Go Visit: The Surrey Hotel, New York City

My daughter watched “On the Town” many times the year she turned four. The funny songs and exuberant characters (with Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly) — and setting in New York — made a big impression on her. Last week, I was finally able to plan a trip to take my daughter, now almost 11, and her younger sister on a week long adventure to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of the Big Apple. What did we discover? The lyric, “New York, New York, it’s a wonderful town…” still rings true today.

We arrived at the most beautiful and quintessentially New York of boutique hotels, The Surrey on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Last year, The Surrey underwent a renovation that turned this gorgeous 1926 building into a hotel where modern design meets classic architecture. Filled with a stunning art collection, the hotel feels both glamorous and comfortable. The warm and friendly staff immediately made us feel we were right at home.

Just before our trip, we found out that two other families we know from LA would also be staying at The Surrey. All of the parents were thrilled to find that our kids were welcomed with open arms and that the beautiful neighborhood was a great place for families. In addition to Cafe Boulud in the hotel, close by were Sant Ambroeus for meals or a cup of gelato, E.A.T. Cafe for dine-in or take-out with a huge menu and their famous tower of bagel.

Major museums in the neighborhood include The Whitney and The Met. A block from The Surrey, an entrance into Central Park easily accesses the Alice in Wonderland sculpture, remote control sailboat pond, and paddle boats at the Boathouse. One night, my daughters ran through the park catching fireflies — East Coast summers truly have a special kind of magic.

Several times during our stay, we took the 5th Avenue bus down to midtown or to Greenwich Village. The hotel’s location is perfect for getting around the city and then retreating to a peaceful, quiet neighborhood. During the week we visited the Top of the Rock, The Met, MoMA, The Natural History Museum, and the Whitney. We bought chocolate at Dylan’s Candy Bar, Jacque’s Hot Chocolate Bar at Chelsea Market and at Bond Street Chocolates. We ate blueberry pancakes at Clinton St. Baking and Chef Suser Lee’s Singapore Slaw at Shang. We took taxis, rode buses, caught subway trains, and walked for blocks. It was heaven.

After a bustling day in the city my kids loved returning to The Surrey each day. On the roof deck we ordered cocktails for mom and infused lemonades for the kids. The kids even talked staffers Felipe and Christopher into some rides on the bell cart and loved to visit with the cute little hotel dog in the lobby.

Currently, The Surrey is running a special family package where parents can book a room and get an adjoining room for the kids to sleep in their own beds for free. Though there may be hotels that are less expensive, none may be able to match the chic design, friendly staff, in a hotel really run with heart.

Having a special week in NY with my daughters will be something I will never forget. My six-year old asked if we can go back this winter to ice skate at Rockefeller Center.

Sounds a like a good plan!