is The Lion King. It's basically perfection in an animated film. There is no better first 5 minutes of a movie than the beginning of The Lion King, and this was also true with the Broadway production. It was everything I had hoped for, seeing a play on Broadway.

Family posing outside The Lion King Broadway theater marquee.
Woman and girl holding Lion King Playbill programs inside theater.
Woman smiling outside The Lion King Broadway theater on busy street.
Father and daughter walking together on a sunny New York City sidewalk.
Excited woman gesturing outside The Lion King Broadway theater marquee.

As we headed into the late afternoon, we took a stroll in Central Park. There were lots of nooks to explore, and we barely scratched the surface. Hannah only had an emotional breakdown three times through the park because of her older brother's relentless bothering. The family was pretty exhausted at that point, but after walking over 20,000 steps for the day, I convinced everyone that we needed to eat more, so we went to Joe's Pizza on Carmine Street. The line moved quickly, and the pizza slices were huge. I liked Lugi's better, but Joe's was good too. 

A young girl sits alone on rustic stone steps surrounded by lush greenery in a park.
A boy rests on a wooden bench in a lush garden while a man sits in the background.
Serene Central Park lake reflects green trees with New York City skyline in the background.
Two young men pose together on a stone bridge with NYC skyline and greenery behind them.
A man and woman smile together on a stone overlook with Central Park greenery behind them.
A young man in a coral graphic t-shirt stands on a tree-lined park pathway.
A tranquil Central Park lake reflects lush trees with a towering Manhattan building beyond.
A teenager sits on large rocks near a stream as two people rest on boulders behind.
Rowboats glide across Central Park Lake with Manhattan skyscrapers visible through summer trees.
People rowing boats on Central Park Lake surrounded by lush green trees on a cloudy day.
A young boy in a pink graphic tee leans on a bridge railing in Central Park with a lake and rowboats behind him.
A smiling woman in a black tank top stands on a Central Park bridge with rowboats and lush trees in the background.
Visitors walk through the dark arched passageway of Bethesda Terrace in Central Park, New York City.
A person climbs the ornate stone steps of Bethesda Terrace in Central Park, framed by a grand archway.
Tree-lined Mall pathway in Central Park with visitors strolling beneath a lush green canopy on a sunny day.

Day 2 | Statue of Liberty. Ellis Island, & Chinatown


Day 2 was another big day. We woke up early to get some NYC bagels. I think we found the best in town, honestly. We went to Russ and Daughters. Their lox bagel was a 10/10. Their fresh juice was an 11/10. I would love to come back here on any future trip to NYC we take. Then, we headed to the ferry to go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. I grew up next door to my Italian Grandpa throughout my childhood. He boarded a boat in Naples in 1933 at the age of 23 and traveled to the United States alone. He saw the Statue of Liberty and had to go through the Ellis Island immigration process. Because this was a firsthand story, he would occasionally share it with us; I have always felt compelled to see it. Being able to visit Italy and meet my family six years ago and now seeing a glimpse of what he saw and experienced coming to America is something I'm very grateful for. When we visited Ellis Island, we decided to search for my Grandfather's records on the computers downstairs. We could not find them at first! Luckily, I have a very savvy husband who eventually cracked the code. The reason we had a difficult time was that they spelled his name wrong in the records, replacing an N with an M. It felt really special to find his record at the original place. We ordered it, and it arrived in the mail a week later. 

Hand holding a bagel with lox, cream cheese, capers, and tomato outdoors in sunlight.
Family group smiling inside a ferry boat on a bright sunny day.
Statue of Liberty standing tall against a bright blue sky on Liberty Island, New York.
Two children posing with the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River in the background.
Smiling couple posing with the Jersey City skyline and Hudson River behind them.
Young girl using coin-operated binoculars to view the Manhattan skyline from Liberty Island.
Family of three posing in front of the Statue of Liberty on a sunny day.
Low angle view of the Statue of Liberty against a blue sky.
Young girl smiling inside the Registry Room at Ellis Island.
Grand hall of Ellis Island with American flags and arched ceilings.
Manhattan skyline viewed from the water on a partly cloudy day.

After that excursion, we were starving! We didn't think the kids would make it through, but we followed through with the plan to go into Chinatown and have lunch at Noodle Village. Our family is crazy for soup dumplings. Everything we ordered was perfect at this restaurant. I would also come back here again when visiting NYC. 

Busy street scene in New York City Chinatown with colorful signs.
Pedestrians walking through Little Italy NYC on a sunny day.
Young girl holding a colorful teal macaron with sprinkles.
Father and daughter walking through Little Italy NYC street.
Young girl smiling on NYC subway platform with passing train.
Young girl standing on NYC subway platform with blurred train passing behind her.

We stopped at Grand Central Station that evening and visited a cool bookstore called Kinokuniya, which specializes in Japanese books. I picked up a few paper theater crafts that I am obsessed with, and Russell got some Manga he likes. 

Busy Grand Central Terminal main concourse with crowds of tourists and commuters.
Woman and young girl smiling together inside Grand Central Terminal main concourse.
Family of four posing on balcony overlooking Grand Central Terminal main concourse.
Family posing for photo in Grand Central Terminal main concourse from elevated view.
Family of four smiling on Grand Central Terminal balcony with busy concourse below.
Iconic Grand Central Terminal opal clock above Metro-North train information booth.
New York City street canyon with yellow taxis and skyscrapers on sunny day.
NYC midtown street with dedicated red bus lane and tall skyscrapers lining avenue.
Woman posing with large Totoro plush display inside Studio Ghibli merchandise store.

