Tips for the Holidays in New York City!

That's right.  I went to New York City during the holiday season and I went to Rockefeller Center and looked at the tree.  You kind of have to don't you?  I mean, what is the holiday in New York without it?  I certainly hope that we never have to find out.  I hope that long after I die, you can still go to New York at the holidays and see the tree and go ice skating underneath it.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  But, on my trip there last week, I did that and so much more.

Now, if you go to see the tree, you have to turn around and head toward Saks Fifth Avenue.  The angels trumpeting in Rockefeller Plaza set the tone for a great holiday adventure, and the windows at Saks don't disappoint.  The displays are festive and artistic.  It's like modern art outside the Met.  There is a walkway/viewing platform set up for visitors to walk by the windows.  I hate to say it, but see the outside.  Once you go inside there are a few more decorations to see, but basically it's just annoying sales people trying to make a fortune off of you.  For my sanity as well as my money stay outside on this one.

Now, 50th Street is Holiday central.  The International Building houses the Rainbow Room which is one of the most romantic locales in the city.  Many a marriage proposal has happened there and the view of the city is impeccable.  Radio City Music Hall is in full swing with the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular.  It is one of the most famous continuing shows in the world.  They have several shows a day and they do it until January 2.  Also there is the Top of the Rock observation deck and the NBC studio tour.  There are a lot of things besides the tree to keep you occupied this time of year.

What else did I see on this visit to New York?  Well, right across the street from all those other things on 50th Street is St. Patrick's Cathedral.  I love to look at old churches and cathedrals with the Gothic architecture and the stained glass.  I love the ornament, the art, the structure and the amazing things that they've built.  St. Patrick's does not disappoint.  The ceilings are vaulted, the archways are tall and ornate.  The windows are amazing stained glass panels with biblical scenes.  There are many chapels throughout the cathedral as well as a gorgeous nativity.  One of the things that struck me most was the fabulous and enormous pipe organ over the front entrance.  This was a feat of ingenuity that I believe is truly admirable.  At any rate, you don't have to be religious to go in or to appreciate this cathedral.  So, make your kids put away their media and look up to see this amazing place.  You can visit most days for a donation and it's once again, amazing art that's not in the museum.

Just a few blocks south of Rockefeller Center and all the touristy holiday stuff that goes with it is a lesser known spot called Bryant Park.  If you're a tourist, you may not find this one.  If you're a local, you know all about it.  It too has a skating rink.  It too has a big Christmas Tree.  It has food and a bar and hundreds of shops where you can find truly unique gifts for that hard to buy for person on your Christmas list.  This park sits right next to a large branch of the New York City Public Library and is surrounded by historic landmark buildings.  There are many reasons to come to Bryant Park.  The skating tends to be free.  There's a carousel to ride on.  This is the only place that I've ever been where I could buy jewelry made from money, a clock made out of a miniature toy toilet, art, woolens, leather, and borscht.  They have it all in a Winter Village that runs from the end of October until the end of the season every year.

I visited Times Square like I normally do.  Learned a couple of things this time.  For one, the Starbucks at the north end of the Square is an inconvenient dump.  Caffe Bene just up the street at Broadway and 49th Street is much better.  The menu makes sense, unlike the sizes and stuff at Starbucks.  Also, the coffee is better and the atmosphere is better.  The view is crazy good too.  I noticed the fact that M&M World is right across the street from Hershey World.  This is good news for chocoholics like me.  I went to both while I was in the neighborhood and found a lot of great buys.  If you love Kit Kats, however, there are no tshirts for you at Hershey World.  You can get your picture or that of a loved one on a Hershey bar for a great stocking stuffer.

This trip was my first to the neighborhood that everyone has heard of on travel shows, but no one knows where it is.  Hell's Kitchen is that neighborhood just west of Times Square.  The major run of restaurants there is on both 8th and 9th avenues from around 50th Street and then north.  There are all kinds of restaurants there.  If you want to eat reasonably, and don't want to make the trek to one of the neighborhoods, then forget Chinatown when it's not convenient with the rest of your day; just eat in Hell's Kitchen.  There are a lot of off Broadway shows over there which means that it is still associated with the theater district and some of it is still part of that.  Hell's Kitchen is the place to get dinner either before or after your show.

We were just getting lunch before our big adventure.  We went to Chef Pho & Peking Roast Duck on 8th Avenue for our lunch.  If you think that the only good Asian food comes from Chinatown, you are so wrong.  This place was casual and fabulous.  I would gladly eat there again.  I would also be happy to try out the Italian, Irish, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, and many other styles of fare in Hell's Kitchen.  It's a great place to eat.

