If you haven’t visited New York City during the holidays, then you haven’t truly experienced the Big Apple at its best. With an excitingly long list of activities to enjoy, day and night, this magical city has something for everyone.
Holiday Shopping
No trip to New York during the holidays is complete without a stroll down quintessential Fifth Avenue. From 59th Street down to Macy’s at 34th Street, store after store is decked out in shimmering lights and dazzling displays of holiday happiness from ornaments, snowflakes, tinsel, and more. Dripping with holiday cheer block after block, make like Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and window shop until you drop! And don’t forget to take in the UNICEF crystal snowflake high above the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street – the world’s largest outdoor crystal chandelier of its kind.
Christmas Windows
Young and old will enjoy a visit to the many holiday windows that New York City has to offer. From Macy’s to Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, and Saks, the whimsical, artistic, theatrical, powerful imagery of each window is nothing short of magnificent. Saks in particular, themed after the hit movie Frozen II, also ties in their now-famous Winter Palace light show, which features more than 300,000 programmable points of light and 225,000 crystals to create a 10-story magical light show across the entire Fifth Avenue side of their flagship building.
Ice Skating
Located in Central Park and popular among locals, Wollman Rink offers a delightful ice skating experience with stunning views of the New York City skyline. For that picture-perfect skating moment, no trip to New York is complete without a skate under the world-famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, which stays lit until January 7, 2020. Interested in setting up a reserved skating time at this popular destination? Check out the VIP Skate with concierge service, free skate rentals, heated igloo venue, and refreshments including hot chocolate, bottled water, cookies, candies, coffee, and more! In mid-town Manhattan, you can also check out the Bank of America Winter Village in Bryant Park, which features holiday shops and boutiques, food, drink, observation deck, and skating at The Rink.
Entertainment and More
If you really want to knock your socks off this holiday season, check out the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, which features the iconic Rockettes and a splash of 3D fun. And if you want to ring in the new year with a bang, and don’t mind crowds, check out Times Square. You’ll need to be there between 1-3 p.m. on December 31 as the corrals for the celebration fill up fast, but it sure will be an experience not to be forgotten.
For those interested in fewer crowds, but holiday beauty nonetheless, check out The Met Fifth Avenue featuring a 20-foot decorated blue spruce along with an eighteenth-century Neapolitan Nativity scene exhibit.
Whether you choose to explore some of the most delightful and memorable New York holiday experiences as noted above or visit other locations such as the Hudson Yards indoor/outdoor light and music installation, Union Square Holiday Market, Lincoln Center’s Big Band Holidays at Jazz, The Holiday Train Show at the Botanical Garden, there are hundreds of ways to celebrate the holidays in the Big Apple.
