New York City, New York

I think we can agree the most wonderful time of year is Christmas, and I am here to tell you the most wonderful place to spend it is New York City. People have strong feelings regarding the Big Apple, either really good, or really bad. I’ve been going since I was a kid and it’s a city I absolutely treasure and enjoy going to every single time. And around the holidays, it’s more spectacular than ever. But yes, it’s usually more crowded than ever too. But still, worth it.

On our last trip to NYC, we did it a little bit differently and checked in on January 2^nd. And oh boy did we save some major bucks! The same hotel (Citadines Connect, right off of 5^th avenue) we booked for that night was 4x the price just the night before and nights leading up to the 2^nd. There were less crowds (although still crowded), yet all the holiday things were still up in full force. So, for this blog post I’ll tell you how to do NYC after January 1^st. The location was absolutely perfect, we could walk everywhere I mention in this blog, and we really enjoy staying in local boutique hotels during our travels.

There’s more to do in NYC than I could possibly mention in one blog post, another reason I love it so much, so here are some top experiences we had on our most recent trip.

Central Park

I recommend booking your hotel/stay off 5^th avenue, this is the main drag and home to many of the nicer hotels. You can also easily walk to Central Park, which we did many times. This is also where I recommend skipping the long lines at Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center for ice skating and do it instead in Central Park. There was no line when we went, just after dark.

There are countless playgrounds, rock formations the kiddos love to climb on, vendors, carriage rides, hot chocolate stands, historical monuments and walking paths. We love Central Park, and if you’re lucky enough to walk through just after a snowfall, it’s truly magical.

Top of the Rock

There are many options for observation decks in NYC and at one point or another, I’ve done most of them. From the Empire State Building to One World Observatory, they’re all fantastic. A newer one has just opened that I haven’t had a chance to try yet, and it was completely booked when we were there last, but it looked majorly impressive, so also check out Summit One. But my personal favorite is Top of the Rock. It’s where the iconic photo of the iron workers sitting on a beam was taken, and you can even reenact this photo on your trip up.

It also has the most amazing view of the Empire State Building (which is why I typically choose not to do the Empire State Building observation deck, because I love to see it lit up at night). You’ll need to make reservations ahead of time for any of these observation experiences so think ahead with this one, they will book up.

And of course, while you’re checking out Top of the Rock, you’ll want to enjoy checking out the tree, you know the one. There are always street performances and vendors selling yummy food all around. And just across the street, stay and watch the nightly light display outside Sak’s Fifth Avenue. Each year they showcase something spectacular.

FAO Schwarz

Now, the classic FAO Schwarz you may know from TV and movies is no longer, they closed their 5^th avenue doors years ago, but you can still peruse the iconic toy shop at its location right by Rockefeller Center. Try popping in at different times of the day, sometimes you’ll catch it right and it isn’t too crowded, and the kiddos can have a great time playing with the toys on display, including that majorly famous giant floor piano. They still have it! But if you don’t time it right (and I can’t even begin to tell you what time is right), there will be a line out the door and it’s a complete mad house. If you see this, turn around and try again later.

Be sure to walk by St Patrick’s Cathedral on your way in/out of Rockefeller Center, it’s iconic, gorgeous, and one of my absolute favorite buildings in NYC. Walk by, pop in, or even attend a mass.

Bryant Park

We love the hustle and bustle of Bryant Park, from the shops to the desserts, ice skating rink and vibrant feel, it’s a fun way to spend a few hours, or an entire afternoon. It can get super crowded, so the earlier you arrive, the better. They also offer these amazing igloos during the winter months you can book for an entire day that accommodates up to 8 people. We did not partake, but I will consider this on my next trip, particularly if I am without kids! They also have a huge number of daily activities, so be sure to check their website in advance.

American Museum of Natural History

I have been to the Natural History Museum many times over the years, and it’s always crowded. It just always is. But it’s also awesome and bringing my kids here for the first time was truly special. We spent hours wandering around through the exhibits, enjoyed every show, the planetarium, interactive, seasonal, and classic exhibits. It was wonderful and I highly recommend going on your next trip, with or without kids.

They also feature special shows and exhibits you’ll sometimes need additional tickets for, so again, plan ahead, and check their website in advance. Thankfully I had reserved our planetarium tickets ahead of time, one of my favorite things to do- and it was completely booked out for days when we arrived.

Broadway Shows & Radio City Music Hall

On our last trip, we skipped the show part, which I deeply regretted. I think my kiddos would have really enjoyed seeing the Rockets, a live performance, or a Broadway show, but I dropped the ball on buying tickets in advance and we just didn’t feel like waiting in line this time. But I still recommend checking out a show while you’re in NYC. The easiest way is to march right down to Time Square and hop in line, see what shows they are featuring and grab tickets bright and early. Or, if you want to guarantee seeing a particular show, buy tickets online and in advance.

