One of the busiest times of year in New York City is the time from Thanksgiving through the New Year. It’s at this time that shows sell out and smash box office records, but it’s also when the city is even fuller of attractions and things to do. Whether it’s seeing the famous tree at Rockefeller Center or simply grabbing a yummy cup of coffee, things are a lot crazier in the Big Apple during this time. If you’re visiting from around the globe, or an everyday New Yorker, here are some things you can expect this season:
Since New York takes a life of its own for the holidays, it attracts a higher volume of visitors than the rest of the year, meaning one thing – traffic. By foot, expect a bit of delay in your travels due to less pavement space. Families and groups will stick together in clumps and try to capture their holiday moments on the sidewalk, so try to be patient and not push anyone into oncoming traffic, which will also be heavy. In terms of being in car, taxi, or bus this season, prepare for many delays as traffic is very stop-and-go and an experience of riding the bus last holiday season had a speed of five minutes per block. Since there are more bodies, also expect a longer wait at restaurants, restrooms, and other places of necessity.
New York winters can be unpredictable, but it’s generally pretty cold. Layers work best because you can adapt to your current environment. Don’t forget about your gloves, hats, and scarves because they can keep you from losing the feeling in your fingers and ears; scarves keep your vocal chords warm. If there’s snow, make sure to forgo the daring footwear in favor of the safe, steady, and stylish boots so you don’t slip on ice or wet floors. There are thousands of places to catch a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate to assist you in your heating up.
If you want to see the tree at Rockefeller Center or the various window displays, there are smaller crowds early to mid-December compared to Christmas and New Year’s week. Though the tree isn’t lit until December 4th, you can still bask in its splendor now as it’s already in place. My favorite holiday display is the Saks Fifth Avenue snowflakes whose lights are choreographed to some Christmas tunes. I also love the lights show at the Shops at Columbus Circle. Large stars are hung from the ceiling and color changes are coordinated to Christmas carols! If you’d like to ice skate, there’s many rinks to choose from – Rockefeller Center, Central Park, and Bryant Park are my favorites. If you bring your own skates, you can even skate for free at the latter.
While there are so many things to see and do in New York in general, the holidays add a little punch to make it even better. With many flocking to Manhattan to be a part of it all, just remember to be patient, smart, and to simply enjoy the atmosphere.