The Big Apple, the Big City, the City that never sleeps, the Empire City … these are just some of the many names New York City is known for. A famous tourist attraction that millions visit from around the world all year round, the city is filled with activities for all age groups and preferences. But the most unique and probably the best time to visit this busy city is the wintertime, when the true glamor of New York appears to the enjoyment of many visitors.
As many as 28 million visitors arrive in NYC around the wintertime, making the city the number one most visited city in the United States and the 13th in the world (according to Forbes). The winter season kicks off on Dec. 21, and this year the weather in the Big Apple is just right — cold with a touch of snow every now and then. The city is draped in lights everywhere to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s, and window displays along many major streets have decorated their windows to please the bystander’s eyes. The lights stay well after New Year’s as well. There are many things to do in the wintertime — don’t let the cold fool you. Christmas markets are spread around the city, and ice skating rinks open up everywhere. Some of the best areas are located in many of the well-known summer spots.
Start with a leisurely stroll in these excellent locations: Saks 5th Avenue (611 5th Ave.), Barneys New York (660 Madison Ave. at 61st St.), Bloomingdales (Lexington Ave. between 59th Street and 60th Street), and Macy’s (Herald Square, between 34th and 35th on Broadway), Lord & Taylor (424 5th Ave. at 38th Street), and Bergdorf Goodman (5th Ave. and 57th Street). Watch the creativity of the department store window displays, but be careful though: Many shoppers are making the mad dash to finish up their holiday shopping sprees. A better time for you to shop as a tourist would be after the holiday, and probably best after New Year’s as well.
If shopping is on top of your list, try visiting the Christmas markets around the city. The largest is located in Union Square; another is located in front of the Time Warner building west of Columbus Circle on the Upper West Side and Bryant Park on 5th Ave. and 40th-42nd Street. Bryant Park also holds one of the best ice skating rinks in town, open until March.
Two other famous rinks are in Rockefeller Center and Central Park. The uniqueness of the Rockefeller Center is the beautiful aura of lights and displays that surround the rink topped with the NYC Christmas tree with its gorgeous Swarovski star, weighing over 250 kg. You might as well visit the observation deck of the plaza and get a 360-degree panoramic view of the city. The best views would be after nightfall, when the city literally sparkles. Another great observation sight is the Empire State building, just a few blocks away. The building is always lighting its top with different colors throughout the year, depending on the celebration and causes that are important.
If you want to stay warm and get a bit of a workout, walk down 6th Ave. and head straight to Central Park. If you are not really a fan of the long cold walk, the subway or a taxi ride are your best choices. But if you’re a fan of sightseeing and do not want to miss out on anything, you can take a half bike half carriage ride down to your location. The park’s attractions can be a half day outing, spanning horse drawn carriage rides (reservations are recommended) that can range from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. The winter stroll prices range from season to season but are usually between $ 120 and $ 170. Sledding on the hills spread around the park is a popular activity when fresh snow is available, but do not despair: Sleds are available for rent, as are skates for the rink.
For a taste of the hustle and bustle of the city, head to Times Square. A mere few minutes can expose you to over 20 nationalities at once. It is a location where cultures and nationalities collide and drift into the busy movement of the area. Times Square is lined with shops, cafes, restaurants, and street food vendors. For food vendor owners, the competition is fierce, and the smells are always enticing and welcoming to the weak hearted. The Biryani cart won the best vendy in 2009 and is famous for its chicken biryani, filled with layers of flavor. For a spicy touch, the King Koti roll serves the appetite. If you are not a fan of something spicy, the Chennai roll made of tandoori chicken in a Thai sweet chili sauce is a good option. The King of Falafel and Shawerma, winner of the best vendy in 2010 and a famous place for lunch in Midtown, serves the best shawerma in town for a great taste of home with two great locations — one just steps from 42nd St. and another off Broadway. There are also ice cream cart vendors, burgers, Korean cuisine, Japanese, Scandinavian, pizza and even vendors for the cheesecake fix one needs from time to time.
The theater is a must-visit for any tourist in NYC, whether it is for a long stay or a short one. Broadway performances are available throughout the year. One of the highly anticipated of the winter season is the performance of the Nutcracker at New York City ballet. The cold wintery atmosphere makes it the right time to watch this wonderful yet eloquent piece that transports the viewer into a place where a barrage of ballerinas looking like pieces of wonderful cotton candy, large crystal snowflakes, and gingerbread people move through the stage in such exquisite and soft movement it takes the viewer’s breath away. Broadway provides many performances for all age groups. Some of the most famous are Wicked, based on the classical 1939 family friendly movie, The Wizard of Oz; The Book of Mormon, a comedic religious satire; The Lion King, largely based on the timeless Disney Classic; and one of the newest is Spiderman, Turn off the Dark, an elaborate and one of the most lifelike performances with a full view of the Manhattan skyline.
If the weather provides, take a ride on the NYC water taxi to explore the Statue of Liberty and get a feel of the city skyline from Lady Liberty’s view sight. The statue was a gift from France designed by the French sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi.
Then head to the Big Apple Circus in the Lincoln Center located in the Upper West Side. With its 35th year celebration, the circus is fun for all with its Big Top that can accommodate more than 1,000 visitors, playful pooches and magnificent horse performances, jugglers, soaring acrobats, and many acts of trickery of hilarious clowns.
Ring in the New Year’s with magnificent fireworks display in Prospect Park on Dec. 31 and Central Park. Times Square is always the center of it all, with a magnificent ball drop and millions of crowds cheering and enjoying the festive atmosphere. It’s safe to venture out into the crowd, as the NYC police force is spread out around the vicinity and always maintains order for everyone’s enjoyment. Be sure to have reservations at hand early on if you plan to eat out that night; restaurants are full with patrons who have reserved their tables days and even weeks ahead in some famous restaurants. Be sure to also have plans for a relaxing day on New Year’s Day. Take a relaxing spa day at the hotel and stay indoors, for most of the stores are closed either all day or half of the day.
A visit to New York would not be complete without a visit to one of the city’s museums. The city is filled with them. Some of the greatest are the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) with no entrance fees, American Museum of Natural History with its large “ecosphere” display, and the Guggenheim, which is best known for its spiral structure and unique layout and one of the most iconic structures in the world. There are museums for every theme and age. Concierge offices in hotels provide all the details as well as seasonal offers provided by the facilities themselves.
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