Christmas in NYC

With stores playing Christmas music and the snow falling, I figured I'll jump on board and do a holiday blog!
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A lot of people think a holiday vacation is somewhere warm with a beach. However, my favorite place to go during Christmastime is New York City. Don’t get me wrong, this is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea or hot cocoa…. but who can say no to ice skating at Rockefeller Center under the 70+ ft Christmas tree or a carriage ride through Central Park! With some of the best light and window displays in the USA, its easy to find holiday magic. However, New York is not the Northwoods of Wisconsin. A popular holiday destination comes with its pros and cons as crowds swarm to each attraction. Here are some of my favorite holiday attractions and a few extra pointers!

1. Rockefeller Center
This was on my bucket list, I really wanted to ice skate at Rockefeller Center. Honestly, it was probably my favorite thing we did as it feels very magical ice skating there. It is a little smaller than I expected, and the wait times can get extremely long as they limit the number of people on the ice at a time. We almost did not make it in after over an hour wait. The other thing to keep in mind is that about 50% of the visitors have NEVER ice skated before. I mention this for 2 reasons. First, if its on your list but you have no experience, you will not be alone. Secondly, if you are expecting an easy skating experience, you will be disappointed as people are randomly skating and falling in front of you. Don’t let this ruin the excitement just be prepared. Also, its not cheap as skate rentals were $18 per person and the entrance fee was $25 per person. Bring your own skates if you can! You will save a lot of money at the different rinks.

2. Sax 5th Ave Light Show and Window Displays
This is free and a lot of fun. However, if you do not like crowds, this might not be for you. Sax 5th Ave is right across from Rockefeller center which makes this the busiest area in NYC. You might have to push your way through the crowd. (seriously!) However, they do a cool light display to music and the window displays are really well done.

3. Macy’s
Why not add a classic to this list! Macy’s in NYC has been featured in many movies and has some amazing window displays. The store is decorated beautifully in holiday cheer. You can also visit the “Real Santa” here. However, the line to visit Santa can get really long and the store can feel crammed depending on the time of day.

4. Bryant Park
​This is one of my favorite locations in NYC! It is close to the New York Public Library and has a Christmas Market with over 180 shops containing different gift ideas. There are other Christmas markets scattered throughout NYC, but this is one of the largest. In the middle of the park is an ice-skating rink with a beautifully decorated tree.  A great place for a unique shopping experience.

5. Christmas Trees Galore
​There are so many Christmas trees it could take a week to visit them all. From the financial district to the MET to the NYC Stock Exchange, You will find trees all over decorated for the holidays. Most parks and stores have at least one tree so its fun to take an evening stroll around NYC if you can brave the cold!

6. Radio City
​Another classic, the Rockettes perform at Radio City Music. Tickets can be difficult to get depending on the date so look early if you are interested. Before you go in, make sure you visit the square across the street and take a picture with the huge red ornaments outside.

7. Carriage Ride
One of my wife’s favorite things was a carriage ride through central park. These are located on the south side of the park and are available for different time increments. I suggest taking a quick trip through the park with hot cocoa in hand. It’s a great way to enjoy an evening!

8. Central Park Ice Skating
​The last ice-skating rink I will mention (even though there are more!) is on the south side of central park. Wollman rink is a cheaper option compared to Rockefeller Center at $21 total including skates. It also gives you a beautiful view of the skyline from Central Park.

9. See a Show
Who goes to New York City without seeing a show?! Even if it is not Christmas themed, go see a show. My wife had to see Wicked so that’s what we did. It’s not always the cheapest option but still a fun night out. There are numerous holiday options including the Nutcracker, already mentioned Rockettes, Christmas Carol musical, etc. 

A Few More Thoughts...

1. Crowds
One thing I learned quickly was that the crowds are at an all time high. Certain locations are almost impassible. Macy’s can get extremely busy and walking around Rockefeller Center can feel like herding cattle. If you are looking for your space, this is not the trip for you. However, if you can deal with the crowds, the Christmas decorations are worth it!

2. It’s cold… and snow...
If you are looking to get away from the cold weather, this is not the trip for you. We can send you to an all-inclusive or on a cruise. However, if you are okay with the snow and bundle up, an amazing Christmas displays await you!

3. See the "non-Christmas" sights!
The standard NYC sightseeing locations are not as busy as you might think! Since everyone is so focused on the decorations, people forget about other attractions like the 9/11 museum, One World Observatory, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, etc. We did a bus tour during the day which I highly recommend and stopped at all these locations. At night, I walked right up to the Empire State Building viewing area. A wait of 2 hours is not uncommon during the summer.

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​Looking to travel to NYC? Let us know and I can help arrange that perfect trip and give you some more tips on how to enjoy it all OR did this article make you cold and you want to go sit on a beach in the sun?? We can handle that too!