Who can resist the holiday season in New York City? At Christmas, the city is a place where dreams are made of, just like Elf showed it to be. It becomes a winter wonderland during the festive season, and there really isn’t anywhere else you should rather be than frolicking through Central Park’s snow or paying Santa a visit at Macy’s. With sparkling lights on every corner, the streets filled with eager last minute shoppers, and all of the larger than life decorations, it’s chaotic, but it really is the most wonderful time of the year to be in New York.
Here’s my top five things to see over the holidays in NYC:
1) Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree & Ice Rink
Of course, top of the list is the Rockefeller Center and its world famous giant Christmas tree. It really is something else, standing at up to 30 meters tall, it’s festive, and it’s got the ice rink that Buddy and Jovi skated on underneath it too – what more could you want?
2) Central Park
Central Park is amazing at the best of times, and doesn’t disappoint during the winter months. It’s like a magical world within the busy city center, with its ice rinks home to figure skating clubs and ice hockey teams.
3) The lights and window displays on Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue is one of the most festive (and expensive) streets in New York, with department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue displaying holiday décor in the windows, glittering lights outside of Tiffany’s, and a colossal Christmas wreath in the doorway of the Trump Tower. Each store you pass is competing for the best window decorations on the block.
4) Pop-up Christmas markets
The Christmas markets don’t let you down either. Places such as Bryant Park and Columbus Circle have a number of stalls dotted around, selling things from pancakes to posters for reasonable prices. Definitely worth a quick browse for some last minute Christmas shopping.
5) The biggest decorations on 6th Avenue
Only in New York would you see Christmas decorations that are larger than life. Head to midtown Manhattan and take a walk down 6th Avenue and you’ll see huge red glitter baubles, brightly lit reindeer, tree branches hidden by holiday lights, and it’s hard to miss the giant Christmas tree at Radio City Music Hall.
(Photos Courtesy of Sophie Dunne)