The Christmas season has always lit me up inside. Warmth radiates within me like a fireplace lit for the first time in 12 months as soon as the calendar flips to December 1st. It has always imbued comfort, joy, and a youthfulness in the air. The cheekiness of pretending Santa still exists on gift tags long after the magic has been unveiled. But in recent years, Christmas has felt a little less jolly. I made my wish come true a little early this year by hopping on a plane to the city of Christmas, New York City. 

New York City Skyline from a ferry in the Hudson River

I’ve always equated New York City with being the most festive in North America. This probably stemmed from watching "Home Alone 2" growing up. Seeing that New York had giant trees, outdoor skating rinks, decorations filling plazas, and even the revolving doors spinning Christmas joy, it became one of my bucket list cities. It never felt urgent; I lived relatively close, so I could visit at any point, but I decided this year was the perfect year. 

Giant Red Ornaments outside Radio City

Last year, I spent the first half of December on small islands in the Pacific Ocean on a sailboat. Up until a week before Christmas, I was surrounded by heat, ocean, beaches, palm trees, and zero Christmas carols. I know plenty of people would appreciate this climate as opposed to negative temperatures and nipping, icy snow, but the weather always sets the Christmas atmosphere for me. The Solomon Islands celebrates Christmas - it’s a predominantly Christian country - but there are no trees and lights and Mariah Carey. Even when I flew back home for Christmas, I didn’t have the whimsy in me. Next year I’ll be moving to Australia and be in the hot climate once again come December 25, so this year had to be the one for a cliché Christmas. Thus, I booked a flight to New York City. 

I had no plan going there other than to leave overwhelmed by cheer. I was actually the least prepared ever for a trip, probably because I’m used to preparing for months of living from a backpack. This time, it was only one week and a suitcase. However, my first mistake was not looking at the weather; stepping off that plane ejected me to the North Pole. I was questioning why people think Canadians have it bad when this was the coldest temperature my body had dipped to in years. Though the West Coast Canadian weather is weak compared to the rest of Canada. I made it to my hotel in Times Square and hibernated that first night; tomorrow I would go find Christmas.

Rockefeller Tree

I bundled up in 3 layers, not enough, and stepped onto the buzzing NYC streets. Let’s break down my first few minutes by the senses. Sight: people packed like sardines on the sidewalks, towering buildings, Christmas decorations in every door and window. Sound: horns, so many horns. Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys in an inharmonic remix of “Empire State of Mind” and “All I Want for Christmas.” Smell: gasoline, greasy hot dogs, and musty steam. Taste: Bagels, the fluffiest bagels I’ve ever had and the most exotic cream cheese. Touch: I couldn’t feel anything; I was completely numb from the cold. I spent the first 10 minutes on the street bee-lining to a “I heart NY” store to buy gloves and a beanie. 

Cream cheese selection at Broad Nosh Bagels

East 46th Street with Empire State Building in the background

I walked down Broadway into the heart of the city, and quickly, my Christmas yearning was fulfilled. Buildings were blanketed in Christmas lights, and Evergreen trees stood tall at every corner. There were Santas with sleds on every street, and though the air was cold and tainted with the smell of wet socks, Christmas was palpable.

I merged with the crowds in the Christmas markets and got hot apple cider while ogling at the ornaments and possible gift ideas. 

I saw the Broadway show “Death Becomes Her;” the sparkling costumes and dazzling dances made it the perfect Broadway spectacle. This was just the first day! 

“Death Becomes Her” in Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

The second day, I explored Central Park with hands as deep in my pockets as they could go and walked at a pace that was borderline running. I enjoyed the street shows and buskers that entertained the park. Seeing the buildings tower over the treetops, even in the middle of the 843-acre park, left my mouth agape. 

Tall buildings towering over trees seen from inside Central Park

I got my fair share of the New York Subway this day. I was hoping to get to see one of those TikTokers who do the dances in the subways, but instead I got mice and spilled alcohol and mystery substances. To end my second day, I went for an evening skate at Rockefeller ice rink. It was magical, but Santa had one more present for me. As my skates took to the rigid ice, intricate frozen water fell on our gleeful faces. This was my specific dream come true. Midnight skating while it snows at Rockefeller Center with the giant tree lit up in technicolor rainbow lights and a beaming star. I pranced around Times Square with the snow framing the billboards before heading back to my warm hotel room. This was my first time seeing snow in 2 years, and I was going to soak it in. 

The next day, I headed to New Jersey to watch a hockey game; the Vancouver Canucks (my home team) against the New Jersey Devils. Sadly, Santa thought I was a bit naughty this year because the day before the game, the captain, who was my favorite player on our team, was traded. It was a bittersweet moment to watch the first game without him, but this being the first away game I’ve been to was a very cool experience nevertheless. Being one of a hundred opposing fans in the rink and being able to stand and cheer in enemy colours while everyone else booed was a magical experience in its own way. Plus, we won. 

Ice level at Prudential Centre for the Vancouver Canucks vs New Jersey Devils game

On our last day, I went back into New York to finish off my trip with a sightseeing staple of New York City, the Statue of Liberty. I first stopped by the 9/11 memorials, which was a surreal experience. The pools were so much bigger than I ever imagined, and it was crazy to be standing where a monumental moment had occurred. On the other end of the dichotomy, the Statue of Liberty was smaller than I pictured. I wasn’t planning on taking a ferry to Liberty Island, but standing on the shore staring at her from a distance felt underwhelming. I didn’t think it was possible to be colder, but being on a boat in the Hudson River when it’s 28F outside exceeded my British Columbian weather threshold. I concluded the trip with a nice dinner on Wall Street, drinking peppermint hot chocolates in a Starbucks. 

As I boarded my flight back to rainy, but warmer, Vancouver, I felt much more uplifted than when I left. Almost like a jolly man in a red suit with a thick white beard had hoisted me off the street and put me in his sleigh. I hope that in the coming years, as Christmas looks different for me, I will still feel the juvenile joy it’s always brought me. But even if it doesn’t, if I miss the brisk frigid wind and my family feels a sleigh ride away, I will have the memories of this trip to satiate my Christmas pining. 

About the Author

Born in British Columbia, Canada, Katrina Chen knew she was born to travel. She worked as Media Coordinator for a school in the Dominican Republic. She has since taken her skills and her camera to Hawaii, New Zealand, Tanzania, Honduras, and the Pacific Northwest. Next stop, South America. katrinacchen.myportfolio.com