Christmas in New York City

Our Christmas in New York City was pure magic! I took the boys to visit my sister, and we soaked up all the holiday vibes—twinkling lights, amazing sights, and so much festive fun. It was such a special trip full of unforgettable memories!

Watch video of our Christmas vacation

I put together a video of our Christmas in New York City. I really make these videos for myself to capture a moment in time so I can look back on it. If you want to learn how to make your own videos, check out my blog post HERE for help!

See Last Years Christmas

Our Christmas Break 2023

Our Christmas in New York City

Christmas in New York City with my sister was nothing short of magical. As you know, grief during the holidays is always a bit heavy for me, so I plan to be with family to keep from feeling too overwhelmed. Usually, we spend Christmas in Colorado with loved ones, but this year, my sister couldn’t make it because of work. Driving there in the winter is tough for me, so I decided to pull out my inner YOLO and plan a Christmas trip to NYC instead.

Flying during the holidays with my anxiety was daunting, but I pushed through. It was a challenge to fit all of Christmas into a suitcase, but somehow, I pulled it off—and it was absolutely worth it.

We started the week with the Rockefeller Christmas tree and the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. The boys were completely captivated by the show. To keep things manageable, we stuck to one big activity a day since there’s so much walking in New York.

On Christmas Eve, we explored the Columbus Circle holiday market and then headed to Central Park, where fresh snow had fallen that morning. Watching the boys play in the snow on Christmas Eve felt like something out of a movie—it was pure magic.

Christmas morning was cozy and joyful in my sister’s apartment. We laughed, opened presents, and soaked up the warmth of being together. Later in the week, we visited Times Square and the Natural History Museum. Surprisingly, the boys’ favorite part of the trip was riding the subway and rushing to the windows anytime they heard sirens, hoping to catch a glimpse of a fire truck or police car.

Despite my travel anxiety, this trip was a reminder of how worth it stepping out of my comfort zone can be. Experiencing a New York City Christmas with my sister and my boys was an adventure I’ll always treasure.

Fitting Christmas in a suitcase

Packing all of Christmas into a carry-on suitcase for my six-year-old twins was quite the challenge, but I pulled it off! I used the five-gift rule to plan their Christmas and carefully thought through every detail, from compact gifts and cozy outfits to mini stockings and lightweight decorations, to ensure the holiday magic came with us. Packing strategically meant focusing on what would make the trip feel special without weighing us down. (Check out the links to the toys we brought here!) It took some creativity, but seeing the boys’ faces light up on Christmas morning in New York City made every effort completely worth it!

This post does contain affiliate links in which I will be compensated a small amount if you purchase through the link at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Coco’s Caravan

Link to Christmas Toys

I love sharing my favorite finds and new discoveries on my Like to Know It account, so make sure to follow along—you don’t want to miss out! I’ve linked all the boys’ Christmas toys there, so if you’re interested, you can check them out and shop easily. 💕

Travel Anxiety

Traveling isn’t easy for me. I have to push through a lot of anxiety, and the lead-up to trips can be so intense that I often get physically sick. My health has been impacted for months around the travel I’ve done lately. I’ve flown alone with my boys so many times, and while they’re older and easier to manage now, I still feel a lot of anxiety-it’s really challenging for me. Since having kids, I’ve become such a homebody, and even getting out of the house can take a lot of effort.
With my family living far away, flying is the only way to see them, which adds to the difficulty. This is my last trip for a while, and I think giving my body and mind a rest will be good. While it’s always worth it and we always have a great time, it’s never easy to get there. Anyone else struggle with anxiety around travel?

Grief during the Holidays

How to handle grief during the holidays