Visiting New York City during the Holiday Season

Looking for something fun and festive to do with the family this weekend? NYC is fun any time of the year; however, at Christmas time something special happens. The streets become a memorable walk through the holiday spirit as you venture through the city to various locations. From the museums to Central Park, the street vendors to the store windows, the decorations are something to be remembered.

Planning to visit NYC for the Christmas season? Be ready for a fun time! If you are close enough, I recommend taking the train into Grand Central Station, as parking can be a pain in NYC anytime of year and becomes particularly tough if there has been snow. Grand Central is a hop, skip, and jump for all individuals with good feet and healthy bodies. Those who have disabilities that limit walking may not want to visit the city during this time of year, as it becomes more crowded than usual. However, those with the capacity to walk a lot of miles will easily be able to make a day seeing a great radius of the city!

On the visit during which the accompanying photos were taken, my family took the train to Grand Central and visited MOMA, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, FAO Schwartz, the Apple Store, Central Park, and many other locations! By the end of the day, the train ride home was relaxing. It will be another wonderful memory added to our scrapbooks and minds!

During the Christmas season, the Salvation Army collection individuals come out in the dozens. If you love to give to the Salvation Army, you will love it even more when you see guys and gals dancing, singing, and making the most of their time on the streets. We saw a gentlemen putting on a great show including bells that he was playing very well. He was so fun to watch that crowds of people were huddling around him.

The Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is a sight to see every year. Beautifully decorated, it looks great in the daylight and at night. If you track plan your steps just right when you take the train in, you can see it both in daylight and evening. People stop in awe, taking pictures, talking to one another, and enjoying a festive time of year. Additionally, there is a store across the street that puts on a light show in the evening complete with music accompanying the lights.

The windows of the stores along 5th Avenue are set up beautifully, with SAKS Fifth Ave taking the cake every year. Walking along any street in the city lends itself to some wonderful window front settings, but 5th Avenue is definitely the winner for amazing beauty within store windows. MOMA and the smaller studios on the way provide some festive and memorable window fronts as well.

A trip to NYC during the Christmas season without stopping to rest while watching the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular is a wasted trip. It is a wonderful memory for the entire family to see the Rockettes singing various Christmas Carols and hear the wonderful message of the season so beautifully portrayed.

FAO Schwartz is always a unique experience, but the decorations and displays during the Christmas season are so amazing and beautiful. From the snowflakes hanging down from the ceiling to the beautiful gowns and presents, you will forget you are in a toy store! Don't forget to stop by the large floor piano and enjoy making a sound or two. You will wait in line, but the joy of feeling like you are in Big is well worth it!

You cannot go to NYC without checking out Times Square. Those with young children will find plenty of photo opportunities with people who make a quick dollar by allowing you to take pictures of your children with their favorite cartoon characters! From Mickey Mouse to Sponge Bob to Elmo, there is something for every age. Need to do some shopping? The vendors and stores in this district have some great sales and you can shop for everyone on your list! Just remember to keep your eyes forward and not break your neck staring up at the lights (and therefore bumping into the many other walkers).

Central Park is beautiful this time of year and worth the extra walk if you have time. If you are staying in New York for the night, spend the extra money to pamper yourself at the Plaza or one of the many hotels in the Central Park area. You are sure to find a full day just visiting Central Park and its playgrounds, recreational facilities, vendors, carriage rides, and so much more!

If you take a trip into the city, leave some feedback by posting a comment on what you enjoyed most and what you find to be memorable and a "must see".