A Long Weekend in NYC with Your Tween Daughter

Check into your hotel and get ready for some light exploring and dinner. If you are staying in Midtown or near Central Park, take an easy stroll down Fifth Avenue and do some shopping at the big-name stores before dinner at The Smith, a casual brasserie with several locations throughout the city serving up burgers, pasta, and salads. Call it an early night and wander back to your hotel, but not before picking up some gelato at Venchi or Amorino.

Hit the ground running and grab breakfast sandwiches or a maple cruller along with a latte or matcha at Daily Provisions in Rockefeller Center.  

Next stop: Top of the Rock to learn a little history about Rockefeller Center and see the amazing views of the city. Once you come down, head around the corner to FAO Schwartz. Play the famous floor piano from the movie Big or book a reservation in advance for the JellyCat Diner, where your daughter can pick out a new JellyCat.  

Head for lunch at the nearby American Girl store, where you can have lunch with your doll and pick out some new clothes and accessories. If you're looking for a more mature lunch experience, head to Five Acres for elevated diner classics like grilled cheese, wagyu hot dogs, and steak frites.  Reservations required for both.

If you're in the mood for some more shopping, pop into Alo, Anthropologie, Free People, and Catbird Jewelry, among many more all located in Rockefeller Center. For an afternoon snack, grab a cupcake at the famed Magnolia Bakery or a giant cookie from Levain and meander back to your hotel to relax for a bit.

After you've recharged, head out to a convenient pre-show dinner at Din Tai Fung, where you can watch the chefs make your dim sum in a glass-walled kitchen. For your Broadway show, there are so many to choose from that your daughter will love! For slightly older girls, the girl-powered Six or &Juliet will be definite winners! If your daughter is on the younger end, you can't go wrong with Aladdin or The Lion King.

After a busy day and late night, sleep in and take your time. Then, head down to Soho when you're ready! There are so many brunch options in Soho it's almost impossible to choose. You can't go wrong with a bagel brunch at Sadelle's, eggs or sandwiches with a Mediterranean slant at Jack's Wife Freida, or a traditional French breakfast at Balthazar. Reservations required!

Next, your daughter will love an interactive museum like The Sloomoo Institute (Slime Museum) or The Museum of Ice Cream. Follow this up with some more shopping in Soho at stores like Reformation, &Other Stories, The Original Levis Store, and Supreme.  

From there, head to Chelsea to walk the famous High Line and end up in Hudson Yards to see The Vessel. Pop into the mall if you haven't shopped enough, or, if you're hungry, have a bite to eat at Electric Lemon and take in the awesome rooftop views!

Head back to your hotel to drop off your purchases and have fun getting ready for dinner and a night out on the town. Head to Koreatown for dinner and karaoke. New Wonjo is a reliable spot for Korean barbecue, or try Jongro BBQ and then head to Karaoke City, located in the same building, to sing your hearts out!

For your last full day, enjoy an amazing breakfast at Sarabeth's. Then, head to either the Metropolitan Museum or Museum of Modern Art to take in some culture! Make a stop at the famous Bloomingdales on 59th Street and then grab lunch at Serendipity3. Do not sleep on the frozen hot chocolate!

Walk up to Central Park and stroll around. If you're up for it, rent a boat on the lake, or just find a bench to sit on and take in the scene.

Celebrate the end of your trip with tea at the Plaza Hotel. While not cheap, it's definitely a special, quintessentially New York experience you and your daughter will remember.

For dinner, if you haven't already had pizza on your trip, grab a New York slice at Marinara.

If you have time in the morning for some more sightseeing before you leave, head downtown to the Freedom Tower or take the subway to Brooklyn to check out some cute neighborhoods you haven't visited yet.

Check out of your hotel and head home with memories to last you a lifetime!