There’s no way that we’d abandon family getaways just because the fluidity of summer is over. At the start of a new school year, we may not have sunny-season spontaneity – but we do have staycations! And vacations in our own magnificent city allows us to better appreciate all that New York City has to offer.
On the first official after-school Friday, we barreled down the subway steps, with bags in hand to enjoy a long weekend at the beautiful Omni Berkshire Place. Located in the heart-of-the-city, with access to everything, and a unique Omni Sensational Kids Program to make tiny travelers feel special (hello milk and cookies room delivery!).
“Look at at these goodies!” the kiddos, declared upon receiving backpacks at check-in. We could have lingered in our luxe 5th Avenue Corner Suite all evening amidst newfound comforts and the fun contents of sweet new packs – but we had city adventuring to do.
Just a few blocks away is The Sony Wonder Technology Lab. It’s one of our favorite FREE activities to explore with kids in NYC. The interactive exhibits merging technology and creativity make for really neat learning experiences. The kids mixed beats with a virtual Alica Keys and learned how sensors and cameras sense body movements to control characters in the Motion Capture Digital Studio.
We spent the good portion of Saturday meeting lemurs, snakes, grizzly bears and more at the Central Park Zoo. It had been a while since our last visit and seeing wildlife in such proximity never ceases to blow our minds. We were all quite taken with the animal rescue stories – including that of bears Betty and Veronica, rescued from Montana and Yellowstone National Park after becoming too bold in their interactions with humans.
After a delicious dinner (including my favorite stuffed artichoke!), we hopped back on the subway for a short trip “home”. Upon arriving to a torrential downpour, we appreciated our comfortable accommodations more than ever. Hot showers, ample room to unwind and disintegrating into dreamlike beds provided the perfect antidote to our long day traipsing all over Manhattan.
Sunday was filled with leisurely time in Central Park, shopping on 5th Avenue and visiting The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Again, all in convenient walking distance from the Omni Berkshire Place.
Nestled between 52nd Street and Madison Avenue, The Omni Berkshire Place’s convenient location also provides what felt like a sound-proof barrier to the typical urban-soundtrack expected in New York City. My husband and I kept mentioning how quiet and peaceful it was, late at night into the early mornings. I loved escaping to their state-of-the-art fitness center and also enjoyed getting up before everyone else to jog on a practically empty Madison Avenue.
The convenient location and ways in which the Omni prioritizes family travel quickly made it among our favorite city spots to stay. The bedroom in our 20th-floor corner suite had two double beds with the option of using a pull-out couch in the living room area. We’re grateful for the warm welcome and imagine that the children will remember the rich experiences added to our family story and the little luxuries that make hotel visits so incredibly memorable in childhood.
Special thank you to the Omni Berkshire Hotel for the hosted stay. Opinions, as always, are my own.
Viva la Violette
New York looks like such a beautiful place to visit! We want to come there very soon!
I am so jealous that you get to spend your weekends in Manhattan!!!! That’s all…;-)
Looks like you had a lot of fun! My boyfriend and I won tickets to the Walking Dead Season 6 Fan Premiere, and were in Manhattan in October, and turned it into a little mini vaca! So much fun!
Its easy to forget what’s just nearby you 🙂 Staycations are sometimes the best way to get some home stuff done & relax at the same time!
I live in New York and have never been to the city. How strange is that?! I should really go sometime. Maybe after nice weather comes again.
I would love to go to Manhattan one day. I think it is very cool that your hotel had a special kids program to deliver milk and cookies to the room. That must have been a special experience. =)