New York City – Winter Wonderland
by Mary McCarney

When the cold wind blows and the snow starts falling, New York is magically transformed into a winter wonderland. And with 30,000 lights on the Rockefeller Christmas tree and frozen skating rinks in Central Park, this city sparkles more than ever at holiday time.

As NY is our favorite American city, the chance to spend our holiday in the Big Apple was a dream come true. On Christmas Eve, we joined the hustle and bustle of last-minute shoppers on Fifth Avenue, and just lapped up the atmosphere. We felt as if we’d walked into a hundred holiday movies - yes, there really were Santas in the streets shouting, “Merry Christmas!” and chestnuts roasting on every corner.

Here are a few of our favorite New York winter must-dos:

• Stop and admire the magnificent window displays at Macy’s and Saks. NY department stores are famous for their beautifully designed holiday windows which celebrate the season, and entice you inside!
  

• See the world's most famous Christmas tree – a 74ft Norwegian spruce at the Rockefeller Center from November to January (5:30am to 11:30pm, all day on Christmas Day, and from 5:30am to 9pm on New Year's Eve).
  

• Recapture the magic of the season at Radio City, where the Rockettes perform their legendary ‘Christmas Spectacular’ from November to January. High kicks, long legs and a living Nativity.
  

• Join worshippers for Midnight Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral - a beautiful and moving experience. But be warned, the lines outside are always long, and tickets are required. Tel. 212 753-2261
  

• Go ice-skating - the rink at Rockefeller Center opens Columbus Day weekend and stays open through early April. Tel. 212-332-7654.
  

• The Wollman Rink in Central Park – ice-skating November through March. Tel 212-439-6900.

• Take a bus tour for the warmest way to see the sights. Re-live romantic screen scenes by joining the Manhattan TV & Movie Tour, which picks up daily from outside Ellen’s Stardust Diner on Broadway. See the Puck Building (location for When Harry met Sally), Café Noir (Diane Lane’s secret rendezvous in Unfaithful), The Public Library (Breakfast at Tiffany’s) and of course, The Empire State Building (Sleepless in Seattle, An Affair to Remember, Mad About You, and a hundred other movies!) Tel. 212 209 3370.

• For an evening to remember, take a ride up to the intimate Top of the Tower bar, voted one of the most romantic places to kiss, for drinks and dessert. Beekman Tower Hotel, 49th Street & 1st Avenue. Tel. 212 980-4796.

• Stay at a romantic hotel. We chose the Affinia Dumont (150 E. 34th Street, tel. 212 481-7600), recently described by the New York Times as NYC’s best-kept secret. This all-suite hotel is ideally located within walking distance of Manhattan’s major attractions. In a city where every square inch counts, our room was surprisingly spacious. We also had a fantastic view of the Chrysler Building – a spectacular sight at night. The Affinia group offers a menu of special treats to make NYC getaways even more romantic. Choose from enticing ‘Romance your Rate’ extras, such as breakfast in bed, a sensuous aromatherapy massage for two or a unique rose petal turndown service, and receive a complimentary collection of love poems.

It may be cold outside, but cuddled-up in your room under a down-filled duvet and chenille wraps, winter in New York can feel pretty cozy.

Text © Mary McCarney 2006

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Mary McCarney is a teacher and freelance writer from England. She writes articles and reviews books for a range of newspapers and magazines, including The London Times. She is also a contributing author of a new History textbook, and a member of the International Press Association.