ZOIE KINGSBERY COE, FOUNDER KID & COE, NEW YORK
Traveling is part of Zoie. Her parents met on a plane, her mom was an air-hostess and going to France for a weekend when she was a child was pretty common. Her husband is a DJ, so she has been accompanying him on tours around the world for years. When their first kid came along, she did not want to stop, but she encountered a challenge. Finding kid-friendly accommodation everywhere was not as simple as she thought it would be. The idea of a family vacation rental company blossomed in her mind and a couple of years later, Kid & Coe was born. The fantastic Airbnb for families has taken family travel to new heights, offering the comfort parents have been looking for during their trips. When she's not on the move, Zoie resides in New York. In an exclusive interview with Little Voyageurs, she spills her insider tips on taking the kids to the city.
IN NEW YORK WITH ZOIE KINGSBERY COE
Eating out with the kids. Otto's - Perhaps eating at NYC’s fine dining institution Babbo is a stretch with the kids, but Mario Batali’s authentic pizzeria restaurant is bustling and welcomes children. Fantastic pizzas and pastas and antipasti, and well-picked wine by the carafe keeps parents happy.
Soho Park This Soho burger bar serves a great cheeseburger and fries, made even better on Saturday mornings by the addition of free storytime and craft activities across the street at the Mcnally Bookstore.
Bubby's American comfort food, very accommodating to families, and a short walk from the Children’s Museum of Art and Washington Market Park in TriBeCa.
Grabbing a snack with the kids. City Bakery - We go to this Union Square coffee shop/restaurant all the time. It is very central, has fantastic hot chocolate and freshly baked goodies and is across the street from Books of Wonder, one of our favorite NYC bookshops for kids.
A pretty shop for the kids. Kidding Around- They pick interesting and beautifully made toys for the bambinos. This is a great place to stock up on little toys to entertain the children on long airplane rides.
Having fun with the kids on a sunny day. Brooklyn Bridge Park-Pier 6 - This is one of my favorite playgrounds in the city. It has just the right elements of adventure that a little boy loves, with a huge sandpit and water features to keep children of all ages entertained. Pack a picnic lunch.
Having fun with the kids on a rainy day. Children's Museum of the Arts They do really great arts classes here and offer daily workshops, exhibitions and special events. We LOVE the drop-in WEE art classes. Proper messy art with a beloved singalong after.
A cultural activity with the kids. Moma Tours for Fours This is a great tip-off – you don’t just have to do kid-centric things in New York! MOMA has a great family tour programme running on weekend mornings. It starts a bit early for a Sunday morning, but it’s free, you don’t have to pre-book, and you’ll feel very accomplished after. They also have a wonderful app which approaches some notable artworks from a child’s perspective. They have a FANTASTIC materials lab where kids can happily waste a good hour, and Central Park is a short stroll away for a picnic lunch.
A kid-friendly hotel in the city. There are so many options in the city. I would thoroughly recommend booking an apartment if you’re traveling with kids. They offer more space plus a kitchen so you can cater for picky eaters. They have separate bedrooms and often lounge spaces too. Kid & Coe’s Brooklyn selection includes Brownstones with large gardens; our Manhattan collection includes luxury lofts with doormen, roof decks and gyms - take your pick!