Visiting New York City During the Holidays
Avoiding the NY Holiday Crowds and Seeing the Sights – And the Tree!
Nov 5, 2009
New York City is a classic American city to visit during the holidays. The entire city is decked out for festivities, the Rockettes are kicking high in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and sometimes a dusting of beautiful fluffy snow coats it all. With so much to see, it can be overwhelming to arrive and discover that the city is crowded -- even more so than usual during this season. With some careful planning, it is possible to see it all without ruining the holiday spirit.
When to Do Holiday Sightseeing in NYC
Timing is key when visiting highly trafficked areas of the city. Try to visit during the weekdays if at all possible. If that isn't an option, then starting the day early on a weekend (during this time of year, Friday is considered a weekend day since many tourists arrive in the city early on Friday) before the sights get too crowded. By accomplishing most holiday sightseeing by mid-day, the rest of the day is free to be enjoyed in less-crowded parts of the city.
Where to Find Holiday Attractions in New York City
The Tree at Rockefeller Center
No holiday trip to New York is complete without seeing the massive evergreen tree that decorates the Plaza at Rockefeller Center (located at 60th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues). Each year a team does months of aerial surveillance until they find a tree big enough to fill the honored spot. It is then transported to the city, decorated with colored lights, and topped with a Swarovski crystal star. The tree is usually lit on the Wednesday following Thanksgiving and is lit every day after that until just after New Year's Day.
Ice Skating Rinks
The ice rink at Rockefeller Center is right underneath the tree, and is a beautiful rink. However, the line to skate is always long and the skate rentals and ice fee are expensive. A good alternative is the rink at Bryant Park (located at 40th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues). It is smaller, but the decoration and festivity at the park is equally as nice. The rink is free and a skate rental is only $12.
Holiday Store Windows
Every store in New York is decked out for the holiday shopping season, but there are a few standouts that can't be missed. Typically on crowded days the stores set up velvet ropes along the perimeter of the building to allow people to move around and see all of the windows without disturbing the pedestrian traffic.
- Saks Fifth Avenue – Located directly across the street from Rockefeller Center, Saks is home to luxury designer fashions. The store windows are usually a mix of fun and glamour, so expect lots of glittery indulgences. Also noteworthy is the light show that plays every 30 minutes or so. The entire exterior of the building is decorated with lights that flash to a recording of Carol of the Bells.
- Barneys – Barney's creative director Simon Doonan is spectacularly quirky and innovative, and his windows always follow suit. Each year there is a theme – recent ones include "Peace & Love" and "The 12 Green Days of Christmas". This year the theme will commemorate Saturday Night Live's 35th anniversary. Barneys is located at Madison Avenue and 61st Street.
- Macys – Macy's is the most famous New York City department store, and the windows have been anticipated every year for decades. This is especially great for kids, as the themes tend to be quite whimsical. They are always ceremoniously revealed just before Thanksgiving. Macy's is located at Broadway and 34th Street.
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