New York City Holiday Favorites
Published: November 15th, 2018The holiday season in NYC is quickly approaching and we could not be more excited!! The city is buzzing with visitors, most of whom are here to ring in the holiday season and to see the city dressed to the nines! Let us share our favorite holiday attractions and traditions in hope to spread some cheer!
Ice Skating & Shopping
For those who enjoy ice skating we recommend stopping by one of the many rinks in NYC to enjoy a lap or two around the ice! While Rockefeller Plaza may be the most famous rink in the city, we recommend heading 7 blocks south to Bryant Park. The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park boasts one of the largest rinks in Manhattan and there is no admission fee, only a skate rental fee! The rink gets fairly busy so we recommend heading over earlier in the morning. The rink is open daily from 8:00am to 10:00pm!
Once you nail the perfect triple axel it’s time to shop!! The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park has over 150 boutique stores for your shopping pleasure, many of these are actually local NYC vendors #ShopLocal! Among the boutiques are some of the yummiest food vendors. One of our favorites is the Kürtöskalács stand, also known as Chimney Cake. We promise you wont regret this! Just so you know there are a number of Christmas Markets throughout the city, locations include Columbus Circle, Grand Central and Union Square.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
No trip to the Big Apple is complete without seeing a show and what better way is there to ‘kick off’ the holidays than to grab tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular! During the height of the holiday season there are 4 performances daily! This show is perfect for anyone who needs a little extra holiday cheer in their lives!
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Next, make your way over to 5th avenue to snap a few photos of the most famous Christmas tree in existence, The Rockefeller Christmas Tree! This year’s tree is a 12 ton, 72 Foot, Norway Spruce from Wallkill, NY! The Annual Tree Lighting ceremony will be on Wednesday, November 28th! Rumor has it that this year’s tree lighting performance will feature artists such as Gwen Stefani, Pentatonix and Jennifer Nettles! The crowds can be a little overwhelming so we recommend visiting in the early morning or even the late evening.
Holiday Window Displays
The Holiday Window Displays of NYC cannot be missed! Every large department store in NYC creates a unique winter windowscape for all to see. From Bergdorf Goodman on 5th Avenue and 58th street to Macy’s on 34th street you will see a wide variety of window displays. While Macy’s is usually more kid friendly, the windows at Bergdorf’s often are curated with couture clothing that complement the winter solstice beautifully! The windows are usually on display in mid to late November through the holidays.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
Last but certainly not least, if you are willing to leave the borough of Manhattan we recommend visiting Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. Imagine a whole neighborhood that decorates their homes with Christmas lights in true Clark Griswold Fashion! Imagine miles of string lights, hundreds of light up toy soldiers, and candy canes! The easiest way to get to Dyker Heights is by bus. The tour company A Slice of Brooklyn, offers bus service to Dyker Heights. Once you arrive you will walk with the tour guide to see each of the homes. We highly recommend reserving a ticket as soon as possible as they sell out very quickly! Visit the link above for pricing and availability.
