New York over Thanksgiving or December

[stmartinfan]

We're looking at taking our adult kids to NYC for a few days before the end of the year. Based on vacation dates, etc. options appear to be 1) arriving Thanksgiving afternoon and staying until the following Monday 2) the Friday - Tuesday before Christmas.

Anyone had experience with those dates in terms of Thanksgiving week end vs. one in December? How busy will it be in NYC? (Someone's told me that's a very busy time to go.) I used to go in December for work trips and loved all the lights, etc., but didn't do sightseeing things.

Any special recommendations for that time in NYC? We'll probably do a play or 2 and some of the typical sightseeing stuff. We've been before, so are flexible. Hopefully, we can score something at the TKTS booth for at least 1 play.

 

[SMHarman]

There is this parade thing with balloons and stuff on the Thursday. Central Park West from AMNH to Columbus Circle and 6th ave to Macy's are a zoo. You should miss that.

Beyond that it is usual holiday busy. Your list sounds a good plan.

Enjoy a walk in fall in central park or riverside park Or the high line. Get lost in central park rambles.

 

[Marathoner]

Yes, both of those weeks will be busy in the city. And cold. But I think the Thanksgiving weekend is preferable because it is not as cold and is not as dark. And all the festivities are available on Thanksgiving except for the Rockefeller Center tree. There are lots of good Thanksgiving dinner restaurants that you can book on Thanksgiving day.

I would recommend seeing the play, Hand to God.

The activities that you can do over that weekend are pretty much the same as most weekends which are all fun/memorable:
- Ice skating at Bryant Park
- Visiting the WTC memorial
- Nice dinners - I recommend trying Il Buco (an Italian restaurant)
- Burger lunch at Shake Shack
- Drink at a pub like The Spotted Pig or a Speakeasy like PDT or Employees Only. By the way, if you like cocktails, the best speakeasy in Manhattan may be the Dead Rabbit in the financial district.

 

[Conan]

How busy will it be in NYC?

Fifth Avenue gets overrun by tourists throughout the pre-Christmas season.

That's not a reason to stay away from NYC. Just skip Fifth Avenue!

 

[kctime]

Agreed on the attractions. All the Xmas stuff is up starting from Thanksgiving. And speaking as someone who used to have to get from 6th Ave to 2nd Ave every night to get home, the Rockefeller Xmas is way overcrowded for the last couple weeks before Xmas.

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