NYC Christmas Trip by Train

By @dtam1/3/2026hive-163772

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You can almost see their wonder at the world getting bigger...even without seeing their faces.

Everything came together for an after Christmas train trip into the Big City with Catalina and Fisher. We planned on meeting my dad at Penn Station, then heading over to our luxury residence in the Hudson Yards area not too far away. The ride in from Vermont was stunning. We crossed snow covered countryside of Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, before seeing the big skyscrapers of New York City.

The walk to Hudson Yards was frigid, but Christmas lights were everywhere, lighting up the night. We had a big day planned so we snacked enroute and hit the sack after a long travel day.

Our first full day brought a lot of new things to the kids. Their first subway ride, a look through one of the best museums in the world, as well as a trip through space in the Hayden Planetarium. We perused incredible gems and minerals, hung out with real dinosaur fossils, and saw a life-sized blue whale. After a lunch at the famous Shake Shack, we went back to our home base to scope out the pool, game room, and skytop viewing floor… 90 stories up. Then we regrouped, headed out for some famous NY pizza, then the Lion King on Broadway. It was a packed first day.

Day 2 brought some light rain to the city, which melted all the snow, but we stayed in the winter festive mood by taking in the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes show. The kids really liked the ice fairies, and the streamers that shot out into the crowd. We snagged a couple photos in front of the big tree at Rockafeller Center. Bagels for lunch, and an afternoon at the playroom and the pool at our place. We didn’t have to walk far for dinner, since the

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The reflection of our skyscraper on the side of our neighbor building.

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So many rare rocks and gems in one place! The Museum of Natural History really rocks.

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I remember this blue whale from when I was a kid. The size is unbelievable until you see it in person. It is fitting that a blue whale is still the most amazing thing I've swam in the ocean with.

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The view to the north out of our home base.

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Mammoths coming at you! Night at the museum in NYC.

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Special shows and snacks on the 8hr Amtrack train ride from Vermont.

IMG_1708.jpegWow. The view inside Radio City Music Hall is awesome.

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Getting ready to see the famous Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.

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We thought about lacing up and taking to the ice, but it started raining pretty good by the time we got out of the show. It was cool to see the Big Tree, and the home of Red and Lulu from the children's Christmas story about two cardinals.

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There are some big buildings around here. These thousand footers were up in the clouds this evening.

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One last look as we head out from the Big City.

IMG_1636.jpegThe view just keeps getting better. This sunset was magical.