With visions of autumnal amusement in New York, I packed our bags, and we hopped an early nonstop to Gotham City for a special girls weekend in NYC. We met our cousins, who flew in from NC, to join us for a weekend heavy on memories and light on sleep. Alicia, the curly girly pictured several times below, took a similar trip a couple of years ago with her older daughter, so she had insight to add to our ideas. Our whirlwind itinerary included dumping our luggage at Hotel Belleclaire on the Upper West Side and walking a couple of blocks to the American Museum of Natural History. It would have been easy to spend the whole weekend taking in the amazing exhibits, but the unusually warm day beckoned us outdoors to frolic in Central Park.

After a quick clothing change, we hopped the subway to Rockefeller Center, where our 6:10 pm tickets proved to be the perfect time to watch the day’s light fade and all the lights come up. Top of the Rock was a definite highlight – especially if you can time your visit to watch the sunset. After dinner, we hit Times Square for quality Saturday night people watching, a jaunt to M&M World and the last ferris wheel ride of night at Toys R Us. Our heads hit our pillows at midnight, and we were all grateful for a quality snooze.

Day Two, rise and shine! Tavia and Cidney prepped themselves and their American Girls for another fun-filled day, which started with sidewalk sustenance at Isabella’s. Yummy brunch and a perfect morning for dining al fresco. Hopped the subway and headed to the Staten Island Ferry terminal for a free harbor cruise, breezy vitamin D and breathtaking views of Lady Liberty.