My Bucket List Item is Visiting New York During a Snowstorm
I have one item on my bucket list, and it has been there for many, many years: I want to experience a snowstorm in New York.
Most winter visitors come to the city before Christmas, drawn by the dazzling decorations and the incredible shopping. But my wish is quite different. I dream of seeing the city transformed under a blanket of fresh snow and capturing that quiet magic with my camera.
I imagine walking through Central Park late at night, when the crowds have disappeared and only a few dedicated photographers remain, braving the cold in search of the perfect shot. In that stillness, with snow softly covering the paths and trees, the park must feel almost magical—serene, silent, and beautifully timeless.
Having lived in Nashua, New Hampshire for nine months, I know what a real winter feels like. I also spent five weeks in snow-covered Montreal—pure magic.
The reason this dream has remained on my bucket list for so long is simple: in recent years, I haven’t been in a position to just drop everything, book a flight, grab a taxi to the airport, and fly to New York. Living in Vancouver, the trip to the East Coast takes about five hours. To make it work, I would have to keep a close eye on the weather reports and catch a flight before the airports start shutting down because of heavy snowfall.
Still, I’m convinced that one day it will happen. Keeping a pre-packed travel bag ready might help. A decent lottery win wouldn’t hurt either—but one can always dream.
Whenever we get snow in Vancouver, I have to go outside—nothing can hold me back. If snow is in the forecast, I even set my alarm a little earlier so I can head out for a photography walk before work. And of course, I’ll go out again in the evening after work.
It’s simply something I don’t want to miss. Still, it’s always an extra treat when the snow decides to fall on a weekend.
Until then I used some images I took the last time I was in the grand city for this post. In the meantime I keep Vivienne Gucwa’s book New York in the Snow in my nightstand year round.
What’s on your bucket list? Please leave a comment below.
2019/2026
