Christmas in New York
For many, especially self-proclaimed “Christmas fanatics”, Christmastime in New York City is an unbeatable experience. That’s why we chose to highlight in this week’s Wanderlust Wednesday!
Read on for all there is to see and do for Christmas in New York.
Take in the Holiday Cheer by Window Shopping & Exploring the Fabulously-Festive Hotel Lobbies Around the City
The best part about being in New York City during Christmastime is that once you get there, there are an abundance of free activities to put you in the holiday spirit. For starters, grab a hot cocoa or apple cider and head to Madison Avenue. Here you’ll want to take in the Barneys and Hermès window displays. Fifth Avenue is also a good place to see the window displays, especially the Plaza Hotel display and Bergdorf’s. Continue down Fifth Avenue to see the windows at Tiffany’s, Cartier, and Harry Winston. Then you’ll hit Saks Fifth Avenue at 49th Street (pictured above). Once you’re here you are nearby Rockafeller Center with its famed tree and festive figure skaters. It’s important to note that the best time to see the illuminated windows is at night, but if you’re more interested in the Instagram clout, peruse in the daytime.
Window displays aren’t the only things that businesses like to spruce up for the holidays. NYC hotels are equally as impressive during Christmas in New York. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the festivities without freezing your face off. The best hotel decors can be found at The St. Regis, The Plaza (don’t skip the holiday tea at Palm Court), and The Baccarat Hotel.
Ice Skating & Outdoor Christmas Shopping Pop-Ups
The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park is a staple for Christmas in New York. Starting at the end of October, the park becomes an outdoor shopping village. You can find just about anything on your Christmas list here, from luxury bathrobes to one-of-a-kind hand-painted ornaments. In addition, the popular ice skating rink here offers free admission. The shops close on January 2 but the rinks remains open through March 4, weather permitting.
If the Winter Village becomes too crowded, which does happen around the holidays, head to the Standard Hotel to do your ice skating. This hotel is locating in the Meatpacking District and is much smaller than the rink at Bryant Park. It is a great place for young children or beginners as they have cute penguin helpers you can hold on to for support while skating. Plus, there is an outdoor cafe which serves hot chocolate. The Standard Plaza rink opened November 23rd this year and will stay open through the holidays.
If you really want to bring home a unique ornament to commemorate your Christmas in New York, head to John Derian. They are known to have a huge assortment of unique ornaments – both vintage and new. This lower east side shop is open Tuesday through Sunday and you can order online if you just can’t make up your mind in-store!
And of course you can’t miss
Unique Experiences for the Whole Family
For a truly unique Christmas experience, take the vintage subway train that runs every weekend during the holidays on the F line. You’ll truly feel like you landed in a different era with vintage advertisements inside and an unbeatable cheeriness aboard. You can check for running dates which began in late November, but the train is always on display at the Transmit Museum if you miss it.
If you have a child who is obsessed with trains, you’re going to want to experience this one as well! The New York Botanical Gardens sets up a miniature holiday train and New York landmark exhibit each year for viewing. This isn’t just for kids, however. Many locals visit the exhibit every single year, which runs from mid-November 17 to mid-January.
Catch a Show or Ballet
If I were visiting New York City during the holidays, I would never pass up the chance to see the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. As I’m sure many others can relate, the Nutcracker brings out a special Christmas nostalgia whenever I see it. Plus, seeing all of the ecstatic children in the audience is a great way to set a cheerful tone for the season. The ballet runs through December 31 this year.
If you get a chance to score tickets, head to the Guggenheim Museum. For two weekends in December, Isaac Mizrahi’s production of Peter & the Wolf. This musical will delight adults and children alike and has become a holiday staple in New York each year around the holidays. Tickets and info are available at www.guggenheim.org.
And if you happen to still be in New York for New Year’s Eve, don’t miss the New York Philharmonic’s annual New Year’s Eve concert. You can purchase tickets at nyphil.org.
Experience the Best Holiday Cocktails
New York City has a plethora of cozy bars to hunker down in for a warm beverage. If you are an eggnog fag, head to Bar ’21’ at the ’21’ Club. There are also many holiday pop-up bars including Snow Globe in the Sky at Ophelia, which transforms into a glittering snow globe full of snowflakes and twinkly lights. Plus, their 360-degree view of Manhattan is amazing year-round. Another great holiday pop-up is Après Arlo at the Arlo SoHo hotel. Here, they transform their outdoor courtyard into a cozy Christmastime hideaway with heated cedar cabins and a full menu of hot toddies.
Enchanted Honeymoons Travel | Destination Travel | Best Packages
Our ultimate goal is to make the destination wedding planning process as stress-free as possible. Planning your perfect honeymoon, destination wedding, romantic getaway or the perfect vacation of a lifetime has never been easier with Enchanted Honeymoons.
Contact us today at (402) 390-9291 to book your next getaway or get started here.
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Not feeling like the usual couch and hot cocoa routine for the holidays this year? Skip the hometown Christmas celebration and book a stay at one of these magical holiday hotels instead.
