You already know this, but once your baby arrives, your schedule and priorities will undergo a seismic shift.
But right about now, the world is your oyster — well, proverbial oyster, as we’re sure you’re steering clear of the raw bivalves — so live it up while you can.
Carve out time for these experiences that are elusive once you’re a parent.
Yulia Saf, a 35-year-old travel blogger for MissTourist.com and entrepreneur from Lisbon, Portugal, had an “unforgettable” gastronomy-focused adventure in NYC before having her son in November 2021.
“To start our indulgent escapade, my husband and I visited Eleven Madison Park and treated ourselves to their exquisite multicourse tasting menu,” said Saf.
Following the sumptuous feast, they took a stroll through Chelsea Market and enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of the Smorgasburg food fair.
Per Saf, the experience was especially valuable as it allowed the couple to pursue their passion for food to the fullest “before our lives became filled with 2 a.m. feedings and baby food purées.”
Correction, spend the afternoon reading a book that has nothing to do with pregnancy or parenting. Once the baby is here, you’ll have a much harder time making it through the pile of tomes on your nightstand.
Venture to Williamsburg to Mama Glow, opening at the end of the month. The company is founded by celebrity doula Latham Thomas, and offerings run the gamut from jazz and baby massage workouts and belly dancing to reiki and astrology lessons.
“Mama Glow is a global maternal health education platform,” said Thomas. “We take a holistic approach that incorporates spirituality, embodiment and emotional care as a critical part of wellness.”
The new space in Brooklyn will be the realization of that vision. “We will have weekly childbirth education, perinatal support groups, movement classes, meditation, massage, tarot, astrology and more,” she added.
Megan Smith, manager at AmyandRose.com, a maternity and new parent store, is due next month and recently spent a weekend with her partner in the Catskills.
“Amidst the serene mountains, we booked a quaint, rustic cabin,” she recalled. “Our days began with leisurely breakfasts on the porch, followed by explorations of nearby trails. Evenings were reserved for cozy dinners at local eateries, each meal a culinary adventure,” she said.
The getaway allowed them to relish their companionship and prepare for the parenting journey ahead.
“The peaceful environment helped me, especially, to alleviate pregnancy anxieties, fostering a positive mental space,” said Smith.
Other ideas: fall foliage and the lush new wellness resort Hemlock Neversink opening this autumn. At this highly anticipated new property, you can spend your days at the spa and pool facility, on the tennis courts, or getting creative in pottery, pine-needle weaving and quilting classes.
Another stress-free mini vacation option is Hudson, NY.
The Amtrak train drops you across the street from Kitty’s, a stellar restaurant and market, and then you can wander along the main drag, Warren Street, for boutique-hopping, before posting up at Wm. Farmer & Sons, a family-owned boarding house, where dinner only requires you walking downstairs or down the block to their bar.
Decades later, my dad still talks about an infamous tantrum I threw in the hallowed halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Relish a long day at an art museum or your favorite galleries before your newborn comes along and you’ll be glad you did.
Megan Smith also treasured a pre-baby outing to The Met. “The vast array of art evoked a sense of wonder and creativity, enriching my perspective as an expecting mother,” she said. “It was a Saturday well-spent, discussing art, life and impending parenthood amidst the echoes of history,” she continued, further commenting that while many might consider art exploration a solitary activity, the couple found it a bonding experience, nurturing their anticipation for the new chapter.
Schedule some time on the calendar for a walk down memory lane at your wedding ceremony or celebration place.
Kate Wasserbach Moore, 32, founder and creative director of fashion label Abel Honor New York and her spouse, Travis, chose to plan an encore journey all the way to Ballyfin Demesne, the private estate in the Irish countryside where they said, “I do.”
“Announcing our pregnancy there felt like coming full circle, binding together the promise of our wedding day with the hope and excitement of our future as parents,” she said. “We’re not just sharing news, but also connecting our child to a lineage of love, hope and the profound spirit of a land that means so much to us as a couple. Sláinte!”
Wherever you wed, revisiting your venue is a great way to relive memories. Bonus: You can even arrange a maternity photo shoot while there, or snap some photos on your own to add to your baby book.