So, I didn't go to New York for the holidays.  I enjoyed the holidays while I was there, but we actually went to a taping of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.  This is something that I had always wanted to do.  There are several shows in New York that tape before a live studio audience and they give away free tickets so that people can come and be in the audience.  There's everything from Live with Kelly to SNL on that list, but being long time Colbert fans; we decided to go and see this.  We picked the day that the Vice President, Joe Biden was going to be there, so our experience was a little different.  I have to say that between the SUV's, the helicopters, the security, and some really weird trips to the bathroom; I met a lot of really nice Secret Service guys.  Over all, I was really glad that I went to the taping.  We had a great time, I learned a lot about live TV, and it made my trip special.  Would I do it again?  I'm already planning it.  The trip to see the inside of the Ed Sullivan Theater was worth the trip alone.

So, as I always say, go to New York City.  It is one of the greatest cities in the world.  There is non stop activity there.  I go a few times a year and I never have the same experience twice.  I always learn about something new.  I always meet people there.  It's actually way more friendly than it gets credit for.  A lady and I enjoyed our coffee together while we saw a cab getting a ticket outside the window.  I'd never seen that and neither had she, but there it was and we both made a memory.  It's all about the experience.  Life is all about the experience, and there is no better place to experience life than in New York City at Christmas.  Enjoy!

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Entry.jsp?site_refer=360i+YG+TR&kw_refer=sak%27s+fifth+avenue
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http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?aid=801942;label=yahoogemini-district--o1Ava9U6W9wIGcOSuze3SQ;sid=487e3f1c2e5dc484725f760444e33b01;dest_id=981;dest_type=district;from_district=1;keep_landing=1;redirected=1;source=district&utm_campaign=NY-New-York-State-NY-New-York---Theater-District---D-981&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=yahoo-gemini&utm_term=theater-district-nyc-e&
http://www.notfortourists.com/Hood.aspx/NewYork/HellsKitchen
http://www.cbs.com/shows/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/
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https://www.hotels.com/de1737990/hotels-hell-s-kitchen-new-york/?rffrid=sem.hcom.US.google.003.00.04.s.kwrd=ZzZz.sPfFcf9Ql.0.85064071719.1020w9o38457.d.c&semid=19853631879.248966439.1t1._inurl%3Awww.hotels.com.9003419..aud-125833227443:dsa-87391128309&gclid=CP7q3Ze_79ACFcaPswodjPIG_g
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https://www.cheapoair.com/flights/booknow/destinations/city?city-code=nyc&fpaffiliate=MSN&fpsub=8nov_newver&utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=flightsto2&utm_term=flights%20to%20nyc&utm_content=v1
https://www.expedia.com/Cheap-Flights-To-New-York.d178293.Travel-Guide-Flights?regionId=178293&kword=flights_to_nyc!e.ZzZz.4850000016588.0.12783309369.flight%20to%20nyc.flights_to_nyc&semcid=US.MULTILOB.BING.SEARCH.FLIGHT&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=USA%3AENG%3A@%3ADL%3AAMER%3AUSA%3AE%3AX%3A%3A&utm_term=flights%20to%20nyc&utm_content=USA%3AENG%3A@%3ADT%3AAMER%3AUSA%3ANY%3ANew_York%3A178293%3ANew_York%3A178293%3AE%3AX%3A%3A
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http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Here's My Christmas Choice...Chicago!

Anyone who knows me, knows I love Christmas.  It's my favorite time of the year.  I even spent 15 years working at Walmart, and my spirits were never dampened.  If that won't do it, nothing will.  I try and take time out during my extensively busy holiday season schedule to talk about at least one spot that is great to spend holiday time in.  I am partial to New York, but I always talk about that city during the holidays.  I wanted to take some time and talk about one of my favorite places to visit during the holidays besides that.  I looked at several spots that I have found entertaining over the years.  I have included information on a lot of those as well for you.  I've enjoyed Reykjavik, Charlotte, most of New England, Moscow, Zurich, Vienna, Prague, Paris and such.  They are great.  However, Chicago holds a special place in my heart.

I grew up a couple of hours away from Chicago in northern Indiana.  In my family, the big thing to do during any season was to go to the city, and the city of choice was Chicago.  We went there to do all kinds of things.  It was the New York City of my childhood.  We always made a trip during Christmas time.  We would go to the park and see the animals, go to the museums and see the exhibits, go to the parks and see the lights.  We always did something special for the holidays in Chicago.  No matter what we did, we always made time to go and look at the windows.  For anyone who's ever done it, you know what I mean.  It's called Macy's now.  When I was a kid it was Marshall Fields.  The best part about this venue is that while the corporation has changed, the windows are still spectacular.  It's a tradition for a lot of families to go and check out the windows on State Street.  Many of us have done it for several generations.  So, while I enjoy the great activities and sights in Chicago at the holidays; this one holds the most special place in my heart.

