Family Bliss On the Go to NYC at Christmastime
If you ask any Americans the number 1 place to go around Christmastime, almost everyone would probably think of NYC. Yes, it's crowded and expensive, but it's popular for a reason. We absolutely LOVE taking our kids to NYC around Christmastime and have done so many different times, at many different ages from a 6 month old baby in a front carrier to a toddler in a back carrier to a small child with my death grip around their hand to older school-aged kids and teens. This past year, we even included my entire family, which meant 7 kids ranging in age from 18yo to 7yo.
So why is NYC at Christmastime so wonderful?
First, a lot of the festive sightseeing is free...the Rockefeller Christmas tree, the decorations around 5th Avenue including store windows, Macy's Santaland, and the Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. ALL free!! That's important because NYC otherwise can definitely be a pricey trip.
Speaking of Macys Santaland, if you have young kids, this is a really great experience. It's important to look up online how many days in advance you can book your timed tickets for the day you want to go, and then set a reminder on your phone calendar so you can do so. Once you secure your timed tickets, it's also important to know that this just grants you entry to the line- it does not mean you won't wait at all. There are two fast food restaurants right near the Santaland area in Macys, so maybe time it to grab some food to bring in the line to eat while you wait. The first part of the wait is boring for kids becuase it's in like backrooms/plain cement hallways. We played Heads Up on our phones and a Christmas trivia game to pass the time. But after that first boring part of the wait, you get to an enjoyable part of the line/wait where it is all decorated in different rooms, kind of like rides in Disney. Then, there's lots to look at and the kids will be very entertained. Our kids fully embraced this being the "real Santa" once they learned that the mall Santas usually weren't. He talks to them much longer and better than any other mall Santas we've ever seen. The experience is completely free, though there's expectation to buy photos then.
Another free thing I mentioned above was Dyker Heights lights. f you've never heard of Dyker Heights before, definitely look into it if you're headed to NYC at Christmastime. This was the first year we went there, and it was absolutely amazing. It's a neighborhood in Brooklyn where there are streets upon streets of houses decorated FULLY. Parking can be tricky there, so I'd recommend taking the subway there and then walking around, taking either the D train to 79th street or the R train to 86th street. The first option is a faster train from Manhattan, but I'd recommend the second option (to 86th street) because it's then a shorter walk to the actual lights. Or finally, you could also Uber to a bit closer if you want to limit your walking to just the lights sight-seeing. The prime lights area is between 83rd and 86th streets between 11th avenue and 13th avenue. The most famous house is the Lucy Spata House at 1152 84th street. Other famous options include the Frank Mangano House at 1023 83rd street and the Community Mayor’s House at 8312 12th Ave.
Secondly, there's ice skating at one of a number of different locations. We chose in Central Park so it wasn't quite as crowded or expensive as Rockefeller Center. Make sure you book a timed ticket in advance though. There's also amazing hot chocolate all over, especially at Glace near Rockefeller Center or at Max Brenner's.
If you are okay with spending some money, a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park can either be romantic for a couple or great fun for little kids. You can ask your driver to specifically point out places from movies, like Home Alone 2, which is fun for the kids.
Again, if you're willing to spend the money, there's also the Rockettes or some Broadway or off-Broadway shows that can be Christmasy, like Elf the Musical. There's also SO much in terms of the retail-loving end of this holiday, like the M&M store or FAO Schwartz.
Finally, some people would also add to this list the Christmas markets, especially Bryant Park. That being said, that is my absolute least favorite part of it all. It sounds so nice in theory, and I love the Christmas marketplace in Pittsburgh near my hometown, but Bryant Park is CROWDED, chaotic, and overwhelming. And this is while saying I absolutely love NYC at Christmastime and the Rockefeller Tree.....clearly those are already crowded and chaotic things, but Bryant Park is a whole other level for me. It felt impossible to actually look around, buy anything, or enjoy any second of this journey the two times we tried. I really wanted to love Bryant Park, but I'd personally say "pass!"
And if you're not looking to ONLY do Christmas things while there....other things we've enjoyed in NYC with our kids included the Central Park Zoo, just letting the kids climb around on the giant rock boulders all through Central Park, the Ice Cream museum, the Slime museum (Sloo-moo), walking the Brooklyn Bridge (but be prepared- it's a LONG walk!), and the firehouse from Ghostbusters.
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