Karen & Henry Trip to NYC
May 5-7th, 2026

Day 1 — Downtown → Village → Classic NY Dinner

 
 

Morning — Brooklyn Heights → Lower Manhattan

Brooklyn Heights













Late Morning — Lower Manhattan

  • 9/11 Memorial

  • Oculus (quick architectural stop)

  • Short walk thru Tribeca







Midday — West (Greenwich) Village

  • Washington Square Park

  • Wandering streets

  • NYU







Lunch

12:15 PM - Cafe Cluny







Early Afternoon — SoHo

  • Short walk after lunch

  • Architecture (cast iron buildings)

  • A few shops







Reset Break (critical)







Return to hotel around 3:00 PM

This is smart and necessary—don’t cut it

Evening — Classic NYC payoff

Dinner — Peter Luger Steak House







Day 2 — Uptown + Refined NYC



















Lunch — Le Bernardin (12:45 PM)







Morning

Two good options depending on your parents:

Option A — Central Park + Midtown

Walk in Central Park (south end or Bethesda Terrace)

Light coffee/breakfast nearby

Option B — Stay low-key

Sleep in

Casual breakfast near hotel

👉 Do NOT stack a heavy morning before Le Bernardin.

Afternoon — Upper West Side (your idea is solid)

Upper West Side

8

Head uptown after lunch

Walk:

Columbia University (great call if it’s personal to you)

Riverside Park (underrated, calmer than Central Park)

👉 This becomes a more reflective, relaxed day after the intensity of Day 1.

Evening — Flexible family time

Dinner with family (keep this low-pressure)

Could be:

UWS casual spot

Or something near wherever you end up