I should have known she’d have travel in her veins.
After my daughter KoKo was born 17 years ago, I returned from maternity leave with her to learn that I had been promoted to travel editor at the Houston Chronicle newspaper.
On one hand, I was elated. After all, it was my dream job.
On the other hand, I was overwhelmed. After all, I had a newborn.
After some brainstorming with my very understanding boss, we reached an agreement — I would take the position, and KoKo would join me on my travels whenever possible.
That position and subsequent travel-writing gigs made possible a slew of exciting and unforgettable adventures over the past 17 years that have taken us everywhere from Buenos Aires and Boston to London and Los Angeles.
Last year, however, following a series of stressful events including a bad car accident and some serious family health issues, our travel slowed to a trickle. By December, KoKo was adamant that we go to New York over the holidays — she’d even buy our flights with her babysitting money.
How could I possibly say no to that?
What followed was a truly magical mother-daughter long weekend traversing one of our shared favorite cities, where surprises, delights and memorable moments seemed to appear around every turn.
Kristin Finan and KoKo Badgley-Finan in Times Square in December. Kristin Finan photo
Taking a spin at Rockefeller Center
Although there are multiple places to go ice skating in New York in the winter, including Central Park and Bryant Park, KoKo and I were determined to take a spin around The Rink at Rockefeller Center. Unfortunately, because we planned our trip at the last minute, the available slots were limited, which is how we found ourselves standing in line next to the iconic golden Prometheus statue at 7 a.m., tickets in hand, about to take to the ice.
Early morning ice skating at Rockefeller Center is a special experience. Kristin Finan photo
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Although it was early, we both ultimately adored the experience, which was quieter and less-crowded than later in the day. And even if you can’t go during December, no worries. The rink is open October-March.
While we were at Rockefeller Center we also took in the famed Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and spent time inside NBC Studios, where you can shop for merch from shows such as “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” or even take The Tour at NBC Studios, which allows you to visit where popular shows such as “Saturday Night Live” are filmed.
Eating across the Big Apple
It’s easy to work up an appetite when you’re walking 12 or 13 miles a day as we were, and thankfully, in New York, there is no limit to the cafes and restaurants available to you.
One must-have meal for us was dinner at Serafina Times Square, which we had fallen in love with seven years prior during a different New York trip celebrating KoKo’s birthday. Looking at her across the table, it seemed like just yesterday that she was a newly minted 10-year-old fueling up on “tennis-racquet” pasta, favorite pink dress on and American Girl doll in tow, excited to head out for her first Broadway show. The juxtaposition of that memory and the sight of her now, a beautiful Brandy Melville-clad teenager, fueling up on gluten-free pasta, excited to head out for some shopping and sightseeing, made me grateful for childhood and all of its many eras.
Glace NY is a popular hot cocoa shop in New York City. Kristin Finan photo
Among KoKo’s must-do list was a stop at Glace NY, a viral hot cocoa shop known for serving rich drinking chocolate in cups adorned with lightly-toasted marshmallow rims and hulking yet decadent scoops of whipped cream. After learning that there was a two-hour wait for the Glace NY food truck outside of Rockefeller Center, KoKo suggested we hop on the subway to visit the nearby Glace brick-and-mortar on Madison Avenue. Less than 45 minutes later, we had our cocoas in hand — and yes, they were worth it.
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Another benefit of visiting New York is the wealth of vegan and gluten-free restaurant options. Among our favorites were Modern Bread & Bagel, where we had maybe the best gluten-free bagel of our lives, and Posh Pop Bakeshop, which offers a host of delicious treats including brownies, cakes, brookies, and cake pops, all gluten free.
Posh Pop Bakeshop offers a variety of gluten-free treats. Kristin Finan photo
A walk in the park
Like many visitors, one of the main things we loved about being in New York was its walkability, and we didn’t go a day without finding an excuse to traverse Central Park.
No trip to New York is complete without a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Kristin Finan photo
From the popular filming locations such as the Boathouse from some of our favorite movies (“27 Dresses,” “Sex and the City”) to the colorful characters hawking everything from giant bubble wands to old-timey photos (yes, we purchased these), we were delighted by the vitality and diversity in the park.
We also loved how easy it was to stumble upon other tourist destinations, such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library, as we walked.
Other highlights of the trip included walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, taking in the views from SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and One World Observatory, and staying at the stunning Tempo by Hilton Times Square, which was perfectly located and gorgeously appointed.
Needless to say, it was difficult to reintegrate back into everyday life after that trip.
KoKo immediately started talking about going to college in New York. I immediately set up cheap-flight alerts from Austin to the three main New York City-area airports.
Then, yesterday, KoKo texted me with a new idea: We should return to New York in October to see Harry Styles during his residency.
She’d even buy our flights with her babysitting money.
How could I possibly say no to that?
See you in October, New York.