We’ve rounded up the coziest, most festive bunch of hotels to make for an unforgettable holiday. Read on for the full list of Best Holiday Hotels!
1. The Breakers Palm Beach – Palm Beach, Florida
Trade the snow and cold for sun and fun at The Breakers Palm Beach for Christmas. Trust us, you will not miss out on any of the festive vibes you’re used to during December. The Breakers Hotel is decked out from head to toe for the holidays each year. We’re talking 170,000 twinkle lights, 8,000 ornaments, 12,000 feet of ribbon, 126 bows, and an two 18-foot evergreen trees. In addition, the restaurants at The Breakers don’t hold back either. HMF, located on the North Loggia just off the grand lobby, holds Holiday Tea starting December 20. Flagler Steakhouse gets into the spirit too with special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day lunches and dinners. And the festivities continue through New Year’s Eve! HMF and Flagler Steakhouse both host parties, but the main attraction is the annual New Year’s Eve Fantasy Ball in The Breaker’s newly renovated Ponce de Leon Ballroom. Tickets to this black tie event run for $750 per person.
2. The Ritz – London
The Ritz has been a London staple of British elegance since 1906. It’s opulent interior and lavish furnishings are breathtaking even without the added holiday decor, but experiencing this holiday hotel in December is an unforgettable experience. Fans of the beloved TV drama “Downtown Abbey” will be especially keen to celebrate the holidays here because their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners are held in the Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant which was featured on the show. In addition to great food and festive surroundings, they will have a live band and professional dancers both nights. And of course, you can’t leave without experiencing the traditional Christmas afternoon with in the Palm Court during the holiday season. Champagne is served, too!
3. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess – Scottsdale, Arizona
If you are looking for a more kid-friendly holiday hotel, head to desert and stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. You won’t believe the calendar of events and activities they have for the season! It’s so extensive, they even gave it it’s own name: Christmas at the Princess. Take a lap around the desert ice skating rink, spend some time at the Build-A-Bear Workshop, and visit Santa’s Secret Headquarters. You also won’t want to miss S’mores Land, where you can roast marshmallows around a campfire in a Christmas Tree Forest. And of course the decor is beyond over-the-top, with 4.5-million twinkling lights and an 80-foot Christmas tree complete with a light show. The winter wonderland is so huge that it operates two trains so guests don’t miss even an inch of the holiday goodness.
4. Fairmont Banff Springs – Banff, Canada
Known as Canada’s Castle in the Rockies, Fairmont Banff Springs feels like the holidays year-round. Once Christmastime nears, however, the season truly comes to life with a towering tree, poinsettias and other classic Christmas decor throughout the property. Plus, this is another great option for families with plenty of seasonal activities. Adults and children alike will love the afternoon Christmas teas, snowflake scavenger hunts, Christmas caroling, and a holiday pajama party. Families can also tour the Santa Suite, where the bearded man gets ready for his around-the-world voyage. And of course, guests all gather on Christmas Eve to send him off on his present-delivery expedition.
5. The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square – San Francisco, California
The Westin St. Francis overlooks San Francisco’s iconic ice skating rink and festive Christmas tree, making it the perfect holiday hotel to book. In addition, inside the hotel you’ll find the 12-foot tall Medieval Sugar Castle. It is located next to the St. Francis Enchanted Castle and both castles are open to the public. You’ll also want to make time to stop in the Sweet Boutique for delicious holiday treats. Families will love the Holiday Hideaway, which is new for the 2019 holiday season. The Holiday Hideaway is a floor dedicated entirely to families. When you book a room on this floor, kids will be delighted by their welcome gift of candy canes and coloring books, plus a ticket for the in-room sweets and a “Letter to Santa” kit. The fun doesn’t end there, though. At night, magical elves deliver special treats to your door and in the morning you’ll wake up to San Francisco-inspired gifts.
6. Mirror Lake Inn – Lake Placid, New York
For the quintessential holiday hotel experience, head to Lake Placid and stay at Mirror Lake Inn. Christmas trees are literally everywhere on the property, both inside and outside – you can even request to have one placed in your room. The hotel holds plenty of fun holiday activities for families including skating on the lake, free hot chocolate, cozy bonfires, Toboggan rides, and a horse-drawn sleigh ride. And of course all the kids receive a visit from Santa, complete with milk and cookies.
Enchanted Honeymoons Travel | Destination Travel | Best Packages
Our ultimate goal is to make the vacation planning process as stress-free as possible. Planning your perfect honeymoon, destination wedding, romantic getaway or vacation of a lifetime has never been easier with Enchanted Honeymoons.
Contact us today at (402) 390-9291 to book your next getaway or get started here.
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Celebrating Christmas in the Caribbean is a unique experience that you will never forget especially during the Christmas season. Whether you’re spending Christmas in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, or another island, the festivities are filled with warmth, joy, and cherished traditions, making it the perfect time to celebrate Christmas with friends and family
A Unique Feast in Jamaica
Jamaicans celebrate Christmas much like Americans: they go to church, exchange gifts with family and friends, then gather for a big meal. Christmas Day in Jamaica is a day of feasting on some unique delicacies you may never have heard of including oxtail, curry goat, and Gungo peas. Gungo peas are a Jamaican specialty that usually ripen in December, making them the perfect special ingredient for Christmas Day. Another holiday specialty loved by Jamaicans is a Christmas cake soaked in rum.
