The Big Apple during the Holiday Season is truly magical – especially through the eyes of a child experiencing it for the very first time.
Recently, I took a day off from keeping Middlesex moving (no worries, Middlesex kept moving because of our terrific staff) and I practiced what I preached.
Together with my husband and two absolutely delighted children, we drove to our local train station. And because we were commuting with children, we raced to grab the NJ TRANSIT Northeast Corridor train bound for the Big Apple just in the nick of time.
The train ride into NYC was filled with late morning commuters who I swore, cracked a smile when they noticed my gleeful children asking the train agent if she had hot chocolate to share , “You know, like on the Polar Express!”
Soon we pulled into New York Penn Station and we tightly gripped the children’s hands and headed up to the busy Manhattan streets, that under the gray skies truly looked like they were paved with glitter.
On foot, we navigated the Avenues pointing out landmarks the children had either seen on tv or read about – until we reached our destination – Rockefeller Center.
Despite the complaints about the long, fast paced walk, the pay-off was priceless.
After completing the obligatory holiday stops: the Christmas Spectacular, visiting the Lego, American Girl and FAO Schwartz stores and a quick prayer in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, we piled into a bona fide yellow NYC cab at rush hour to meet with friends for dinner in Tribeca. “No seatbelts!?!??!” cried the kids in glee.
Dinner was splendid and filled with much laughter and smiles despite the trip being almost over. But the trip would not be complete without a ride down under – that is, the subway. So as the night came to close, we hoped on the 2 express and grabbed the only available seat and huddled together as we swayed along the bumps and jerks of the New York Subway.
As we waited for the NJ TRANSIT train home in the nicely decorated waiting area, the children were still smiling ear to ear.
“Thank you Mommy and Daddy. I wish we could do this every year!”
We saw New York City by four with four and created memories that I hope, they will enjoy for a long time!
If you’re thinking about making the switch from solo driving to another mode, mass transit is worth a look. Middlesex County is transit rich. NJ TRANSIT’S Raritan Valley, Northeast Corridor, and North Jersey Coast rail lines provide service to New York. And 76 bus lines traverse Middlesex County.
