I visited New York during winter break and it was amazing! I’ve been to New York before, but the city was transformed for Christmas. Whether it’s going to Industry City, seeing the Rockefeller Center tree or Saks Fifth Avenue decorated for Christmas, there is just so much to do in the city! Here is my list of the top five places to see when you go to New York.
- The Vessel
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So this is definitely one of your very touristy things to do in New York. It’s definitely a unique structure with its honeycomb-like shape, and it is located right in the center of Hudson Yards. The Vessel is an interactive structure comprised of a network of stairs and landings that visitors can climb (or take the elevator) to the top. The designer, Thomas Heatherwick, went to extreme lengths to keep the design a secret; a 20-foot fence was constructed around the steelworks in Italy so that no one could see what the design was going to be. It was then brought over to New York bit by bit via a tugboat through the Hudson River. You can now get free tickets to go see The Vessel!
- DUMBO
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This is one of those not-so-touristy spots, but is absolutely beautiful! DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It is aptly located where you have a clear view of both the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridge. The whole skyline is visible from this point, and it is absolutely breathtaking!
- Industry City
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Once an intermodal shipping and manufacturing complex, the 16 buildings and 6 million square feet of space inside Sunset Park’s Industry City have undergone a 1 billion dollar transformation into an “innovation ecosystem.” The former shipping and manufacturing complex have been transformed into many restaurants and art galleries. This is a pretty cool place to check out in New York, not to mention the rustic, industrial look provides a great backdrop for those Instagram photos!
- Rockefeller Center
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Rockefeller Center is gorgeous year-round, but especially during the wintertime. With the ice skating, the tree and all the lights, the aesthetic is to die for. It can get very crowded during the holidays, but still, you should not miss seeing the place. The tree especially is so stunning, it is definitely worth going during the holidays!
- Saks Fifth Avenue
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Saks Fifth Avenue is a very high-end shopping destination, but during the holidays the outside of the store is decorated in a big light display that is coordinated to Christmas music. It is definitely a must-see during the holidays!
New York City is hands down my favorite place to visit, especially during Christmas time. Other must-see places in New York that are not on this list are Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York City is one of those places that I will never get tired of and is completely breathtaking! Going to New York has to be more than a day trip in order to see all these places and more. So, the next time you are planning a vacation, give New York City some thought!