NYC Weekend Trip Ideas: A Broadway Getaway From DC With a Teenager
If you’re looking for NYC weekend trip ideas, a quick Broadway getaway is such a fun way to spend time with your teenager. My 13-year-old stepdaughter, Taylor, and I recently took the train from Washington, DC, to New York for a Saturday-to-Sunday girls’ weekend, and we packed a lot into one night away.
Our plans included a Broadway walking tour, Serendipity in Times Square, a fancy dinner, and Chicago. But the biggest highlight for Taylor came afterward: waiting at the stage door for an autograph and a photo with a performer she was so excited to see.
We even fit in sleeping late and New York bagels before taking the train home Sunday afternoon.
Here’s how we made it work, and what I’d recommend for your own Broadway weekend.
Take the Train From DC to New York
Taking the train made this trip feel easy and manageable. We left from Washington’s Union Station and traveled into Manhattan, which was a convenient start to a short getaway.
For a trip centered around Broadway, arriving in the city by train worked really well for us. The journey felt quick, and we could make a whole weekend of it with just one overnight stay.
When planning your trip, check departures between Washington Union Station and New York Penn Station/Moynihan Train Hall, along with the travel time for your chosen train. Amtrak’s Northeast Regional timetable
I’d book your Broadway tickets first, then choose a Saturday train that leaves enough time for your afternoon plans. For Sunday, pick a return that gives you a relaxed morning while getting you home that evening.
Stay Near Times Square: Radio City Apartments
We stayed at Radio City Apartments on West 49th Street, near Times Square. It was a convenient home base for our Broadway weekend. Radio City Apartments. We booked through Airbnb which was super easy.
With such a short visit, I appreciated keeping our plans close together. Our hotel, walking tour, restaurants, and show were all part of the same general area, which helped us make the most of our time.
For a one-night trip, I’d prioritize location when choosing where to stay. Being near the things you’re coming to enjoy makes the weekend easier to plan, especially when you’ll be returning to your hotel after an evening show.
Explore With Broadway Up Close
Our Broadway Up Close walking tour was one of my favorite parts of the weekend. It felt personalized, and we learned so much.
The tour gave us a chance to explore Broadway together before seeing our show that evening. I loved having an activity that was interesting for both of us and connected to the whole reason we’d come to New York.
Broadway Up Close offers several different experiences, so look at the options and choose one that fits your interests and arrival time. Public tours require advance reservations. Most walking tours take place outside the theaters, with separate interior tours available for specific venues. Broadway Up Close tour details
If you’re putting together NYC weekend trip ideas for a theater-loving teen, I’d definitely include this.
Add a Stop at Serendipity in Times Square
We also visited Serendipity3 in Times Square, which was a fun addition to our girls’ weekend.
A short trip can still have those little stops that make it feel like a vacation. For us, Serendipity was one of them, and it fit nicely with keeping our weekend centered around the Theater District.
When planning, make sure you’re looking at the Times Square location on West 47th Street. Serendipity3
I’d leave some flexibility around this stop so you can enjoy it without rushing between reservations. And definitely share everything. The portions are huuuuuuuge!!
Enjoy a Pre-Theater Dinner at Alderman
We had dinner at Alderman, and getting to enjoy a fancy meal just the two of us was a highlight of its own.
The restaurant’s pre-theater prix fixe menu was especially helpful. We wanted dinner to feel special, while still leaving plenty of time to get to the show. Alderman’s pre-theater menu
A pre-theater dinner is something I’d recommend for any Broadway weekend. Whether you choose Alderman or another restaurant near your theater, check the current menu and hours, make a reservation, and let your server know your curtain time. It also felt fancy without overwhelming and having to make too many decisions. Taylor loved feeling adult with a mocktail and getting to be at an adult restaurant.
Leave enough room in the schedule to enjoy the meal. Dinner together was part of the experience, too.
Choose a Broadway Show Your Teen Is Excited About
We built our weekend around seeing Chicago. Taylor was particularly excited because a performer she loved from America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders was appearing in the show (Reece Weaver)
That gave the whole weekend something special to look forward to.
If you’re planning a Broadway trip with a teenager, start with their interests. Maybe there’s a musical they listen to constantly, a story they love, or a performer they’ve been following. Choosing a show they’re excited about makes the planning feel personal.
Once you’ve chosen your performance, you can build the rest of the weekend around it: train arrival, hotel, afternoon activity, and dinner.
Wait at the Stage Door for Photos and Autographs
After the show, we waited at the stage door for a chance to meet some of the Broadway performers, get autographs, and take photos. This was a total highlight for Taylor.
She got an autograph and a photo with Reece. OMG! Watching her light up was my favorite moment of the entire trip.
The show was already a big event for her, and getting that moment afterward made the night even more memorable. As a stepparent, it was really special to help make something happen that meant so much to her.
If your teenager is a fan, leave a little extra time after the performance for the stage door. Ask theater staff where to wait, bring a pen and your Playbill, and be considerate of the performers and other fans.
Photos, autographs, and appearances aren’t guaranteed, but the chance to meet someone they admire can be an exciting bonus to a Broadway night.
Sleep In and Get Breakfast at Broad Nosh Bagels
Sunday morning was deliberately relaxed, and sleeping in was absolutely a highlight (for me at least!)
After a full Saturday and a late night, we were happy to take our time. Then we went to Broad Nosh Bagels for breakfast, which was delicious.
It was a lovely way to finish our New York visit before heading back to the train. Broad Nosh has multiple locations, so choose the one that works best for your morning plans. Broad Nosh Bagels. Pack your patience as you pack into the intense line, but it was worth the wait and the feeling like a sardine!
When you’re planning a short weekend with a teenager, I’d leave space for a slow morning. We fit plenty into Saturday, and Sunday still felt like a getaway because we weren’t rushing to another activity.
Our Saturday-to-Sunday Broadway Itinerary
If you want to try a similar trip, here’s a flexible outline. Adjust the afternoon activities to fit your train arrival and walking-tour reservation.
Saturday
Take the train from Washington Union Station to New York.
Head to Radio City Apartments; arrange luggage storage if you arrive before check-in.
Visit Serendipity3 in Times Square for lunch
Take a Broadway Up Close walking tour.
Enjoy a pre-theater dinner at Alderman.
See Chicago or another Broadway show your teen is excited about.
Wait at the stage door for a possible photo or autograph.
Sunday
Sleep in and enjoy a relaxed start.
Get breakfast at Broad Nosh Bagels.
Walk around Time Square or Rockefeller center (we would have done this if it wasn’t raining…)
Head back to the station for the train to DC.
Arrive home Sunday evening.
A Quick Getaway That Meant a Lot
There are so many NYC weekend trip ideas to choose from, but centering ours around Broadway gave this short visit a clear focus. We had a few plans we were excited about, a convenient place to stay, and time to enjoy being together.
What meant the most to me was seeing Taylor’s excitement and getting to share it with her.
Being a stepparent is its own unique relationship, and I treasure opportunities like this to spend time just the two of us. A train ride, a walking tour, dinner, and a show became a weekend we’ll both remember.
This is one of the really fun parts of having a teenager (and I’m already looking forward to another girls’ weekend!)