MY FIRST: NEW YORK CITY VISIT

My first experience of New York was during Christmas week 2013. While living in California I've become very comfortable with our 65 degree Decembers so before embarking on my trip to New York I tried to find websites that would give me insight on the how to's of NYC during Christmas week. Well my luck on the web wasn't grand. So the next best option for me was to ask people who've been there before. I was told, "comfy shoes" and "its cold, but a heavy coat will do the trick" oh and "the subway...stay away."

We arrived to JFK on Christmas evening, collected our baggage and called our cab (which I reserved prior) Cabby arrived and swooped us off to our hotel, which was located on the lower east side. After a long flight the last thing I wanted to do was walk around the City, so we ordered our first Chinese delivery. Food was ok, very comparable to the meals I've eaten before. 

On our first day in NYC, we had to bundle up the temperature high was 32 degrees (which would be the evening low in CA) Now when I say bundle up here's what you'll need if you're not use to the cold temps:

• Head
• Beanie or hat
• Neck
• scarf, not the cutesy silk kind either, a heavy wool or knitted 
• turtle neck (if you don't like scarves)
• Ears
• ear muffs, believe me you'll need them
• Hands
• gloves, nothing too bulky
• fingerless arm gloves (these are a must)
• Body
• now this was a surprise to me, I always see puffy jackets in CA shops but no one buys them unless you're going skiing....well now I know who buys them people in cold weather climates!! If you are going to buy a jacket for your trip opt for a puffy fleece lined jacket, or a heavy pea coat will work.
• layers, layers, layers at least a long sleeve and a sweater
• if you were jeans, wear thermals underneath
• Feet
• don't wear your Ugg boots
• opt for a flat knee high boot, nothing new or else your feet will kill you!
• leg warmers, yeah that's right

I would've enjoyed the puffy fleeced lined jacket, but my heavy pea coat did just fine. We walked a couple of blocks to the nearest subway, got our Metro cards and off we were.

 Now anyone wanting to go to NYC during the holidays must know this before going:

• Book your hotel as early as you can, the good hotels fill up quickly. I booked in Septemeber and had to settle for a hotel in an area that wasn't my first choice.
• Reserve a ride to pick you up from the airport
• Purchase your tickets to the Crown on the Statue of Liberty as early as you can
• Reserve tickets to the 9/11 Memorial are required, book them online.
• Download a subway and city app to your phone
• Metro card, your keys to the City
• Book your Rockettes tickets using Groupon
• If you want to go on a tour, look them up first and make sure they're worth it, same goes for a Broadway show.

While in NCY you are going to want to eat a slice of pizza, eat at a hotdog cart, try the nuts and head down to Little Italy for the best Italian food and canoli's you'll ever have.

Hit the main spots, Macys, Time Square (being from CA it reminded me of the Vegas Strip), Rockefeller, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Empire State, 9/11 site, Wall St, don't forget to walk on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Use the subway, you will be ok its overwhelming at first but very simple to figure out once you get the hang of it. Hail a cab, be forewarned they drive very intensely. The best way to see the city is on your feet, you'll be walking most of the time so you wont feel bad eating that extra slice of pizza.

The City leaves you wanting more, the energy is alive and happening.