Oh New York, how I love you!!
New York City has a huge place in my heart! 10 years ago, Judd proposed in NYC and we watched the ball drop on NYE during another trip. I took my mom on a retirement trip here in 2015. We decided this summer that we wanted to go somewhere that wasn’t a beach since we live at the beach…first place that came to my mind was NYC! We had never taken the kids and there is so much to do!
Where We Stayed
Every time we’ve been to New York we’ve stayed in a different hotel because we weren’t happy with the previous hotel for one reason or another. This time, I wanted to get the hotel right and boy did I ever!! We stayed at the Embassy Suites by Hilton New York Manhattan Times Square and I could not have made a better decision. It was perfect for our family!
The location of this hotel could not be better. We looked out the kid’s room window and we were looking at Macy’s and we looked at ours and there was the Empire State Building! The views were no question, the best we’ve ever had in a hotel! It felt surreal.
I mean look at this!
It’s a short walk to Times Square, the Rockefeller Center, and just about everything in Midtown. There are restaurants everywhere!
The hotel recommended two connected suites for us. At first, I thought we only needed one and we would’ve been fine with one room but having two made our trip that much more enjoyable! We had plenty of room to spread out, which is impossible to find in NYC. The kids had their space and we had ours, and we had our own bathrooms! 
The suites are so large too! Each has a long hallway, bathroom, living area with a TV and fridge, two closets, shelving throughout the room, and huge beds with a tv and large windows to overlook NYC! Here is a room tour. 🙂
Another perk that the Embassy Suites had was that they offer free breakfast every morning!! This is very rare in New York City so we really appreciated that. Their amenities are great as well, tons of areas to hang out in outside of the room…the lobby is large with lots of seating, they also have the SkyLawn which has amazing views (see photos below), and the staff went over and beyond on our trip- one of the best hotel staff experiences we’ve ever had. They also had a snack bar in the lobby where we always bought snacks in the evenings or water to bring with us on our daily adventures! They also have a parking garage that connects to the hotel; it made driving/parking super easy!
What We Did
Normally when we travel to big cities, I have every minute scheduled! Since we’ve seen most of NYC several times, I didn’t plan out every detail…I had a few things we wanted to do each day but that was it!
The first day we explored our beautiful hotel!
Then we walked to my favorite place in the world, The Top of The Rock at the Rockefeller Center. This is where Judd asked me to marry him 10 years ago and knew I had to take the kids up.
NYC is quite far from us in Charleston so we knew this trip would be the last one for a while, probably the only trip here while our kiddos were young. We decided we’d spend some time in a few different toy stores. The first one being FAO Schwartz! They each got a new toy and had so much fun picking something out…Ella got her first Barbie and Camden got a space station!
We explored Times Square! It doesn’t matter how many times I visit here, there is something about Times Square that leaves me speechless. So much to see!
Camden and Ella even joined a flash mob!
There were two things that we hadn’t done…visit the Hamptons and ride bikes through NYC. On our second day in NYC, we got our car and drove to the Hamptons. It should normally be a 1.5 hours but because it is summer, it took us 3 hours! Our first and only stop was the Montauk Lighthouse. It was beautiful! We then drove around all through Southampton and East Hampton. Such beautiful areas! I’m glad we went to see it but I doubt we will ever be back, I prefer the SC or even Florida beaches!
On the next day, I surprised Judd and the kids and we rented bikes and ordered a picnic lunch to spend the day in Central Park. In all of our trips to NYC, we just barely entered Central Park, we never really explored! I decided that on this trip, exploring Central Park was a must. I started researching and found out you could rent bikes and order lunch (they give you blankets too) from Unlimited Biking. It was amazing! We got there, they gave us our bikes (we had kid seats for Camden and Ella), helmets, our preordered lunch, blankets, baskets for our bikes, and a map of Central Park and we were on our way! 
It was so fun! I had no idea how big Central Park really is until we were riding through it. 
We rode for an hour or two and then stopped to eat lunch on the Great Lawn. The food was delicious!!
We dropped our bikes off at Unlimited Biking and then had a fun evening planned but that all went out the window…we were supposed to go to the Eloise Store, go on a boat ride around Statue of Liberty, the Harry Potter Store, and have milkshakes from this famous restaurant. Well…the Plaza (Eloise Store) is only open to guests staying at the hotel thanks to Covid, the boat ride only goes twice a day thanks to Covid, we had to get tickets to the Harry Potter Store at 7am (we didn’t know), and then we get to the restaurant and they are out of milk? It was not our evening lol! We decided to head to the Subway and head to the Lego Store!
We had a great time!
Our final day was one of my favorites! I love taking bus tours in big cities, you learn so much and get to see the cities from a different angle (on top of a double decker bus). This is my third time doing a bus tour in NYC and it was just as entertaining as the first time! The company we used is Big Bus Tours and I highly recommend them. We did two tours-Downtown and Uptown. The kids even loved looking at everything!
Our final adventure in NYC was visiting the American Girl Store. I have dreamed of taking my daughter here since I was a little girl. We spent a few hours here and I’m not sure who had more fun, me or Ella. 😉
Poor Judd let Ella talk him into a washer/dryer and he had to carry it back 19 blocks! It wasn’t light either (sigh). The things a daddy will do for his kids!
Judd and the kiddos were pretty tired so they stayed in the room to nap, I went shopping by myself and picked up dinner to bring back. We enjoyed looking out at this incredible view for one more night. 
