Here not There - Christmas in New York City

I have a love/hate relationship with New York City.  

I love that there is so much to do, so much to see, so many great restaurants to eat at and bars to drink at.   But I hate all the people, the insane crowds, and long lines to do just about anything anywhere.  

Grand Central decorated for the Holidays 

Last month's trip to New York City was my perfect type of city visit.  It was mid-week on a dreary rainy day which meant the city was practically empty.  Even then, as we woke up and threw on our rain coats and walked down the block to the coffee shop, waiting in a (relatively) short coffee line, he turned to me and said "Welcome to the waiting in line capital of the world".  He lived in the city and was certainly burnt out of city and it's crowds.  But for me this was a fun adventure, a spontaneous mid- week trip.  I sort of giggled and thought to myself, this isn't so bad.

Cut your own tree (Southeast Connecticut) & My "Travel" tree

Nothing says Christmas in New England like heading out in the snow to cut down your own Christmas tree at a local tree farm.  Hand saws, hot cocoa, snowflakes and Christmas carols, oh my.  There is something to be said for supporting a local farmer, and picking your own blue spruce in the field of many on a cold snowy weekend in December.  Living in Utah, we typically had to go the "pre-cut at Lowe's" route and I can say with certainty that tree was already long-gone-dead-as-a-doornail before it ever made it into our apartment (read needles-everywhere).  If you are a little leary on cutting down a tree every year, let me put your mind at ease and assure you it is the better option compared to buying a fake tree.  Last year, I wrote a post about the advantages of buying a real tree vs. fake tree, including some tips on cutting your own tree and my visit to Perry's Tree farm here in Stonington.   

Christmas at the Newport Mansions

The Newport Mansions are a history lesson and a reminder of another era.  It is here in Newport, Rhode Island where the wealthiest spent their summers.  While that time in American History is exactly that, history, the mansions remain thanks to the Preservation Society of Newport.   These mansions are now open to the public year-round to transport you to a time when swans filled the fountains, Gatsbys danced in the ballrooms and gold covered the walls.

Summer is a great time to visit the mansions.  Walking the expansive lawns at the edge of the water you can really "time travel" to the gilded age when these mansions were used as summer cottages.  The warm New England breeze coming off the Atlantic is the perfect occasion to pop in and out of mansions, with a few stops at the raw bar and various Newport restaurants in between. 

Gates to The Breakers

However, Christmas is what I consider to be the perfect time to visit these mansions.  December means less tourists (less crowds, more parking) cheaper ticket prices and most important, the mansions are decorated for the holidays.  And not just a wreath or two, I mean exquisitely decorated Christmas trees, a ton of ornaments, poinsettias, elaborate mantles, beautiful candles, and festive wreaths decorate the mansions inside and out.