Catching the Christmas Spirit in New York City
New York has to be one of the best places on the planet to catch that Christmas spirit. The city certainly does Christmas decorating and celebrating right! Last year was my first time to visit New York over the holidays - and it definitely didn't disappoint. Was it crowded? Definitely! Can you work your way around the crowds? Yes, it can be done. You just have to get creative. What can you do and see in New York at Christmas? Here's a short list:
Check out Macy's Windows
Macy's Flagship Department Store on Herald Square decorates it's windows with a different theme every year. So many people visit that there is a long line to just walk past them. We decided to go take a look during daylight hours so we could beat the crowds. We still saw the windows - they just weren't lit up. You pick and choose people, pick and choose.
View the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and Ice Skating Rink
We decided to visit the Top of the Rock Observatory to view the sunset. Then we made our way back to street level and took a gander at the large Christmas tree that defines Rockefeller Center at Christmas.The tree first appeared at Rockefeller Center in 1931 during the Depression and is decorated with some 45,000 lights. It was quite impressive! We watched the skaters on the ice at the legendary Rockefeller Center Ice Rink.( And saw the seriously long line of people hoping to skate that night. It's a very, very small rink and unless it's always been your dream to skate there, I'd recommend you do some research and find somewhere less crowded and more affordable - it's $25 per adult and $15 per child to skate for an hour and a half, with skate rental being $15.)
This was by far the most crowded place that we visited - in fact, there were 6 of us and we got separated in the crowds. If you don't like crowds, you can always go during the day.Or maybe be an early riser and head there at 5am while it's still dark out to escape the crowds Just expect that it will be mobbed at night.
Catch a show at the Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall puts on one of the most iconic Christmas shows in New York with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The show features 36 Rockettes dancers doing their famous kick-line and the dance of the Wooden Soldiers. Live animals are also included in the show in the living nativity portion. The show is 90 minutes long and as soon as you know you'd like to go, I'd suggest that you secure tickets.
A Stroll down Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue brings out all the displays at Christmas time and you can take a walk to check it all out. Stores such as Bergdorf-Goodman, Tiffany & Co and Saks Fifth Avenue decorate their windows and hotels such as The Plaza do it up big, also. ( between 59th and 39th Streets)Even the New York Public Library decorates for Christmas!
We got swept away in the crowd from Rockefeller Center and ended up in front of Saks Fifth Avenue and it's holiday light show set to music. And fireworks, too.
Bryant Park Christmas Market
Bryant Park, located behind the New York Public Library, turns into a Christmasy Winter Wonderland each year in it's pop-up Christmas Market that resembles a European Christmas Market. There are more than 125 holiday shops set in kiosks with twinkling Christmas lights and Manhattan's only FREE Ice Skating Rink (We like free!) There are two bars with patio (and fire pits) where you can just have a drink and enjoy the atmosphere. And who knows? You may even get a little shopping done, too.
Ice Skate at Central Park
The Wollman Rink in Central Park has shorter lines - and smaller prices - than Rockefeller Center and a killer view of the city. So if you don't have your heart set on the Rockefeller Rink, then this could be a good alternative. Adults $9 and kids $6 not including skate rental
New York City is just a magical place at Christmas, plain and simple. And there's so much more than this short list. Wouldn't it be cool to see the New York City Ballet perform the Nutcracker? I also didn't make it inside the Plaza hotel, or grab a drink at one of the Christmas pop-up bars, or see the train exhibit at the New York Botanical Gardens. As always, I guess I'll just have to go back.
How about you? Have you done New York City at Christmas? What was your favorite?
Linking up with: Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global, The Weekend Wanderlust Weekend Travel Blog Party and The Weekly Postcard!
Check out Macy's Windows
Macy's Flagship Department Store on Herald Square decorates it's windows with a different theme every year. So many people visit that there is a long line to just walk past them. We decided to go take a look during daylight hours so we could beat the crowds. We still saw the windows - they just weren't lit up. You pick and choose people, pick and choose.
