Our NYC Christmas Trip
As I’m sure with most millennials who grew up watching holiday movies set in New York City, I finally got to live that dream this past December.
My brother and his wife have been residing in New York since 2020 and I was able to visit them for the first time in December. I’ve been to New York before (you can find my guides and posts here) with Curtis. But to go in December, when it’s magical, the lights set up, the iconic Rockefeller tree is lit, skating rinks at every park and Christmas tree stands at each corner. Nothing short of my expectations.
My parents, Curtis, Rowan, and I set out each day to a new neighborhood to explore with my brother. We ate well, visited art museums, walked the park, did a little shopping, visited the holiday attractions, and made our way through the crowds.
I won’t lie, some places were really busy. So busy that we just walked away, for example, the Bryant Park Christmas Market. You couldn’t even walk into it it was very crowded. The lineups for skating rinks there, Rockefeller Plaza, and Central Park were too long with a toddler in tow. But besides that, it was fun! We saw the iconic Sak’s Fifth Avenue light show, visited the Rockefeller Centre tree, and went into Macy’s Santa Land, and a few more places. Didn’t make it to FAO Schwartz, the lineup was too long for us to wait. Next time when it’s not the holiday shopping season.
The weather was cold and brisk but perfect for walking around. We had rain the first day and that was a little bit miserable walking long city blocks. By the way, the subway is the best, I’ve mentioned this before but it’s the quickest way to get around in New York. I know some people may be hesitant to use it, but Google Maps literally tells you what trains to catch and where. And if you have small kids, they will absolutely love the thrill of being on the train. You can also find online the subway stops that do have elevators, not all do, but we found most were ok to navigate and we even had kind strangers offer to help us carry her stroller down! New Yorkers, are despite their reputation, very friendly.
Thought I’d share a few photos here but will share a more in-depth guide to New York including where we ate etc in another post coming up!
Let me know if you’ve been during the holiday season below!
