By Stephannie Machado
I recently took a trip to New York in December, and instead of trying to see everything, I focused on doing things that actually felt enjoyable. The city can be overwhelming, especially around the holidays, so I tried to move through it at my own pace and stick to places that felt interesting rather than stressful.
I did go see the Rockefeller tree, which is one of those things you kind of have to see at least once. It was crowded, but still nice, especially at night when all the lights are on. While I was in that area, I stopped by the Jellycat store, which was way cuter than I expected. However, depending on the time you arrive the line can be up to an hour just to go inside. It was small, cozy, and honestly just a fun place to wander into when it was cold outside and it genuinely reminded me of that toy shop in the harry potter movies.
Bryant Park ended up being one of my least favorite spots. The Christmas shops were busy and although it felt festive it was way too chaotic. Walking through the little stalls, seeing people with overpriced/mid hot chocolate was definitely not the move. Most of the food is extremely overpriced and not of the best quality. Definitely a tourist attraction but it can be cool to stroll around if you’re passing by, but I’d skip out on the food and the overpriced Knick knacks.
I mostly avoided Times Square but I ended up walking past it while on my way to the coolest Christmas bar/restaurant ever! It was called Lilies Victorian and I recommend it to anyone who is in town because the decorations are next level. Although this blog sounds extremely negative Nancy about all of the main tourist stops in New York I would like to say that walking past them and seeing them for like a hour or so out of your Christmas trip itinerary is a great but revolving your whole day around it might not be the best idea. New York is much better when you skip those hit spots and spend time doing things like going to coffee shops, walking through neighborhoods, and thrifting. Those moments felt more real and a lot more enjoyable.
Brooklyn was easily one of the highlights of the trip. The thrift stores there are amazing, and I found the best denim I’ve ever owned. Everything felt more relaxed, and it was fun just walking around and popping into stores without any kind of plan. It made the city feel more livable and less like a tourist destination.
I also went ice skating in Williamsburg, which was really fun and low-key. It wasn’t too crowded, and it felt more like something locals would do rather than a big tourist activity. Just being outside, skating, and listening to music made it a simple but memorable part of the trip. It was also very budget friendly, I believe it was 30$ for the session and you could reserve anytime during the day to arrive.
One of the most meaningful experiences was going to an indie show in the upper west side. Patch+ performed with LEYA, Deer Park, and Colle, and I didn’t realize until I got there that the show was in a church. The space completely changed how the music felt. The acoustics were incredible, and the whole experience was calm and beautiful in a way I didn’t expect. It ended up being my favorite moment of the trip. Not to mention the fashion that was present and seen during this show. It was literally shocking.
Overall, the trip felt less about seeing everything and more about enjoying small moments, which made New York feel a lot more personal and memorable. If I were to recommend any tips, I would recommend looking at Tik Toks of specific events happening during the week of your visit and I would also extremely recommend staying somewhere that isn’t so far from the city so you can take some time to relax during the long walking days.