View the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and Ice Skating Rink
We decided to visit the Top of the Rock Observatory to view the sunset. Then we made our way back to street level and took a gander at the large Christmas tree that defines Rockefeller Center at Christmas.The tree first appeared at Rockefeller Center in 1931 during the Depression and is decorated with some 45,000 lights. It was quite impressive! We watched the skaters on the ice at the legendary Rockefeller Center Ice Rink.( And saw the seriously long line of people hoping to skate that night. It's a very, very small rink and unless it's always been your dream to skate there, I'd recommend you do some research and find somewhere less crowded and more affordable - it's $25 per adult and $15 per child to skate for an hour and a half, with skate rental being $15.)
This was by far the most crowded place that we visited - in fact, there were 6 of us and we got separated in the crowds. If you don't like crowds, you can always go during the day.Or maybe be an early riser and head there at 5am while it's still dark out to escape the crowds Just expect that it will be mobbed at night.
Catch a show at the Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall puts on one of the most iconic Christmas shows in New York with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The show features 36 Rockettes dancers doing their famous kick-line and the dance of the Wooden Soldiers. Live animals are also included in the show in the living nativity portion. The show is 90 minutes long and as soon as you know you'd like to go, I'd suggest that you secure tickets.
A Stroll down Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue brings out all the displays at Christmas time and you can take a walk to check it all out. Stores such as Bergdorf-Goodman, Tiffany & Co and Saks Fifth Avenue decorate their windows and hotels such as The Plaza do it up big, also. ( between 59th and 39th Streets)Even the New York Public Library decorates for Christmas!
We got swept away in the crowd from Rockefeller Center and ended up in front of Saks Fifth Avenue and it's holiday light show set to music. And fireworks, too.
Bryant Park Christmas Market
Bryant Park, located behind the New York Public Library, turns into a Christmasy Winter Wonderland each year in it's pop-up Christmas Market that resembles a European Christmas Market. There are more than 125 holiday shops set in kiosks with twinkling Christmas lights and Manhattan's only FREE Ice Skating Rink (We like free!) There are two bars with patio (and fire pits) where you can just have a drink and enjoy the atmosphere. And who knows? You may even get a little shopping done, too.
Ice Skate at Central Park
The Wollman Rink in Central Park has shorter lines - and smaller prices - than Rockefeller Center and a killer view of the city. So if you don't have your heart set on the Rockefeller Rink, then this could be a good alternative. Adults $9 and kids $6 not including skate rental
New York City is just a magical place at Christmas, plain and simple. And there's so much more than this short list. Wouldn't it be cool to see the New York City Ballet perform the Nutcracker? I also didn't make it inside the Plaza hotel, or grab a drink at one of the Christmas pop-up bars, or see the train exhibit at the New York Botanical Gardens. As always, I guess I'll just have to go back.
How about you? Have you done New York City at Christmas? What was your favorite?
Linking up with: Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global, The Weekend Wanderlust Weekend Travel Blog Party and The Weekly Postcard!
Wow! The Sacks Fifth Avenue light show is amazing! Do they do that every year? Would love to go to NYC for Christmsa one year! Thanks for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard!
ReplyDeleteLast year was the inaguaral year and I think it will go on from now on. And it was pretty amazing - as was NYC at Christmas. Thanks for the link=up - and for visiting, Lori!
DeleteMy cousin's there at the moment and I'm insanely jealous! Visiting NYC one Nov and I love its Xmas feels! #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteIt's a fantastic place to visit over the holidays - hope you make it there someday! Thanks for visiting The Unpaved Road!
DeleteYou've got so many of our favorite things to do in NYC around Christmas! We stumbled upon the light show at Sak's when we went to Rockefeller Center, and ended up standing out in the cold to watch it at least five times! But Bryant Park is just about our favorite. We caught the tree lighting there last year with Johnny Wier, which was really cool. Fantastic post! Thanks for sharing on #WeekendWanderlust!
ReplyDeleteI've been to the Christmas Markets in Denver and Chicago but Bryant Park was definitely my favorite. I just loved it and I'd love to go back sometime at night. And isn't Saks' light show something? We watched it twice - I was trying to get some still photos of the different colors :) Thanks for visiting, Rob!
DeleteWow -- those lights are fantastic! It's my dream to go to New York at Christmastime. Looks like you had a very merry visit!
ReplyDeleteI did! I hope you make it there at Christmastime someday - it's truly magical ( and crowded) Thanks for stopping by, Sharon!
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