Family trip to NYC to see the NY Rangers

We have been waiting for the right time to take the kids to see a Rangers hockey game. The right time being all of them old enough to be able to sit through a game and be entertained by it with out peppering me with the constant “is it almost over” questions.

2023 was the year! My youngest is 8 and my eldest, 14. They all play hockey, so they were excited and looking forward to their first official NHL game.

Our day started out with a Amtrak trainride from Albany to NYC. In my opinion this is the only way to travel to the city. I love it. It is such a easy, scenic 2 hour (or so) ride reading my book, and the kids entertained by their phones. Do you have a teenager who refuses to smile for photos? Trevor’s that kid for me!! Usually after I snap the photo, he finally can’t hold his serious face anymore and will laugh. ugh!

We stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Midtown Manhattan. It is a block from the rink, the rooms are spacious and they have an amazing rooftop bar. It was big enough for all of us with 2 queen size beds and then a huge wrap around pull out couch which fit my eldest on the pullout and my youngest on the sofa part leaving my other 2 to share a bed – but thankfully they were so tired at the end of the night, they fell asleep quickly (with no fighting!). The only thing about the room that I did not like was the bathroom door was a barn door, which did not close all the way without a gap. So the boys were hanging towels on the door whenever they had to use the bathroom.

When we arrived in NYC before the game, we had some time to wait before our room was ready so the kids enjoyed a giant game of Jenga and Connect Four. After we were all checked in, we went to Stout for dinner before the game. On the way there, we saw where the players arrive, and just missed Vincent Trocheck signing autographs. The next time we are going to get some autograph worthy merchandise and hang out and wait for some players. The kids were excited to even just see him, so it was all good.

Although the Rangers did not win that night, they at least scored a goal so the kids got to hear their goal song and feel the energy and excitement in person! It was an awesome trip filled with new memories and we cannot wait to go back!!

Here is the “1 second every day clip” of the highlights: