Fantasy Weekend at the Four Seasons

There have been a few moments in my life when I felt like a princess.

The day I took the stage in my tutu and ballet slippers and performed alone in front of dozens. I was 5 years old.

A year later, when I personally delivered watermelon slices to the Beach Boys at my first concert in Cleveland, Ohio.

Again on my 21st birthday, when my favorite band sang happy birthday to me at one of their shows.

My wedding on the beach in Pajaro Dunes, California.

It might sound a little extreme, comparing our visit at the Four Seasons in New York City to my wedding, but let me assure you, I’m being completely honest.

When I received the invitation to bring my family to stay at the incredible Four Seasons, I was stunned. Little did I know at that point what they had in store for us. It was an experience unlike any I’ve ever had.

I’ve been fortunate in my life in many, many ways, but affluence just hasn’t been one of our fortunes (and I’m perfectly fine with that). We simply aren’t used to being pampered like this… but then again, who is? It’s a very special experience, and one that I recommend to anyone.

Regardless of your lifestyle, the Four Seasons New York really goes out of their way to make everyone feel spoiled.

We arrived at the Four Seasons to warm smiles from everyone, starting with the bellmen. They graciously took our bags as we stepped into the glorious lobby that showcased a magnificent Christmas tree. While we were checking in, the children were invited to not only touch the Christmas tree adorned in TY Beanie Babies, but were allowed to choose one for their very own. I personally loved this greeting- it made them both immediately comfortable and excited, rather than overwhelmed.

Our room literally took our breath away. A suite overlooking the Plaza Hotel, FAO Schwarz and Central Park in its entirety, it took me a moment or two to gather myself before peeking around the rest of the suite. There were gorgeous treats laid out for us in the sitting room, including chocolate covered pretzels, kettle corn, chocolate chip cookies and Horizon milk for the kids. You can only imagine the size of Jack and Zoe’s eyeballs at this point.

Personalized sponges and toys were set out on the huge bathtub in the washroom that contained two miniature, and two adult bathrobes. The softest, coziest bathrobes I’ve ever seen. Truth: I spent most of my time in the room in said robe.

The itinerary for the day included breakfast with Santa at the Rock Center Cafe in Rockefeller Center, ice skating at the rink, a personal tour around the Central Park Zoo, and lunch at Alice’s Tea Cup before heading back to the hotel.

The next time you are in New York City, you absolutely must visit Alice’s Tea Cup– especially if you have children. The homemade scones and tea will ruin you forever… the tastiest, sweetest experience in Manhattan. They sprinkled our table in fairy dust and gave the kids butterfly wings and crowns to wear during our lunch. I literally felt like we were dining in a fairy tale.

With full bellies, we headed back to the hotel for naps. As someone who doesn’t normally take naps, even I couldn’t be dissuaded from snuggling up in the large, amazing bed.

That evening, after touring the Central Park Zoo and toasting marshmallows in the courtyard, we were all treated to a performance in our room by Storytime by Design. This was Justin’s favorite part of the day. Two of the funniest, liveliest guys came to our room and sang, danced, blew bubbles and read stories to the kids before bedtime. Normally pretty shy during new experiences, both Jack and Zoe laughed and sang along with the stories.

We started to wind them down at this point and tucked them into their beds for the night (a crib for Z and a roll-away with side rails for Jack). The Four Seasons sent up Mercedes, a babysitter hired through a service they offer, and we went downstairs to dine at Ty. I didn’t know how comfortable I would be with this, but she was absolutely lovely… the kids were thrilled to have a new friend to read them books before bedtime.

Both dinner and service at Ty was impeccable. The experience was intimate and easy- not usually the case at restaurants in the city.

We ordered room service the next morning. I absolutely LOVE room service, and this was no exception. The children’s items came on colorful plates and everything was delicious.

Leaving is always the hardest part. Jack has been asking consistently to return to our ‘New Hotel Home”, and I can’t blame him.

Our weekend a the Four Seasons was one that I will never forget. Not only did I feel like a princess, but my family was treated like royalty as well. It was one of the most special times of our life in New York City.

I covered our stay on the Four Seasons new blog, Have Family Will Travel– a great new site that showcases personal stories of traveling with children and experiences at the Four Seasons Hotels.

I received our weekend at the Four Seasons in exchange for covering it on their blog, Have Family Will Travel. All opinions are my own.