Just Add Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust: Abigail's Birthday Weekend in NYC

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Abigail's Birthday Weekend in NYC

Her 16th birthday was back in May (post here) and our big present to her was a weekend in NYC.

Anna's 16th was also an overnight present/trip so I wanted to do a little trip for Abigail too. Just the two of us.

Just four days after we got home from our trip to Missouri to see the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, we were headed out again. This time to the city!

I love New York City. I love the energy. I love the people. I love the noise. And although I'd love someday to live in a 100 year old white farmhouse on lots of land someday, New York City makes me happy! It's just the most fun to visit -- and we had three days!!

We headed out on the train together. Scott dropped us off at the train station together at 9:30. We wanted as much time as we could in NYC that day!

Waiting for the train!

Train fun:

Grand Central Station:

After checking into our hotel (Warwick), we walked to Central Park. {The Warwick hotel is the perfect location. Walking distance to Central Park, Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square, Broadway and the theatre district, Bryant Park}

Central Park is a flood of memories from past trips. And my teenage Abigail delighted me in riding the carousel for old times sake!

And of course we HAD to go into the Plaza Hotel. (remember and wishing for this day) (here is another one too) It actually took me by surprise that I didn't have two little girls holding my hand in the Plaza. I was with my 16 year old!

I have a picture from 2015 with Abigail standing in front of the flowers in the lobby in the first link above -- how times have changed!

And a picture from 2015 of this too (in that second link above)

After relaxing for a while it was time for dinner. We ate at Pizza Norte. Amazing!

Wicked on Broadway:

Finally it was time to change and get ready to see Wicked on Broadway! We were so so so excited!

Click here to see Abigail in 2015 posed in this same hotel. Now she is on her way to see Wicked!

There really are no words to describe this show. It was stunning and we are going back just as soon as we can!

Day Two

The High Line

The High Line in NYC is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan's west side. It was saved from demolition in 2009 and has been opened as an elevated park since then. It's nature. It's art. It's design.

It's really cool!

We ate lunch at the famous Chelsea Market on the west side!

Bryant Park:

We took a taxi to Bryant Park and loved it so much! It had been so long since we'd been back to this little park right in the heart of Manhattan.

Street Fair:

Our plan was to walk down 6th Avenue toward the Warwick and through Rockefeller center. The coolest thing is that we found ourselves in the middle of a street fair! It was so so much fun! It was down 6th Avenue from Bryant Park all the way to Radio City Music Hall!

There was shopping, the most unique food, music and more!