We can’t thank Embassy Suites by Hilton New York Manhattan Times Square enough for hosting us. If you’re in NYC, definitely check them out. You won’t be disappointed! It was such a fabulous trip and the memories will last a life time! Until, next time NYC! <3
This trip was hosted but all opinions are my own.
OMG your kids are the cutest and that trip reminds me of when we stayed in the city one week. American Girl takes me back and it is a girl’s dream come true.
Wow! This looks an amazing trip. We’ve talked about it, we are a family of 4 based in the UK. I’ve been to thr USA years ago, before we had kids but we are now thinking of a trip like you’ve just done…
I generally like the quieter, chilled out places so would probably only opt for a day or so in NYC. Has to be done though!!
This looks like a blast. We love New York. I hope we’ll get to visit next year.
Thank you! I hope you get to too!
What a fun experience that must have been for your kids! As a family adventure and just the awe of such a big city!
They are still talking about it! <3
That is so adorable that you had your twins re-enact your engagement. The entire trip looks fabulous.
Thank you!! It was a great trip!
Aww, your trip looks great! I haven’t gone to NYC since 2019, but I might be going in November when my husband has a work trip. Love it!
I hope you get to go!
This makes me want to bring the girls to NY again! We haven’t been since my oldest was a baby.
Aww I hope you get to go soon!!
Oh sooo fun!!! the whole gang seemed to have enjoyed the trip!
Lucky you people! You already have moved on with COVID!
Keep safe! Xo
Looks like your family had a wonderful trip! I love your photos – lots of great family shots!
These are fantastic places for traveling with young kids in New York. Looks like they had a lot of fun. Great pictures.
Thank you!!
such adorable kids! looks like you guys had so much fun. great family adventures!
Thank you so much! We did!
Glad to hear about your satisfaction, and yeah the rooms are so spacious, that really matters.
They definitely were! So thankful for the Embassy Suites!
No doubt that it’s a really great choice, the kids obviously had fun too!
NYC is special and it’s always a wonderful destination. I am so glad that you have so many beautiful memories and you are creating new other with NYC!
That was a nice trip, and everyone looks like having a lot of fun.
Ahhhh New York is top of our places to visit once we begin to travel again. We have family there and can’t wait to visit!
It sounds like you found a great hotel this time. It seems to be really well located. I’d love to rent bikes and cycle around Central Park.
We sure did! The location was incredible!
You have such a beautiful family. I particularly love the picture that was recreated by your twins
Aww thank you so much!!
One of my dream destinations is New York and looking at you makes me want to work hard and fulfill my dreams! New York is the best! You look wonderful!
I hope this dream comes true for you soon!
I’ve never been to New York before. I have always wanted to check it out though. It looks like an amazing place for a vacation. The city would be so nice to see.
I hope you get to see it eventually!
What a wonderful time with your kids. Embassy Suites looks so lovely. I like the big rooms where kids can run around.
It was a great hotel! Thank goodness for those large rooms, it made traveling with the kids a breeze!
I would love to see this again sometime soon! It looks like a great place to visit. 🙂
Always a great place to travel to!
YES!! NYC is the place to be. I was born and raised there. I LOVE being a tourist even though my family and friends are so over it. I taught in Brooklyn, NY in my early career and was there for 9/11. It’s a great place to visit and take the kids. I plan on taking my boys regularly once things calm down with this pandemic.
What an amazing place to grow up! I can’t even imagine being there on 9/11! 🙁
This trip looks like a blast. I thought your kids had convinced you to purchase the giraffe and the orangutan from the pic in front of FAO Schwartz. You definitely hit all of the great spots!
Haha!! Thankfully they didn’t convince us of that 😉
LOVE NEW YORK! I can’t wait to take my girls someday soon! Also, my husband has NEVER been!
I hope you get to take him soon!! It’s the best 🙂
Looks like you guys had quite a bit of fun. I’ve had my share of good and bad hotels so I know it’s nice when something goes right!
We definitely did and thankfully this hotel was a 10/10!
NYC is such a cool place to visit. I need to go back and bring my kids!
It really is such an amazing city!
New York is one of my favorite cities in the States. It’s a beautiful city, and there’s so much to do there.
Mine too!!
You’re absolutely right, it is a good idea. However, the past years, it was a bit difficult for us Europeans. Let’s see what the future brings 😉
That was a really nice vacation you had with your family. Your twins are so adorable! The hotel you picked was really nice too. I wish I could take my family on vacation soon. NYC is always a top choice for us.
Thank you so much!
You must have enjoyed your NYC vacation. Indeed, New York is the city that never sleeps.
Lovely photos from your trip! New York is indeed a good idea! Your smiles sums it all up!
Sounds like a great place to explore and looks like you guys had a wonderful time there and loving the photos.
I’ve never been to NYC before but I imagine it’s a place with tons of exciting areas to explore. Adorable photos and hope you guys had fun.
Looks like you guys had fun. Yes Newyork is always great to visit. Missing my trip. It has been a while I visited there.
Oh, yes! New York is always a good idea. We went there for a Christmas holiday trip and had a blast. Can’t wait to go back.
Christmas time is so dreamy in NYC!
Yasssss, New York is always my to-go destination with family.
Sounds like you had a great trip!
Thank you, we did! 🙂
New York is always the best place to visit. My favorite too. I wish I can visit there soon again.
Looks like you guys had so much fun! I have heard so much about New York and hope to visit someday.
Honestly, I haven’t been in NYC yet. It sounds like a fun city for me. Can’t wait to explore it. Maybe after the pandemic?