The Sand Yard in Grand Cayman Island
Are you dreaming of a White Christmas, but on the beach? Sounds like an impossibility unless you happen to wake up Christmas morning in the Caymen Islands! The tradition of the Sand Yard starts in late October, when buckets of white sand are transported from the beach to Islanders’ front yards. December 24 is a special day for this tradition, when piles are raked into even blankets of white, and no one is allowed to step on them until Christmas morning. t’s a beautiful way to celebrate Christmas, offering a Caribbean twist on the traditional Christmas celebrations.
A Three Month Party in the DR
How does Dominican Republic celebrate Christmas? The Dominican republic Christmas season starts all the way back in October. October marks three months of parties, food, and fun traditions in the DR. Noche Buena is the biggest part of the holidays, thrown on Christmas Eve. The weeks leading up to Noche Buena are full of fireworks, or fuegos artificales. Another beloved tradition is known as Double Sueldo, when employees receive an extra months’ paycheck each December.
Honoring the Patron Saint of Light in St. Lucia
On December 13, St. Lucians begin the Festival of Lights and Renewal, a celebration which honors St. Lucy, the patron saint of Light. The celebration begins with Christmas lights being switched on, plus a lantern-making competition each year. For the lantern-making comp, boys partake and fashion bamboo stalks to make homemade cannons. Using kerosene, sticks, and a bottle lamp, they compete with one another to see who can create the loudest explosion.
Nine Mornings in St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Each morning starting on the morning nine days before Christmas, those living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines begin the annual Nine Mornings Festival. They wake up before the sun rises to fill the streets for a wild party. the party includes sea baths, costumed dances, and festive bike rides.
The Carriacou Parange Festival in Grenada
The Carriacou Parange Festival is every year in Grenada over the weekend before Christmas. The festival includes free outdoor concerts showcasing some of the best parang bands from throughout Grenada. Parange bands play calypso-like music with drums, maracas, mandolins, guitars, tambourines and more. There is a huge daytime celebration, then the bands go door to door with carols to entertain neighbors late into the wee hours of the morning , spreading the cheer of Christmas celebrations.
A Puerto Rican Feast
Puerto Ricans celebrate Christmas much like we do in the States, with American carols, “Feliz Navidad” on repeat, and a huge traditional meal. Puerto Ricans serve local lechonera, or suckling pig slow-roasted over hardwood fires. In addition to this delicacy, families serve blood-sausage morcilla, or pig’s innards, and arroz con gandules, or rice and pigeon peas. Finally, wash it all down with coquito, a specialty Puerto Rican eggnog.
Celebrate the Christmas holidays in the Caribbean, surrounded by beautiful traditions and delicious food. From the grand market and street parades to the festive meals and joyful celebrations, the holiday season in the Caribbean is truly one-of-a-kind. Let us help you experience your own Caribbean Christmas adventure this year!
Call us today to experience your own Christmas in the Caribbean at 402-281-3022. In addition, you can get started here.
Looking for a great gift for the traveler in your life? Check out our list of 7 great travel-related gifts for the holiday season.
1. TRTL Travel Pillow
When it comes to travel-related gifts, the TRTL Travel Pillow always tops the list. I have one of these and once you try it, you’ll never go back to any other travel pillow again. This one is especially handy for flights during COVID, because it keeps your neck upright so you aren’t touching the back of the seat at all. Plus, it packs so small!
2. Paravel Packing Cubes
The traveler in your life will love these packing cubes to organize their suitcase like a pro! We like the stylish Paravel Packing Cubes the best, because of course you want your gift to be pretty and not just practical.
3. Tory Burch Perry Leather Passport Holder
This luxurious Tory Burch Perry Leather Passport Holder is such a great travel-related gift. It is a bit on the pricy side for a passport holder, but it will make any traveler feel like they are in first class – even when they’re in coach.
4. Tarriss Portable Luggage Scale
To make sure your travel-loving friend or family member is never forced to pay extra baggage fees, get them this portable luggage scale. That way, they can pack their bags to the max weight limit every time without going over. This particular scale from Tarriss is lightweight and portable.
5. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
I absolutely love my Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, and the traveler in your life will too! Travelers like me love it due to its small size and long battery life. Plus, this “Paperwhite” option makes it super easy to read in the dark. In addition, there’s no glare from the sun when reading poolside or on the beach.
6. Portable Travel Jewelry Box
I always wish I had something like this when I’m packing jewelry for a trip. This pretty little Vlando Travel Jewelry Box is perfect for keeping all of your sparkly things safe and secure.
7. BaByliss Pro Nano Hairdyer
Another thing I hate packing but can’t travel without – my hairdryer. I’m definitely putting this one on my Christmas list this year: BabyLissPro Travel Dryer. This one is both powerful and small, so it’s worth the purchase.