While the city was not yet covered in snow, but the streets have been filled with the sights and sounds of the holiday season since before Thanksgiving.

Watch the video to experience the city through my eyes...

I traveled to the city in November and experienced the early excitement of the holiday season first hand.

On this cold, blustery day in November, we walked through Times Square to watch the amazing musical, Wicked (the story of the great Land of Oz before Dorothy's unexpected arrival) at the historic Gershwin Theatre.

After the show, we warmed up and feasted on  walked over to Rockefeller Center where city organizers were getting ready to unveil the Christmas Tree the following week. The Rockefeller Center Ice Rink was filled to the brim with skaters, young and old.

The Rockefeller Center tree is the biggest in the city, and the annual tree lighting is nationally broadcast on NBC.

I also had the chance to admire 5th Avenue with its elaborately designed holiday-inspired window displays. Department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Barneys, and Bloomingdale's line the streets. After stopping into a couple of shops to add a knit hat, gloves and scarf to my wardrobe, we hopped on a horse drawn carriage and took a romantic (and cold) ride through a peaceful Central Park.  

It was truly a delight to spend part of my holiday season in New York City. I'm glad I got to experience a bit of what is surely one of the world's most festive cities.