The Big Apple is thrilling at all times of year, but it is especially magical during the holiday season. Between the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Christmas Day itself, there's so much to see and do that it only makes sense to get lost for a weekend (or more) in the City that Never Sleeps during the most festive time of the year.
1. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
Perhaps the most famous symbol of Christmas in New York, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree continues to wow every year. It's worth the trip just to see the tree itself, but there is also the famous ice skating rink for those willing to brave the line (and crowds). Even if you're hopelessly terrible at ice skating like me, there's something magical about zipping (or flailing, in my case) down the ice in the shadow of one of the largest and most beautiful Christmas trees in America.
2. The Bryant Park Winter Village.
This one is a personal favorite. Every year at the end of October, this open-air market pops up in Bryant Park with its rows of shops crammed with holiday gifts, crafts, and decorations. There are also kiosks serving hot chocolate and other seasonal fare, as well as its own personal ice skating rink. Talk about a winter wonderland!
3. The Fifth Avenue holiday window displays.
Each holiday season, all the high end shops on Fifth Avenue prepare ornate displays in their windows for passersby to gawk at. These displays range from wintry forests filled with cute animals to elaborate Christmas scenes featuring life-like recreations of Santa Claus, Batman, and the Obamas, among others. Window shopping at its finest!
4. The variety of Christmas shows.
The stages in New York are alive during the holidays, whether it's the New York City Ballet's time- honored performance of the Nutcracker or the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. There are also Christmas performances by the Harlem Gospel Choir and the Trans-Siberian orchestra, to name a few, so go get all dolled up and enjoy some Christmas music!
5. The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden.
This half-mile long track at the botanical gardens in the Bronx is filled with tiny replicas of NYC landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building - all made of leaves, twigs, bark, and berries. Everyone is a kid again during the holidays, so bring out your inner toddler and watch the mini trains zoom around!
6. The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights.
Each year, homeowners in the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn deck out their houses with the most delightfully over-the-top Christmas decorations you've ever seen - think block after block of thirty-foot toy soldiers, giant inflatables, and thousands of lights. There's also boom boxes blasting Christmas carols on every corner - what better way to get in the holiday spirit?
7. Christmas in the Sky
Another way to enjoy the Christmas festivities is from 102 stories up. The Empire State Building lights up in red and green for Christmas, and it is an especially unique experience to look out across the skyline at all the Christmas lights from above. (The One World observatory is also an excellent place to look out). Are you ready to escape yet?
