Back to Brooklyn: A Family Trip Full of Firsts and Familiar Places
Views from the Empire State Building — the city I once called home from a whole new perspective.
Shared Joy Series
📍New York City | 📅 November 20-23, 2025
🛏 Childhood Brownstone Home
There’s something meaningful about returning to the place where everything began. This November, my family and I took a road trip from South Carolina back to Brooklyn — the borough where I was born and the neighborhood I called home until we moved to Rock Hill in 2004. I hadn’t been back since elementary school, so seeing it again as an adult felt both grounding and surprisingly comforting.
Even better, I got to share it with my parents, my sister Cari, and two of her children, Isaiah and Eden — both visiting New York for the very first time. Watching them explore the city I grew up in gave the whole trip an extra layer of joy.
We stayed in our family brownstone, the same place where we grew up, which made everything feel even more nostalgic.
Thursday, November 20 – The Road Back
We left South Carolina around 2 am and made the long drive straight into the city. Once we hit New York, the memories started showing up fast. We visited one of my dad’s cousins, drove past my mom’s old high school (Brooklyn Technical High School), and pointed out places from our childhood as we navigated through familiar streets.
Dinner that night was peak New York: Chinese takeout (because Chinese food hits different up there) and real NYC pizza for the kids. Then we settled in for the full two days ahead.
Friday, November 21 – Brooklyn Favorites
The day started with breakfast from Kaiff Juice & Coffee, a small spot right around the corner. I had to get myself a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel, of course. After that, we explored more of Brooklyn while my dad went to an appointment.
We walked through Prospect Park and Grand Army Plaza, paused at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch, and let the kids burn off energy at Mt. Prospect Park Playground. We passed the Brooklyn Museum and spent some time inside the Brooklyn Public Library.
Lunch was another “first” for the kids — their first time eating actual White Castle (not the frozen version they get at home).
After resting a bit, we made our way to Johnny’s Reef in the Bronx, a familiar childhood spot. The seafood tasted just as good as we remembered! On the way home, we drove through Queens so the kids could see where our dad went to high school (Jamaica High School).
Saturday, November 22 – Manhattan Adventure Day
Saturday was our big Manhattan day, subway and all — the kids’ first time taking it. They were curious, a little overwhelmed, and very entertained by the whole experience.
We had brunch at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, a place we visited when we were younger. The singing waitstaff and the retro vibe were just as lively as always, and the kids definitely enjoyed the show.
From there, we wandered through Times Square, grabbed honey roasted peanuts from a street cart (a childhood favorite of mine), watched the billboards and street performers, and dodged those costumed characters trying to hustle us for photos.
Next up was the Empire State Building — a first for me, my sister, and the kids. We explored the museum and made our way to the observatory for views that never really get old, no matter how many times you’ve seen them on TV.
Before heading back to Brooklyn, we took the subway toward the Brooklyn Bridge and walked part of it, just soaking in a full New York day.
When we finally made it back to Brooklyn, the evening turned into its own little reunion. Our neighbors-turned-family (Auntie Georgia and Uncle Graylin) came by to hang out, and our other neighbors, Nikole and Faraji Hannah-Jones (yes — that Nikole Hannah-Jones, author of The 1619 Project), even stopped in for a quick visit. It was a warm, unexpected ending to an already packed day.
Dinner that night? Pizza for everyone (the adults' first time having it during the trip), plus whatever Chinese food and Johnny’s Reef leftovers we still had in the fridge.
Sunday, November 23 – Heading Home
We packed up that morning, left Brooklyn around 9 am, and started the drive back to South Carolina — tired, full, and glad we made the trip.
✨ Final Thoughts
This trip ended up being a really nice mix of old memories and new ones. It was the kids’ first time seeing “beautiful pigeons” (Eden’s words) super up close, pointing out lots of street graffiti, taking in the chaos of Times Square, and trying to make sense of the subway map (shoutout to Isaiah’s effort).
Thanks for reading! You can find more moments, memories, and adventure over on Instagram: @_GracefullyWandering
