From TSA Delays to City Streets: One Unexpected Family Trip

ashleemaez
Jul 21
4 min read

Pennsylvania (and an Unexpected Detour to NYC)

This wasn’t a vacation in the traditional sense. We flew to Pennsylvania for a family member’s passing — emotional, tender, and heavy in all the ways you’d expect. But even in the sadness, there was warmth. We got to be with people we love, tell stories, and hold onto the kind of family moments that only seem to surface when everyone gathers in one place.

The flight there wasn’t bad at all — the kids did well (Egan wasn’t mobile yet, which definitely helped), and we had all the snacks and distractions ready. What we weren’t prepared for? TSA stopping us both ways — once because of the breast milk, and again because of Egan’s heart defibrillator. Both times we got pulled aside, had to explain everything, and repack what felt like our entire lives. But… we made it.

The real twist came on the way home. We missed our return flight. The next one wasn’t until later that night, and instead of spending the whole day stuck in the airport, we made a decision that still makes me smile: we bought train tickets and rerouted to New York City. Just like that — unplanned, unfiltered, a little chaotic — we spent the day in NYC with the kids. Walking around, grabbing snacks, and turning a travel mess into a mini adventure.

It wasn’t the kind of trip you post highlight reels about — but it mattered. And somehow, it’s one of the ones I’ll never forget.

What We Learned

✈️ TSA and medical gear go together like toddlers and quiet restaurants — not well. If you’re traveling with breast milk, formula, or something like Egan’s defibrillator, plan for extra time, extra questions, and probably unpacking your bag like three times while pretending you’re not sweating through your shirt. Stay calm, smile politely, and maybe pack a snack for yourself… you’ll have earned it.

👶 Flying with a non-mobile baby is peak travel timing. He couldn’t crawl yet, which meant he was content being held, fed, or distracted. It’s a very small window, but a very magical one.

⏰ Missing a flight isn’t the end of the world.

It felt chaotic in the moment, but missing our flight gave us an unexpected full day in New York City — and it’s one of the most memorable parts of the whole trip.

🧠 Grief and joy can exist at the same time.

This trip was hard — emotionally and logistically — but it was also full of hugs, laughter, family, and a little adventure. Sometimes travel isn’t about escape — it’s about showing up.

📍 In Pennsylvania – Doylestown & Family Moments

We stayed in Doylestown, a charming, historic town full of cobblestone streets, colonial homes, and old just enough small-town magic to slow everything down. The heart of the trip was family — being together, catching up, and letting the kids run around with cousins between meals and memory-sharing.

But we also made time for a few local favorites:

🍎 Apple Picking

There’s just something grounding about walking an orchard with your family. The kids loved filling their bags (and mouths), and we loved watching them find joy in something so simple.

🍺 Warwick Farm Brewery

We spent a relaxed afternoon here — great beer, beautiful grounds, and space for the kids to play while the adults caught their breath. It felt like grown-up time without needing a sitter.

🥪 Steaks on State (Doylestown)

The cheesesteak. No notes. Just messy, melty, and completely perfect. Bonus: it’s right next to Busy Bee Toys, a sweet little toy shop that delighted the kids and let us bribe our way through the last half of the day.

🧡 And the rest?

It was long talks around the kitchen table, letting the kids stay up too late, and soaking in time with the people we don’t get to see nearly enough.

🚂 The Accidental Day in NYC

When we missed our flight home from Newark, we could’ve stayed frustrated. Instead, we rerouted — literally. We grabbed our luggage, hopped on a train into Manhattan, and decided to make the most of an unexpected day.

Somewhere near Penn Station, we found a place to store our bags (honestly, I don’t even remember which service we used — just that it was fast, easy, and worth every penny). With our hands free, we grabbed a taxi to Central Park.

The kids ran, we sat on a bench like actual grown-ups, and it felt like a little pocket of calm in the middle of a wild travel day.

Then came the pizza stop — classic New York slices, greasy napkins, and one very tired toddler. Clementine fell asleep in the taxi, so my husband carried her what felt like a full mile through the city. She stayed asleep on the pizza shop bench, completely unbothered by the chaos around her, and woke up mid-bite with a smile on her face like, “Wait… is that pizza?”

By the time we picked up our luggage and headed to the airport, both kids were wiped — full, happy, and totally out cold on the ride home.

It wasn’t what we planned, but it was magic in its own unfiltered, unexpected way.

Looking Back (and Ahead)

This trip taught us a lot — about embracing the unexpected, slowing down when we need to, and letting go of the picture-perfect version of how things “should” go. We spent more time in airports on this trip than ever before, and one thing’s for sure: letting the kids run, play, and be kids (even in terminal hallways) is absolutely essential.

From quiet moments with family in Pennsylvania to a surprise adventure through Central Park, this trip gave us more than we expected — and reminded us that the best memories aren’t always planned.

We’ll actually be heading back this fall, and I’m so excited to have some fun collabs lined up for that trip. Can’t wait to share more — and do it all again, chaos and all.