Here are some TIPS on getting your show tickets.

Time Square

It wouldn’t be a trip to NYC without walking around Time Square. No matter what time of day, it’s impressive. Take your pics with the giant billboards, find some tourist treasures, hit up some hot spots like the M&M store, check out the local theatres, get a tattoo or shop your little heart out!

If you do want to brave Time Square on NYE, which I have done twice and both times were completely incredible, I recommend finding a club, restaurant or bar that takes reservations in advance- whatever the cost, it’ll be worth it. Hole up at your spot and step out on the patio or balcony for the ball drop. I have never taken my kiddos, and do not plan to any time soon. It’s 100 percent more of an adult experience. But hey, if you want to bring them, go for it.

New York Public Library

Right next to Bryant Park, it’s a city treasure and you must pop in there. It’s also something wonderfully free you can do! The building itself is just gorgeous and they often feature art displays, highlighted exhibits and book signings.

Grand Central Station

I highly recommend taking the time to walk around and browse Grand Central Station (another fantastically free activity) while you’re in NYC. The structure itself is just stunning and there are many restaurants, bars, and shops you can enjoy as well. We didn’t have to take the subway or train once during our entire stay, our hotel was so perfectly located that we were able to walk everywhere. But if we did want to travel to some locations further out, we always love to travel from here.

Pizza

There is nothing like NYC pizza…NOTHING. I don’t care if any of you disagree, I will always feel this way. And my family quickly agreed with me on our last trip. We turned pizza into the highlight of every single day. We got a new slice somewhere different each day, and had fun rating each place and slice we enjoyed. I couldn’t even begin to tell you our favorites, but they were usually places that surprised us and not the tourist spots with long lines. We asked a few locals for recommendations, some of the hotel employees and people we would get to chatting with and they never disappointed in directing us to our next delicious destination. One of our favorites was just steps from our hotel and we would have missed it, had an employee not directed us. So enjoy all of the pizza you can stuff in your pie hole, walk it off, and enjoy some more!

I tried to keep this short and sweet, and failed miserably. But there is just too much to do in NYC and this is just the tip of the iceberg. During the warmer months, there’s an entirely different set of recommendations I have, visiting the 911 memorial, taking the Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, having a picnic, and enjoying the splash parks in Central Park. But I’ll have to save that for a future blog. With that, I wish you all a Happy New Year and many more adventures to come!

10 things to pack for your winter trip to NYC:  

1. Tickets. Make reservations ahead of time for any activity you want to do and don’t forget to download your tickets and have them readily available!
2. Layers. If you’re going to NYC during the winter, check the weather and then check it again and pack layers accordingly. As soon as the sun goes down and the wind whips through the city, it is COLD.
3. Gloves/Socks/Beanies/Face Coverings/Mittens. Keep those heads and hands warm! You’ll also find some establishments still recommend or require face coverings, so they’re good to have in your bag, just in case.
4. Comfortable shoes. Walking is one of the best things about visiting NYC so be sure you have nice warm, comfortable shoes to do it in.
5. Backpacks. We each had small backpacks to walk around the city with, to put our purchases in, our jackets if we got hot, snacks, etc. Don’t know what we would have done without them!
6. Extra Suitcase. Or just extra room in one of your bags. NYC is known for shopping, and you will be buying more than you plan to, trust me. So be sure to have a spare carry-on bag or a suitcase with some empty space to bring back your stashes.
7. Water bottles & snacks. If you’re traveling with kids (or even if you aren’t), try to stock up on some inexpensive packaged snacks and bring reusable water bottles with you or you’ll spend a fortune on $8 bottles of water. If you can fill up your bottles at your hotel and stash some snacks in your backpacks before you head out for the day, your day will be easier (and cheaper).
8. Secure wallets/purses. We have never had problems with pick pocketers, but I am sure they’re prevalent in any major city, especially near the holidays, so be sure to only bring what you need to, maybe one credit card and your ID (leave all the other stuff at home). I have a small backpack that zips on the inside (the part that faces your back) so that our items and money stay safe.
9. Portable games & cards. We were absolutely exhausted at the end of every day, so enjoying some cards as a family in our hotel room was a great way to wind down each evening. If you can find a rental or hotel with a sitting area or living room, even better.  
10. Electronics. You’ll need Bluetooth headphones for your flights so don’t forget to pack enough for the whole family so they can watch movies, etc. Most planes don’t even have TVs anymore, so you’ll have to connect to their Wi-Fi through your own devices so pack extra tablets, phones, etc. I also brough my Bluetooth speaker for listening to music at night. This is a great trip to take some cool action shots, so if you have a Go Pro or other high-quality cameras to take good videos, I recommend bringing them.