Now that the holiday season is here, I can’t help but reminisce about last Christmas, when my family and I took a four-day trip to the city that never sleeps. This was my first time travelling outside of Canada in almost two decades, so naturally, I haven’t been able to shut up about it. I always think back to this trip, and I’m grateful that I was about to go before the world quickly changed in 2020.
In this travel post I will be sharing a collection of photos that I captured along the way. Sit back, grab a drink, and join me in reliving my Christmas trip to New York City in 2019.
Let’s get into it!
Day 1: Hello NYC ❤️
After checking in, getting settled into our hotel room, and taking a stroll around the Wall Street area, we got dinner at a local fast food restaurant and then got ready for bed by 7. Yup, we were in bed by 7pm. We laughed at ourselves because who goes to New York just to stay in bed? Don’t worry, the trip gets more exciting, but that recharge was much needed. At least we can check off “enjoy a 12+ hour nap in New York City” off our bucket list lol!
Day 2: Roaming in Manhattan
Our second day in the city was by far our most eventful day. After a long night of rest, we were finally ready to leave bed and explore the city.
Itinerary: Macy’s, hot dog stand (this was a fan favourite), NBC Studios Tour, dinner at a delicious Chinese restaurant called Manting, Times Square, Saks Fifth Avenue, Radio City, and more. You can imagine how exhausted we were by the end of the day but it was so worth it. I ended the night wrapped in the hotel bed sheets watching Good Burger.
Day 3: A Day at The MET
Our third day was a lot more relaxed but a lot of walking nonetheless. From Wall Street, we took the subway up Manhattan towards The Metropolitan Museum of Art. We spent the afternoon exploring different exhibits and taking in all of the beautiful art. I always love to visit museums back home, so going to the MET was a surreal experience. It was massive and filled with visitors, at one point I lost my family while taking photos.
After the museum, we were tired and wanted nothing more than food, so we went for dinner. We found a resto-bar called Bill’s Bar & Burger, connected to the Marriott Hotel on 85th W St. Luckily, the World Trade Center Memorial was a few minutes away so we went to see it and ended the night there. It was a really special experience.
Day 4: Goodbye NYC ❤️
“I love short trips to New York; to me it is the finest three-day town on earth.”
– James Cameron
There’s something I find comforting about the final leg of a road trip—the drive home. You’re filled with memories, full from breakfast (if you had a chance to grab some), and don’t have a care in the world about how you look because you’ll be sleeping for most of the ride home. Even anticipating the next ‘En Route’ stop to get snacks or stretch your legs makes me happy. As hectic and cold as traveling can be during the holidays, I’d recommend going to New York at some point in your life. Canadian filmmaker, James Cameron, once said, “I love short trips to New York; to me it is the finest three-day town on earth.” I agree with him. It was a trip I’ll have in my heart forever and I already can’t wait to go back.
Final Thoughts
Was New York as mystical and magical during Christmas as everyone claims it to be? Does it really look like all of those photos that surface all over social media in December, preaching to you that it’s an experience of a lifetime? For me, the answer is yes. It wasn’t a winter wonderland like I’ve seen in photos, but the bright lights and energy there was unmatched. Of course, the experience you have will depend on where you go—my family and I spent most of our time in tourist hot spots. It was a lot of walking, subway-ing, and pushing through huge, frantic crowds, however, it was all worth it to me. Everything just seems bigger and brighter in New York City, and it’s an experience you should take part in if you have the chance.
Thank you for making it all the way to the end of my little love letter to New York. I hope you enjoyed going back in time with me. Chat soon!
Xo, Kundi
Leave a Reply