That being said, over the decades that I lived in Indiana, I saw a lot of great things in Chicago at Christmas.  Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo both have programs and light displays for the holidays.  Zoos are great.  They are great no matter what time of year you go.  Just dress warm and get hot chocolate along the way.  One thing that the good folks of Chicago will tell you is that the cold is just something you deal with.

Also, The Science and Industry Museum is not only one of the best museums in the world, but a great place to see the trees from around the world.  If you've ever wondered how different cultures decorate for the holidays, this is your spot.  It's festive and bright and artistic and warm if you need that.

Outdoor activities are abundant in Chicago during the holidays.  There's more than one ice skating rink around and they are all decorated for the holidays.  There's a winter wonderland for the kids down at Navy Pier as well.   There are drive through light displays in several of the city parks for those of you who need a little heat to go with your outdoor activities.

There's nothing better than a Christmas Market during the holidays.  Down at Daley Plaza, Chicago puts on the Kindlmarkt.  This is a great market with lots of stalls for all of your holiday shopping.  I don't know about anyone else, but I go to these markets just for the ambience.  They are old world style, festive, and full of hot chocolate and other cold weather beverages.  It's the place to go that just makes you think of the old song "Silver Bells."

Now, true to form, Chicago has some unique findings and the Christmas train is one of them.  Only in Chicago, folks.  Only in Chicago.

Another thing that we did plenty of when I was a kid was seeing shows.  Chicago puts on great versions of the Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, and many others.  Chicago is known as an art town.  If you don't want to see something traditional, you can also go on a tour that takes you by that house that they used in the "Home Alone" movie.  Other long standing Chicago traditions are Second City and the entire system of blues clubs.

Chicago is cold.  That's a fact.  But the good people of Chicago know how to go out in the cold and have a great time for Christmas.  The atmosphere is something that you don't get in a lot of cities during the holidays.  The people are warmer at this time of year.  Maybe it's to balance out the cold.  All I know is that I looked at a list of the best places to spend time at Christmas and Chicago kept popping up.  It was making me reminisce about all the Christmases that I spent in Chicago.  It was good times, and I think that everyone should go someplace special around Christmas.  I think that this year, I'm recommending Chicago.  Enjoy!

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https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

A Great Day Trip From Paris...Fontainebleau!

It's one of the most sprawling palaces in France.  It's beginnings were humble, however.  This amazing place was a medieval hunting lodge before King Louis IX started to improve it.  Over the years, every king, queen, and emperor got a hold of it.  Emperor Napoleon III even added to it in the 1800's.  It's 50 years older than the Louvre.  It has five acres of rooftop, 230 acres of gardens and grounds, and 1500 rooms.  From the fountains to the gardens to the grand staircase and even to the theater, the place at Fontainebleau is positively amazing.

Fontainebleau sits a mere 50 kilometers outside of Paris.  It's a great side trip when in town.  So, after you've seen the rest, come see the best in country homes from bygone eras.  Marie Antoinette used to enjoy visiting there to get away from it all.  It is a vast country estate that used to be for hunting.  The elegance of this residence is astounding.  Even Napoleon made it his main address.  There are so many things to see that you should plan your trip before you go.  This is not the kind of place that you want to just show up at.  You need a plan because you can't see it all in one day.  It's great if you're planning a significant amount of time to investigate this particular destination, but if it's a day trip while in Paris for you, decide what you want to see most.

There are different tours that focus on different eras and different parts of the palace.  You may want to see Marie Antoinette's Turkish Boudoir.  You may want to see Napoleon's throne.  You may want to see the Theater of Napoleon III.  There are a host of tours available.  Book in advance.  Tours cost about $12, but if you choose to wander aimlessly on your own it's free.

One of the great things about this palace is the gardens. They cover 230 acres and they are manicured and designed in different sections.  There are the flower gardens, the ponds, the orchards, and even fountains.  There are a lot of different fountains, but most of them only operate on the weekends.  If you really are intent on seeing the fountains, make sure that they are operating when you go.  During the winter and on the weekdays, they probably aren't.  The grounds are open during daylight hours year round.

Just in case you're bringing one of those adrenaline junkies that don't appreciate reveling in the lush lives of kings past, there is also a forest at Fontainebleau and the rock climbing there is extraordinary.  There are guides and tours for this as well. Prices vary.  There are also hiking trails and many things to see in the forest, but it is great for rock climbers in particular.

