Author Feature: The Magic of a New York City Christmas by Lynn Marie Hulsman

Today I am having the wonderful and ever lovely Lynn Marie Hulsman, author of Christmas at Thornton Hall which is fabulously festive! Since we're all in love with New York, Lynn has prepared for us an "insider's guide" to spending Christmas in New York! Over to you, Lynn!

Each time I share a photo of my home city at Christmastime with a distant friend, the refrain is the same: It’s so romantic! I’ve always dreamed of being in the Big Apple for the holidays! I’ve been a citizen here for more years than I’ll admit on this very high-traffic blog, but I have to agree. Even when I’m feeling Scroogey on December days when I’m slogging through chores like dropping off dry cleaning or getting the car’s oil changed, my mood can be transformed in a New York minute by the city’s seasonal magic.

Something as simple as the sound of vintage carols played in the washroom of my favourite hotel’s coffee shop (The Edison, on 47th Street) or the sight of festively dressed horses pulling carriages through Central Park lifts my spirits, reminding me of how lucky I am. I’m healthy, I’m loved, and I live in one of the best cities in the world. Holiday stress melts away, replaced by anticipation and joy.

I highly recommend Manhattan for a destination holiday trip. For most, it’s a splurge, but well worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Plan ahead, and you can combine it with the celebration of a milestone birthday or anniversary, a graduation present, or a honeymoon.

Here are my top tips for enjoying the festive fruits of New York without breaking the bank or wasting any of your precious time on our very big little island.

1. Hit Rockefeller Center Plaza. The giant tree there has been a tradition since 1931, and features over 30,000 lights. As a bonus, you’ll see the spectacular gold statue of Prometheus that you’ve likely seen on TV.  This is one thing worth fighting crowds over. While you’re there, you can shop the beautiful stores surrounding the ice rink. If you get lucky, you might see a couple getting engaged on the ice!

Caveat: Don’t bother ice skating there, just watch. It’s expensive, crowded, and the line takes forever. Instead, snap a few photos and use your time to pop over to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It’s a wonder of architecture, and especially gorgeous decorated for the holiday.

2. Check out FAO Schwarz: The World’s Best Toy Store. I urge you to do this even if you don’t have kids. Plan on standing in line to play the huge piano from the movie BIG, and make sure someone is there to snap your photo! If you can go when the doors open, you’ll beat some of the crowds, same with avoiding weekends. Bonus: Once you’re there, the Apple Store is right below you for

3. Speaking of the Plaza Hotel: Don’t miss it. Even if you just go in to use the facilities (Don’t be intimidated, just ask. You’ll be glad you saw them), it’s worth a little tour. If you’re so inclined, go to the “Eloise” shop and buy a doll or tea set for that special child in your life. If your budget is no object, book a reservation for tea. I suggest packing a hat and gloves for the occasion!

4. Visit the flagship Macy’s at Herald Square. Be ready to queue at quarter to nine, before the store opens in order to experience the thrill of Santa’s wonderland. You’ll see sparkling trees, merry elves, running toy trains, and the one true Santa Claus. If you are a devotee of the film MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, it’s a required stop.

5. Skate and shop at Bryant Park. The ice-skating is cheap, and not too crowded. The stalls selling handmade trinkets and Christmas-themed gift items are rivaled only by the food stalls: Mmm…get a curry soup, a spiced hot chocolate, or a Belgian waffle to re-energize you and stave off the chill. While you’re in the park, use the washrooms. They are hands-down the cleanest and most cheery public ones in New York. Bonus: You’ll be half a block from the main branch of the New York Pubic Library, the one with the two lions out front. And a stop in the gift shop will blow the minds of book lovers. The clever book-themed umbrellas, totes, fridge magnets, puzzles, games and more are the most tempting of treats for the bookish among us.

If you find you can’t make time for all of these tiny trips, don’t fret. Simply walking along 5th Avenue to look at the Yuletide window dressings, or listening to subway singers carolling in four-part harmony make for an exhilarating vacation. Tea at the Plaza is indeed special, but then again so is having a hot dog with onion and ketchup “sauce” from a street vendor or a New York-style pizza slice to carry away on a paper plate. The New York experience is a standout during any time of the year, but a whirl around our fair city near December 25th belongs on any city lover’s bucket list.

last-minute shopping, and you’re right across the street from the Plaza Hotel.

Loved what you read? Why not treat yourself to Lynn's debut novel, Christmas at Thornton Hall which is perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and Christmastime! Click here for the Amazon link! Psst. I'm reading it now and it's soooooooo good! Feeling very festive and in the mood for some mulled wine, mince pies and a very yummy man!