“It’s Christmas time in the city!”
“City sidewalks
Busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there’s
A feeling of Christmas
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile…” (Silver Bells Lyrics)
As the holiday season is fast approaching, we thought we would provide you with a guide to experiencing and participating in all that New York City has to offer during this cheery and heartwarming time. What follows is a guide of some of our favorite choice destinations that just scream “It’s Christmas time in the city!” Feel free to add in stops of your own, or to take ones we’ve highlighted out, and adjust the timeline. Whether you make an annual trip during the holiday season, or this is your first excursion into the city ever, we have to tell you that there is absolutely nothing like Christmas time in New York City (or maybe we’re just biased). So, check out these Christmas sites in New York City!
9:30 a.m.: Take the Seastreak ferry out of the Conners Highlands Terminal to East 35th Street (Pier 11 is another option to get off at, but for the activities listed, we suggest East 35th St.)
10:35 a.m.: Now that you have arrived at East 35th St, you can embark upon your Holiday adventure through Manhattan. We suggest Bryant Park as your first destination to get you in the holiday spirit. Catch a cab, or, if you feel like walking, make some stops along the way at Grand Central Terminal’s Holiday Market (42nd Ave & Park Ave) , or Macy’s Miracle on 34th St. inspired windows (Macys Herald Square on W. 34th St. between Sixth Ave & Fashion Ave).
11:00 a.m.: Arrive at Bank of America’s Winter Village at Bryant Park (42nd Street & 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas), where you will find yourself enamored with the winter wonderland presented. Bryant Park’s ice skating rink takes center stage, and boasts free admission. Make sure to purchase some hot chocolate to defrost yourself with while you wander through the Holiday Stalls!
1:00 p.m.: We’re sure you’ll be getting hungry at this point in the day after burning many calories while you skated, so grab some lunch. There are many options, such as Celsius in Bryant Park, or take a walk over to Times Square where you’ll find numerous restaurants, such as Buca di Beppo, or Carmine’s, which are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.
3:00 p.m.: Now that you’ve refueled you may want to catch a Broadway show, visit the Rockettes and Santa at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, or join Clara on her Christmas Eve journey into a magical world of toy soldiers, and the Land of Sweets at the Nutcracker. You can choose from afternoon or evening shows to fit your schedule, but we recommend the afternoon shows so you have time to enjoy a cruise home on our Seastreak ferry.
6:00 p.m.: One of most popular things to do when visiting NYC at Christmastime is to walk down 6th Ave. to see the tree at Rockefeller Center (6th Ave between 49th & 50th Streets) where you can enjoy seeing the larger-than-life-sized decorations. They are truly marvelous, and make for great family photos!
Once you have made your way to see THE Tree, make sure to stop on Fifth Avenue across from Saks to watch their Christmas Light and Music show.
Whether you plan to visit for a day, or take an entire weekend, we hope you find the magic that we see when “it’s Christmas time in the city!”
Sea you soon,
The Seastreak Family
Filed Under: Seastreak News