This is a grand palace, and it's kind of on the side.  It's not Versailles, and you don't hear about it all the time.  It is a forgotten treasure on this side of the pond.  It is a favorite of Parisians however.  You won't find the crowds here in the off seasons of spring and fall like you still will in Paris.  The history here is the incredible thing.  From hunting to kings to emperors and beyond; this place has endured it all.  It was used by Hitler's men in WWII.  It's survived it all.  Whether you go to see the inside or the gardens or the grand staircase or whatever.  It has some of the most incredible scenery and history on the outskirts of Paris.  This is the place that you can visit on a day trip so that you can still fly pretty cheap into Paris, but see something that's not all about Paris.

This is part of my Napoleon Trail and part of my off the beaten path of France.  We'll call this a two fer.  If you love history, this is a great spot that's just brimming with it.  It was built up by the Louis' and some of it was torn down by Napoleon.  It's endured the ages in many different forms, to become one of the most beautiful and exceptional examples of French royalty and all the gilding that went with them.  It was a playground for members of the royal court and a getaway for the actual royalty.  It was the place where Napoleon became emperor and the residence of the last emperor, Napoleon III.  It's living history, living beauty, and a breath of fresh air just outside of Paris.  So, come and experience the elegance, the glamor, the intrigue, the excess, beauty and the history of Fontainebleau.  Enjoy!

http://www.visitacity.com/en/paris/activities/cultural--theme-tours?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Paris%20Activities%20G3&utm_term=paris%203%20days%20tour&utm_content=day%20trips%20%26%20tours
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http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

I Found a Great Spot for Napoleonic History...Martinique!

We've all heard of Martinique.  It's that Lesser Antilles French island in the Caribbean that most cruise lines stop at.  It has all the usual stuff going for it from beautiful beaches to resort hotels.  It has it all from local Carnival traditions to great shopping to helicopter tours and beyond.  It's a great fun in the sun stop on any cruise with water, flowers, sand and booze galore.  What I didn't know about this fabulous little French island was that it was the birthplace of the Empress Josephine.  That's right, there's a historical connection for people like me who study Napoleonic history.  It's Josephine's childhood home.

Our journey probably starts in Miami, Florida.  Let's be honest.  Most of us take a cruise to go to a place like Martinique.  Fort de France is the spot where you would probably turn up on a cruise.  They have a large port and many cruise ships stop there.  They have beautiful beaches and great hotels.  They have amazing restaurants and a bunch of activities that cater to cruise people.  So, while in Fort de France you can swim in the water, boat on it, shop for souvenirs, stay in a fancy hotel, fly over it, lay on the beach and party.  It's a great place.  It also is about the same as most other cruise stops in the French part of the Caribbean.

Now, don't get me wrong.  The view along the shore is amazing.  It's worth the stop just for that.  The hotels are amazing and it's worth a stay just for that.  But, as usual, I implore you to look for the unique, the historic, the native, the special.  Run away from the beaten path.  And in the case of Martinique, there are lots of places to run.  The locals have special traditions when it comes to their Carnival celebrations.  They are tailored to meet that cross rep of Carib and Catholic traditions.  You throw in the Caribbean flair for partying and you will have one great time whether it be mud covered or what.  There's some great hiking in the area with mountains and waterfalls.  Can't miss that.  You can go and see the volcano...that's right Mount Pelee wiped out a whole town not long ago.  There are churches, and museums and many many factory and distillery tours.  You can learn how it's made and then drink it or buy it or buy it and drink it.  There are many ways to learn about actual life on Martinique.

But, if you have the time, toddle off to Trois Ilets.  This is a colorful and smaller coastal town where you have a chance to see a little more of real life.  It's still beautiful and they have beaches, but it's just a little different.  There are artist colonies there and the whole town just exudes it's own flavor.  And when you're done with that, move on to history.

The Domaine de la Pagerie is the plantation where the Empress Josephine lived as a child.  She was born in Trois Ilets.  You would think that after she went away and lived an amazing life as the wife of Napoleon and beyond that she would be all but forgotten on this tiny island so far from France.  No.  Her childhood home was destroyed by weather, and has been rebuilt and turned into a museum in her honor.  A bust of her stands in the beautifully maintained gardens on the grounds.  All these years later, she is still honored by the French in the Caribbean.  Isn't that something?

So, there it is.  That little something that you probably didn't know about Martinique.  So, take that cruise and get off the boat to learn about the locals.  Celebrate Carnival Martinique style.  Check out the beaches, factories, distilleries and the shopping.  But remember, there is more of Josephine's history on Martinique than that statue in Fort de France of her after decapitation.  There is a history of her family and childhood right up the coast in Trois Ilets.  So, get off that cruise beaten path and go study some history.  And if you study Napoleon, this is the next stop on my tour for you.  Enjoy!


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https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred