There’s no place more filled with Christmas cheer than NYC in December.
My friends and I have made a tradition of going there for a weekend every December. It never fails at making me feel all giddy with Christmas spirit, like a kid again. Or like Elf. Which is my favorite Christmas movie of all time.
Every single building is dressed up with lights and festive seasonal decor.
The streets are overwhelmingly crowded, which would normally drive me crazy, but the people watching there is half the fun.
We learned that with 12 hours in the city, it is impossible to have a plan because there are so many amazing distractions! Just walking around is an event in and of itself. Although we spent the entire bus ride making a list of places we wanted to go to, it all went out the window as we started wandering.
We wove in and out all the way up 5th Ave and Madison Ave looking for Don Draper window shopping and “oohing and aahing” at all the beautiful, sparkly items in all the shops.
We stopped to take obligatory photos of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
We went to Laduree for some amazing macaroons, which were sooo decadent and rich! Absolutely worth the 25 minute wait and the severely overpriced price tag. It’s a Parisian bakery, and New York is the only U.S. location. Go there.
When in the Upper East side… do as Blair and Serena would do.
Don’t leave the Upper East side without a souvenir.
Then take the subway back to reality (and lower Manhattan) while enjoying seeing Santas everywhere for Santacon 2011.
There’s nothing like NYC to get you in the Christmas spirit.
What’s your must see place during Christmas time? What’s your favorite Christmas movie?
I love all these photos – NYC is beautiful this time of year. I agree that it’s tough to have a plan – just wondering around with nowhere to be is the best!
Yes, absolutely! There’s so many things to see between the ones on your list that you don’t end up going to the ones on your list! Unless you cab, but walking to take it all in is so much more fun!
Oh, that looks like so much fun! I love New York and have been in the spring the past two years, which was awesome. I can’t imagine how fun it is at Christmas, though the crowds would make me antsy! My mom and grandma went up to NYC to shop on a bus trip a few years back and my mom, who is very claustrophobic, said she could barely move her elbows in Macy’s. That’s chaos to me, but definitely something to do once!
NYC is always exciting, but Christmas is just so different, you can almost feel christmas in the air. and at night it really is magical with all the lights everywhere!
We just watched Elf last night! My favorite is Christmas Vacation, but Elf and A Christmas Story are right up there! I have such wonderful memories of all three!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Christmas story… need to work on that…
what a fun trip! I need to get back to NYC ASAP. it’s been way too long.
Yes it’s so much fun!
Elf is such a cute movie
definitely a favorite!
I’ve never been to NYC :-/ I’m begging hubby to take me, but we’ll see how that works with baby coming. Hopefully we’ll make a trip out there soon, I constantly remind him we are SOO close that we HAVE to go!
if you live close than even more so of a reason to go! you don’t even need to have a plan, just wander around and take it all in
Awww I’m so jealous. I would absolutely love to go to NYC in Xmas time, but alas it’s just too far. We often try to go up to Union Sq in San Francisco to see the ice skaters and trees, but haven’t done so this year.
The one thing we have to do is go to a tree farm in the hills and cut down our Xmas tree
oh i bet SF has it’s own version of Christmas cheer! And yes, a tree is a priority! I love that you get a real one!
awww, we were there this past weekend as well. i LOVED all the santas! we had such a fun time. we started this tradition last year and are also making it an annual trip! 29 girls went! wheewww whooooo! merry christmas!
29 girls!! wow! that sounds like a great time! it’s a great tradition to have!
Being in NYC at Christmastime is on my life list! Must do!!! Thanks for sharing!
oh girl, it’s worth a spot on the bucket list
blair and serena, my dream time!
they sure know how to do it right!
Oh my goodness – I am so so jealous you got to go to NYC during Christmastime – I would absolutely love to!! We always take a trip up to San Francisco and visit Union Square to see the tree and do some holiday shopping – always such a fun time and the spirit up there is so fun and festive
My fav holiday movie has got to be A Christmas Story, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (the original one), and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – we play it every year
I love A Christmas Story…such a cute movie every year!