Lastly, we returned to the neighborhood where we had started in the morning and braved Katz's Delicatessen. Was it hard; yes. Was it claustrophobic? Moderately. Was it worth it? I do think so. Their pastrami sandwiches were amazing. Is it the best sandwich though? No, I don't. In my opinion, the Philly cheesesteaks at Angelo's Pizzeria in Philadelphia are the best sandwich that exists. 

Katz's Delicatessen exterior on a busy NYC street corner with neon signs and pedestrians.
Thick hand-held pastrami sandwich on rye bread at Katz's Deli in New York City.
Crowded interior of Katz's Delicatessen NYC with diners filling long rows of tables.

Day 3 | DUMBO, Coney Island, & Williamsburg


Day 3 started wetter than we anticipated. We explored DUMBO in the rain. We came across the Brooklyn Flea Market by chance, and I bought a Stevie Ray Vaughan vinyl.

Chocolate-drizzled croissant on a ceramic plate at a trendy cafe with blurred patrons.
Young couple smiling at camera sharing a green matcha smoothie drink indoors.
Avocado toast with cherry tomatoes, feta, and pine nuts beside a green smoothie.
Smiling woman in denim shorts standing on cobblestone street under Brooklyn Bridge NYC.
Black and white photo of person leaning on motorcycle near Manhattan Bridge waterfront.
Young girl playfully posing on rainy waterfront with Manhattan Bridge in background.
Manhattan Bridge spanning the East River on an overcast day from the empty waterfront.
Two kids posing in front of the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn, New York on a cloudy day.
Two children standing under a brick archway with the Manhattan Bridge visible in the background.
Mother and daughter posing together near the Manhattan Bridge waterfront in Brooklyn, New York.
Young girl doing a cartwheel on the waterfront with the Manhattan Bridge in the background.
View of the Manhattan Bridge through a brick archway on a rainy day in Brooklyn.
Close-up view of the Manhattan Bridge tower framed by lush green trees in Brooklyn.
Wet cobblestone street in DUMBO Brooklyn lined with brick buildings on a rainy day.
Two people walking with umbrellas on a rainy day in DUMBO Brooklyn, New York.

Then, as the rain cleared, we took a long trip to Coney Island. By the time we were at the end of the line, there was barely anyone on the train. Why is no one going to Coney Island? Our family loved it. We may love old-school theme park vibes and rides more than the average person. We ate at Nathan's Hot Dog and rode some cool, old-school rides, including the Ferris wheel that California Adventure at Disney was modeled after, a campy old horror dark ride, and Cyclone (an old wooden rollercoaster). 

Teen boy smiling on NYC subway platform as a train arrives behind him in motion blur.
Young man standing confidently on New York City subway platform with speeding train in background.
A laughing girl in a floral outfit rides the subway with a boy behind her.
A smiling girl in a colorful floral outfit sits on a subway bench.
The original Nathan's Famous hot dog restaurant at Coney Island, New York.
The iconic Coney Island boardwalk with the Parachute Jump tower and amusement rides.
Two kids pose in front of the Thunderbolt roller coaster at Coney Island amusement park.
A father and two kids smile in front of the Wonder Wheel at Coney Island.
A man and girl enter the colorful Wonder Wheel amusement ride entrance at Coney Island.
A teen boy and woman take a selfie on a ride while a man smiles behind them.
A young girl does a cartwheel on the sandy beach at the ocean's edge.
A flexible girl performs a standing backbend stretch on a sandy ocean beach.
Person lying down across blue subway seats resting during a train ride.
Two smiling people holding red Bro branded cans and boxes inside a bright modern building.

Later in the evening, I begged Larrin to go to the Heatonist store. It was also the day of the big heatwave. It was miserable in the afternoon/evening, but I was determined to go. We've been buying their hot sauces online for years. We drank a ton of water and made our way up to Williamsburg. Everyone forgave me at the end of the day because we also stopped at Levaine Bakery and had our last New York dinner at L'Industrie Pizzeria. It was the best pizza of the entire trip, hands down. 

Driving across a large suspension bridge with cable towers under a clear blue sky.
Family of four taking a selfie inside a car during a road trip on a sunny day.

Final Thoughts


So, what did I really think of New York after waiting for years to go? It was a great trip, but I was disappointed with a few glaring things. New York boasts a robust infrastructure and a wide range of attractions that draw people from around the world. There is so much to see and do! However, this city needs serious help with cleanliness and assistance for displaced people who are in dire need. We can do so much better.

I've been to most of the popular and largest US cities, and New York City was particularly horrific, with trash everywhere in almost every single neighborhood we visited. Not just a little trash here and there and a bad smell sometimes. It was on a level I had personally never experienced before. A lot of the homeless people in New York also looked in terrible shape. It was heartbreaking. I don't have the education or background to know what is best in these sensitive issues. However, some individuals were lying face down on the pavement at times when I wasn't sure if I needed to call the police because someone was dead on the street. I'm unsure of how to handle these challenging situations, especially when I need to keep my family safe. We can do so much better, though. So, NYC gets a 9 out of 10 for things to do and a 2 out of 10 for its response to finding solutions for people in dire need of assistance and overall cleanliness.