The kids and I took a 2.5-hour drive into New York City for our first visit together. Even though the round-trip was five hours total, every minute was worth it. My kids had been to NYC once before, about six or seven years ago with their father.

I grew up visiting my east coast family who lived just 12 miles from the city, and I honestly couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been there. Yet somehow, I never had the chance to go with my kids, until now.

We spent the day exploring the city by hopping on and off the tour buses, letting them guide us through the energy and chaos of NYC. Times Square was our first stop since that is where I garaged my car. It was bright, loud, and everything you expect it to be. From there, we made our way to the Empire State Building, standing beneath it and just taking in the scale of it all. We spent a great deal of time at the Empire State Building. It was way more commercialized than I remember it was back 30+ years ago. Due to this, it took a lot longer to get to the overlook on the 86th floor.

Later, we visited the World Trade Center Pools. The shift from the noise of the city to the stillness of that space hit me deeply. Watching my kids take it in so quietly… it’s a moment I won’t forget. We ended our time by wandering through the WTC Mall before making our way back to Times Square for dinner and then starting the drive home.

It was a long day, but it was filled with memories that I will hold close. Seeing New York City through my kids’ eyes made the whole experience feel new, magical, and worth every mile.

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