10 Memorable Things To Do In NYC At Christmas With Kids
Kristyn Meyer is on a journey to make herself the best human she can be. These posts are a reflection of that. She welcomes your support via reading and through commissioned affiliate links within her posts! Please subscribe to her email list to stay up to date on all of her shenanigans! (psst… there’s a free gift involved)
Do you all remember the origin story of this blog? It’s a tale as old as time…
Once upon a time, a woman having a midlife crisis decided that in order to get her life back on track and attempt to find some semblance of happiness, she needed to blog it out. She went on to create an iconic list of “40 Before 40” items that she wanted to accomplish in her remaining years in her 30s.
For those of you just tuning in, the iconic bucket list that was created so long ago has been…
SPOILER ALERT
Successfully completed!
That’s right, this girl is a success story. Not only that, she’s damn happy. The past few years have been insane, fun, crazy, exhausting, interesting, humbling, and every other possible adjective.
So what does a person in this situation do to celebrate such a monumental feat? I’ll tell you what she does.
She grabs a gaggle of friends and heads for the BIG APPLE!
That trip isn’t happening until the end of May, but in the meantime, I wanted to use this opportunity to share ten of the top things that you should do when visiting New York City when you are traveling with kids in tow and going at Christmas time.
Because, obviously, that is my frame of expertise from my one visit there. I may have a list of ten things for adults to do in late spring in a few months, time will tell.
So, without further ado, here we go – NYC at Christmas!
10 Memorable Things To Do In NYC At Christmas With Kids
Don’t feel as if this list needs to be done in the exact order in which it’s listed. Because that would be foolish. I’m just putting them into this list as they populate in my brain. There is no rhyme or reason for the placement.
Rockefeller Tree
You’ve seen it through Kevin McCallister’s eyes in Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. But seeing it with your miniature by your side is a whole new level of memorable. Don’t think that by going to NYC at Christmas that you’re getting an up close and personal photo with it though – there are many heavily armed guards protecting it at all times.
FAO Schwarz
While you’re viewing the giant tree, you might as well go next door to see the famous toy store FAO Schwarz. There is every toy imaginable here, and it will be crowded, so prep yourselves. However, it’s cool to see and provides entertainment for the littles. Is that entertainment in the form of begging for every toy they encounter? Yes.
The Rockettes
Okay, so this isn’t going to be for every kid. In my case, I left the younger kid at the hotel with dad and took our daughter with us. She was 7 at the time, whereas my son was only 4. I don’t think he would have liked it as much as she did then, but now that he’s 6 I think I would take him. The show is incredible, and The Rockettes is a New York City staple at Christmas time, so you can’t forego seeing it.
Carriage Ride Through Central Park
Now this activity comes with a bit of controversy. Many think that the horses that operate the carriages aren’t treated appropriately and shouldn’t be used for tourism. I can say that the company we used seemed to put the care of their horses at the forefront, with many breaks to eat and drink before, during, and after the tour.
The ride itself is really nice, especially in the evening. Seeing the lights and the scenes of various movies that were filmed in the park (like Elf!) brings it to life and helps your kids to relate better to what they are seeing.
Seeing Santa at Macy’s on 34th Street
I loved the Mara Wilson version of Miracle on 34th Street when I was younger, and I really wanted to take my kids to see Santa at that Macy’s location. This was no easy feat, as we were in NYC during COVID. Seeing Santa required reservations booked in advance, and I couldn’t secure one until we were actually in the city. Every time I would check the website there would be no time slots available. I finally got a spot after two days in NYC and it was definitely worth it! They do an incredible job decorating the area to keep it entertaining in the long line to see the man in red. We all enjoyed it.
Go Ice Skating
We did not do this. However, it was on my list of ideas when we went. The timing just never worked out for us to go. But ice skating at Christmas has a direct correlation, and especially so when it’s in New York City. You can partake in this activity at several locations throughout NYC, but prepare in advance because it’s costly.
Oogle the Store Window Displays
We always take the time to check out Macy’s displays when we visit Chicago around Thanksgiving. New York City kicks it up a notch though. Their Macy’s display was interactive and other stores got in on the fun as well. Don’t forget Saks 5th Avenue and Bergdorf!
See the Giant Menorah
I understand that this isn’t a NYC at Christmas thing, but one cannot just forget about Hannukah. And when you are already in a city that has a giant menorah, I mean, you have to take it in! Did I do that? No. No, I did not. Unfortunately, we arrived in New York the day after Hannukah ended. Was I sad? Absolutely. So don’t be me and plan your visit accordingly. The giant menorah can be found in Grand Army Plaza.
Visit a Holiday Market
We were only able to see one holiday market during our Christmas visit to New York City and it was just a small one in Times Square. However, there are many that happen throughout the city. I love Christkindlmarket in Chicago, so I knew I’d love the holiday markets. But alas, it was not for me. I hear the one in Bryant Park is superb though.
The Eloise Experience
Admittedly, I know nothing of Eloise and the children’s book about her. But when I saw that they have a special package at The Plaza Hotel I wished I did so that we could take part. They have a whole setup that you can participate in, and it’s not just limited to Christmas time. But they also offer a breakfast event with Santa during the holidays, and of course the famous Christmas tree that you see in Home Alone 2.
At the end of the day, this blog post will save me a great deal of time. I am constantly telling people that the time to visit NYC is during the holidays. Inevitably they ask why and I have to try to remember everything while I am rattling off the different activities. Now I can just point them to this blog post and everyone will end up happy in the end!
P.S. My new book is now available for purchase! Leo and the Puppy Intruder is a fun story about sibling rivalry when a new pet is added to the family. Available in hardcover!
