This past week has been an adventure-packed whirlwind. Briley was invited to run in the Garmin RunningLane Cross Country National Championships in Huntsville, Alabama, thanks to her personal coach, who thought it would be a great opportunity for her. They also offered a race for Baylor, so I signed him up for his first 5K cross country race—a great introduction before he starts high school next year. Meanwhile, Finley and Atticus stayed home with Grandma Julie, who graciously came down to watch them.
Our original plan was simple: fly into Nashville on Friday, drive to Huntsville, race on Saturday morning, return to Nashville that afternoon, and fly home on Sunday. However, as the trip approached, I realized I needed to be in NYC for work on Monday. This felt like the perfect chance to extend the trip and take Briley and Baylor to a city they both love to experience the magic of Christmas in New York—something Autumn had always wanted to do.
We flew to Nashville Friday morning, rented a car, and drove straight to Huntsville. After checking in at the race venue, we walked the beautiful course. Briley loved how smooth and fast it looked. That evening, we checked into our hotel, enjoyed a cozy Italian dinner nearby, admired the festive Christmas displays around the downtown pond, and watched ice skaters before heading back to rest up for the big day.
The races were mid-morning, so we had a relaxed start. Briley ran at 10:15 and Baylor at 11:30. Both were nervous but excited—although Baylor may have been more nervous, given he was running against high schoolers. They had no reason to worry; they both crushed it, setting new personal records. Briley ran an impressive 18:23, and Baylor finished his first XC 5K in 20:16, though he wasn’t feeling great afterward.
After the races, we cleaned up and drove back to Nashville. I booked us a hotel downtown, and we spent the evening exploring Broadway. While not the most kid-friendly spot, Briley and Baylor enjoyed seeing the historic area, listening to live music, and people-watching.
Sunday morning, we flew to NYC and were in midtown Manhattan before 11 a.m. We dropped our bags at the hotel and hit the ground running. The weather was beautiful, and we walked more than 17 miles, checking off every Christmas item on Briley’s list.
We started at Rockefeller Center, marveling at the iconic tree before visiting St. Patrick’s Cathedral. From there, we explored the festive shop windows along Fifth Avenue, Grand Central Terminal’s decorations, Macy’s holiday displays, and several Christmas markets. We indulged in hot chocolate from No Chewing Allowed before heading to Hudson Yards to see the Vessel, a striking honeycomb-like sculpture.
I surprised them with tickets to The Edge, a sky-high observation deck with a glass floor 100 stories up. Baylor had been before, but it was a first for Briley, and the views were breathtaking. We followed that up with another iconic experience: visiting the Empire State Building. While not as fun as The Edge, it was still a classic NYC moment.
Dinner that night was at John’s Pizza, one of my favorites, and it didn’t disappoint. Exhausted but happy, we returned to Rockefeller Center to see the tree lit up at night—a sight that never gets old. Our hotel room, perched on the 62nd floor, offered panoramic views of Manhattan’s skyline, a perfect way to end the day.
Monday morning started with bagels from Liberty Bagels, a must-visit on Briley’s list. While I met with colleagues to tour properties, Briley and Baylor explored the city on their own. They visited Bryant Park’s Christmas Market, Macy’s, and even found a special gift for Baylor’s girlfriend, Dorothy. I think they really enjoyed the independence in the big city.
We reunited that afternoon in the Financial District to see the 9/11 Memorial, Oculus, and Wall Street before rain interrupted our walking plans through Little Italy. We took the train back to midtown for a special treat: ice skating at Rockefeller Center. It was a magical experience, one I wish Autumn could have shared with us, but I felt her spirit with us the entire time. There was even a couple that got engaged during our skate, so sweet.
Dinner that night was at the hidden gem Burger Joint in the Le Meridien Hotel, followed by dessert at Serendipity, where we enjoyed their famous frozen hot chocolate. Visiting this spot was bittersweet, as it was a favorite of Autumn’s.
The trip was unforgettable, and I’m so grateful we had the chance to take it. Now Finley and Atticus are already holding me to a future NYC Christmas trip of their own!
While we were away, Grandma Julie kept Finley and Atticus busy with soccer games, Christmas parties, and a trip to The Rabbit Hole, a new interactive children’s book museum. Autumn had followed its progress for years, and I know she would have loved seeing it finally open. Aside from a few “moody Judys,” employees as Finley called them, the kids had a blast. I’m thankful for people who bring such creativity and joy to our community.
It was a week filled with incredible memories, a fitting tribute to the season and to Autumn’s love of adventure and family.
