nyc

New York City at Christmas (visited in 2015)

I don’t know about you but when I think about Christmas time I cannot help but turn back into that giddy little four year old girl who was jumping on my parents’ bed at 2 a.m. in the morning screaming, “WAKE UP! IT’S CHRISTMAS!” (P.S. I may or may not still do that (: ). One of my biggest dreams was to see NYC at Christmas time because deep down in our hearts, I think we all want to live out those Hallmark Holiday Movies and in my opinion, New York City is the perfect place to do so. Around the winter holidays, NYC transforms into this entirely new world filled with gigantic Christmas decorations, lights hanging from every street corner, store windows filled to the top with winter displays and moving animations, and the always classic Rockefeller Christmas tree to bring it all together.

(Me and my mom in front of the Rockefeller Tree)

If you know me, you know that I usually like to spend a quiet Christmas at home with my family and loved ones (and my dogs), but last year my mom and I stepped out of our comfort zones and did something I have always wanted to do: take a trip to NYC during the holiday season. Even though I am usually the kind of girl that resists change, I loved every single second of this trip. I had been to New York City twice before this trip, once in the summer and once in the spring, but this trip was an all new experience. Not only does the city look incredibly different with all of the decorations, but the feel of the city changes too to fit the growing holiday cheer. There are so many fun and amazing things to do in NYC at Christmas, it can get a bit overwhelming if you are thinking about planning a trip. So, since the holiday season is growing closer and closer, in this post I have compiled a list of my top recommendations of things to do and see in NYC at Christmas time. Keep in mind I am not a native to NYC so my list might look different from someone who lives there, but as an outsider these are my top picks for things to see!

Top 10 Things to Do/See in NYC at Christmas Time:

Rockefeller Christmas Tree- Of course, nothing says “holiday cheer” like a gigantic Christmas tree! Plus, right beside the tree you can rent a pair of skates and go iceskating on the outdoor rink.

(The outdoor iceskating rink beside the Rockefeller Tree)

Shopping on 5th avenue- 5th avenue is amazing at anytime of the year, but the decorations and light shows that happen around the holidays are like something out of a fairytale.

Seeing the Empire State Building lit up with green and red- It is so fun to see the lights on the Empire State Building change to red and green around Christmas.

Go see a Broadway Play- Again, this is something I recommend doing regardless of the season, but there is something extra magical about seeing one of these spectacular masterpieces during the holidays.

Check out Top of the Rock at night time- The Top of the Rock has one of the best skyline views of NYC (including a great view of the Empire State Building) and it is a completely different experience to come back and see the view at night.

(Featured in the center is the Empire State Building before the lights were switched to red and green)

Check out some amazing seasonal food!- NYC is known for some great food and the holidays are no exception, but for me, my favorite was the seasonal veggies and smoothies!

(Featured here is some healthy seasonal veggies with chicken and rice and a chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie- yum!)

Spend some time in Times Square to see the holiday ads (and because it is a must!)

Go see the famous Macy’s department store that is featured in Miracle on 34th Street.- It is one of the most fantastic places in NYC and you instantly become a little kid again when you see all of the magic that the store has to offer!

(The giant mailbox for letters written to Santa)

Look at some of the incredible winter and holiday store window decorations.- Nothing can beat the window decorations for a NYC Christmas. I think the pictures speak for themselves here.

(Anthropologie store beside the Rockefeller Tree)

(Henri Bendel window)

And last but not least, spend some time with the people you love- NYC at Christmas time is amazing, but it would not have been nearly as special if I had not been able to share the experience with someone I love. So whether that is your family, your special someone, or some of your best friends, I encourage you to share the joy of Christmas and the experiences that NYC has to share with your loved ones!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everyone!

Love,

The Traveling Brunette

*All pictures taken by me

New York City, New York (visited in 2015)

Welcome to the “City That Never Sleeps”! New York City is one of the most iconic cities in the world. From “Sleepless in Seattle” to “Home Alone” to “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” this city is booming with life, love, and adventure! Whether you are looking down on the city from one of its many skyscrapers, or strolling the streets of Brooklyn, or grabbing a bite to eat from a local street vendor, this city will always keep you entertained. NYC has much to offer so I have decided to break it up into several different posts so you can see just how much adventure can be found here. For my first post on NYC, I am going to focus on one of its most famous structures: the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building is one of the most popular tourist spots and for good reason because it gives you the best view of the city. First, let’s get a look at some of the origins of the Empire State Building.

(The lower level of the inside of the Empire State Building)

From the Beginning: *

The building was originally constructed during a race to create the world’s tallest building! During the economic boom during the late 1920’s, builders were restless to try to build the world’s largest skyscraper.
The building has a total of 103 floors.
It was finished in record time. It took only 410 days to build from start to finish!
At first, it was considered a financial fail, mostly because of the start of the Great Depression. The building only became profitable during World War II.

*Checked by: http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-surprising-facts-about-the-empire-state-building

Fun Facts: **

Shocking kisses: Static electricity gathers at high heights, and under the right atmospheric conditions, couples can experience a slight electric shock when they kiss.
As far as the eye can see: On a clear day, you can see five different states from the top of the building: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Zipping: The Empire State Building is home to so many businesses it has its own zip code: 10118.
Lightning Show: The building is struck by lightning on average of 100 times per year.
True love: Every year, the building holds a Valentine’s Day Weddings contest in which 14 couples are selected to get married on the observation deck.
A True Wonder: The building was named the eighth Wonder of the World (the only one built in the 20th century).

**Checked by: https://www.walksofnewyork.com/blog/empire-state-building-facts

The View:

I could write about the spectacular view all day long but I think it would be wiser to let the pictures speak for themselves. So, without further ado…

From this high up, you can truly tell that NYC is surrounded by water. The view is honestly breathtaking. Words cannot describe it.

Literary Recommendations:

For books set in New York City, you have to check out the classics! Some of the best literature based in New York City are The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote, and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath to name a few.

For this post, I would be crazy not to offer some movie recommendations too. Some of the most popular movies featuring the Empire State Building are “King Kong”, “Sleepless in Seattle”, “An Affair to Remember”, “The Amazing Spiderman”, “Annie Hall”, and the holiday favorite, “Elf”. There is a plethora of pop culture that features the Empire State Building, but if you take my advice, I would plan a trip so you can see it for yourself! NYC can be an easy and inexpensive trip if you do your research and plan ahead of time. (Tip for students: many popular sights give student discounts for tickets!) Stay tuned for more posts featuring NYC!

P.S. If you’re lucky you might just meet your own Tom Hanks at the top of the Empire State Building!

-The Traveling Brunette

***All pictures taken by me!

Tales of a Traveling Brunette

Life. Love. Travel.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!