Mommies Magazine

New York City at Christmas Time

Posted on 15. Dec, 2007 by Mom Mag in Your Home

While many people travel during the Christmas season to visit family, many take advantage of the time off for a vacation.  If you are looking for a place to visit over the holidays, consider a Christmas holiday in New York City.  While New Yorkers might be known for their gruff exteriors, there is nothing quite as magical as New York City at Christmas time.  Whether you prefer to catch a show, go shopping, or just tour the sites, there is something for everyone in the Big Apple.

Christmas is not complete without a stop at Rockefeller Center for a look at the enormous Christmas tree in the plaza.  Rockefeller Plaza is located in midtown Manhattan between 47th Street and 51st Street and between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue.  Lighting the Rockefeller Center tree has become a long New York tradition.  November 28, 2007, marks the 75th anniversary of the tree lighting ceremony and will officially kick off the holiday season celebration in the city.  On average, the tree ranges from 75 to 90 feet tall and holds approximately 78,000 lights.

At the base of the tree is another New York favorite, the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza.  If you aren’t one to glide across the ice, just watching the skaters twirl, spin, and even fall can be worth your time.  The ice skating rink opens from October to April, but it is advised to check the schedule and to make reservations if visiting during the winter holidays.

As the light dims on the city and evening sets, make sure to take a trip up 5th Avenue.  Fifth Avenue is a shopping mecca, but during the Christmas season it also has some of the most beautiful storefront decorations.  Cartier at 5th Avenue and 52nd Street even goes so far as to wrap the entire building with a big, red bow.  Macy’s department store at Herald Square not only decorates the outside of the building with lights, but also has elaborate window displays.  Lord & Taylor between 38th and 39th Streets often draws crowds but it’s worth waiting in line to see the extravagant holiday scenes complete with animated figures.  Finally, Saks Fifth Avenue, located across the street from Rockefeller Center between 49th & 50th Streets, is a popular stop.  This year the windows will be decorated based on Tchaikovsky’s ballet, Sleeping Beauty.

No trip to New York is complete without taking in a show or two and the holidays are no exception.  For 75 years the world-famous Rockettes have dazzled crowds with their high kicks at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.  It is a lively show filled with the spirit of Christmas and a favorite of children and adults alike.  George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker performed by the New York City Ballet is a beautiful rendition of a holiday classic.  Audiences are dazzled by toy soldiers and sugar plum fairies while one of the most talented ballet companies in the world leaps, twirls, and dances the magic of a little girl’s dream at Christmas.  This year, a holiday must-see is How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the St. James Theatre.  Based on the Dr. Seuss classic this holiday favorite will warm any grinch’s heart.

Naturally, if you are in New York City for New Year’s Eve, a trip to Time Square to watch the ball drop atop One Times Square at the stroke of midnight is an unforgettable way to usher in a new year.  This tradition has been going on since 1906.  It can get very crowded so arrive early and be prepared to stay in one spot for the night.  Just cuddle up to your loved one and get ready for that New Year’s kiss as the ball drops.