New York City: Icons & the In-Between

New York City Girls Trip (Daughter & Niece)

I've visited New York more than 10 times, often with a tween or teen (or two) in tow, and I know its icons well — Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, a Broadway show worth booking in advance — and I can get you into all of them without the tourist-trap version. But the trip that stays with you is never just the checklist. It's the balance: the icons everyone came for, paired with the neighborhood breakfast spot, the afternoon left open to wander, the show picked because it's right for you, not just the one everyone's heard of.

I plan New York trips built around who you actually are and what you actually care about — whether you're bringing the family for a long weekend, planning a mother-daughter trip, gathering the girlfriends, or finally taking the trip you've been talking about for years. New York rewards the traveler who goes with purpose, and I know how to give you that purpose without over-scheduling every hour — leaving room to actually discover the city, not just check it off.

I know New York as a traveler, not a local — and that's exactly the perspective you want planning your trip. I'm not guessing at what a visitor needs; I've navigated the logistics, the timing, the crowds, and the letdowns myself, more than 10 times over, so I know what's actually worth your limited days in the city and what isn't.

New York City is one of my few domestic specialties, yet I approach it with the same depth I bring to any international destination, including the pre-travel preparation and on-trip support that come standard with any WonderCrafted trip.

What a WonderCrafted NYC Journey Looks Like

• A morning bike ride spent exploring Central Park, with the afternoon saved for wherever the rest of the day leads.
• A hotel matched for your vibe, budget, and itinerary.
• A morning at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, paired with an easy walk through the rest of Lower Manhattan — Wall Street, the Oculus, the ferry views of the harbor.
• An unhurried afternoon shopping the boutiques of SoHo, with an amazing dinner scheduled in the West Village
• An evening on Broadway paired with a great meal in Hell's Kitchen beforehand — the show and the dinner both chosen to fit you, not just booked because they were available.
• A mid-afternoon break at a kid-friendly rooftop bar with a stunning skyline view, a refreshing drink, and a snack — a breather built into the day, not an afterthought.
• A quiet Sunday in Brooklyn that feels nothing like midtown, left open enough to just wander.  Room to discover the city, not just check it off.

Why Choose Me

• More than 10 personal visits to New York, often traveling with a tween or teen in tow
• Skilled at balancing iconic must-sees with lesser-known neighborhood finds — the sites worth seeing and the ones worth skipping
• Curated recommendations for restaurants, shows, and experiences that fit you, not just what's popular
• Hotel knowledge across Manhattan neighborhoods — not just Midtown
• Pre-travel preparation call to walk through your full itinerary before you go
• Itinerary app that travels with you — confirmations, schedule, and my contact info in one place
• Specialty in family NYC: tweens and teens
• Group expertise: mother-daughter trips, girlfriend getaways, groups of couples, and milestone celebrations

Based in Glen Carbon, IL (St. Louis Metro Area) • New York City planned with the intention it deserves