Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia

New York, New York!

Samantha Visits NYC's American Girl Place

Eleven-year-old Samantha's wish took her all the way to the brightly lit streets of New York City. Samantha of Pittsburgh, PA, has always loved her seven American Girl dolls, so for her trip she chose to visit the American Girl^® Place in New York City. Samantha, who has Moya Moya disease, and her parents stayed in a beautiful hotel right near Grand Central Station and four blocks from Times Square. Because Samantha loved Times Square so much, she made sure to visit it four out of her five nights there to walk around and see all the billboards and activity. Samantha's other favorite New York sight was the Statue of Liberty. She even learned a few things on her trip when her and her family took a ferry and walked around Ellis Island to learn its history.

But, of course, no trip to New York City is complete without a little shopping. Samantha loved the toy stores FAO Schwartz and Toys ‘R' Us in Times Square. She rode the Ferris Wheel and explored the two story Barbie house in Toys ‘R' Us. Finally, on Samantha's wish day, she went shopping at the American Girl Place on Fifth Avenue with her personal shopper, Charlotte. Charlotte helped Samantha pick out hair accessories and clothes for her dolls. An American Girl "doctor" even came and fixed one of a doll's broken arm. After Samantha and her dolls were pampered and ready, they all sat down for tea and dinner in the store's restaurant.

Other restaurants Samantha and her parents visited were Bobby Flay's, the Boathouse in Central Park and even the Plaza. Samantha wanted to go to the Plaza ever since seeing the movie Bride Wars. On Samantha's last day, she took a bus tour of the city to make sure she saw all of New York City. Samantha's trip to the Big Apple was a success, and by the end, Samantha was hailing cabs like a real New Yorker.