Top 5 Things To Do In NYC Over Thanksgiving Break
Staying in New York City over the holidays can be so much fun — but can also be extremely overwhelming. Tourists flood the streets, ‘trendy’ areas are significantly busier than usual, and it can be difficult to truly experience the holiday season. However, there are many ways to enjoy the city without feeling stressed — all it takes is some planning. Here are my favorite places to visit, along with some tips on how to make the most of them without feeling frazzled.
5. The Great Borough Bake-Off
The Great Borough Bake-Off is the Museum of the City of New York’s annual gingerbread house competition and exhibition. This year is the fourth annual presentation, and the theme is ‘Iconic New York’ – meaning the bakers have to recreate an iconic building, thing or place that is representative of the city. While there are some world-renowned judges who help choose the winners, there is a ‘People’s Choice’ award, where museum visitors (like you) cast their votes for their favorite house. While this event is not necessarily the most well-known, it is a really fun and wholesome way to spend some time indoors, escaping the cold while enjoying some truly unique ‘architecture.’
Gingerbread creations from a prior Great Borough Bake-off (Courtesy of Farwell/MCNY)
4. New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show
The New York Botanical Garden, located in the Bronx, has been putting on a train show for the past three decades, and it has become an iconic staple of New York City in the winter. The model trains run on a half-mile track, through an incredible miniature cityscape of New York City, including iconic landmarks such as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty – all constructed of plant materials. Visitors should definitely buy tickets in advance, but this is a must-see if you are here for the holidays. More specifically, certain nights offer a ‘Holiday Train Nights’ experience where the show stays open from 7-10 p.m., and is accompanied by live music, food, drinks and exclusive photo opportunities throughout the cityscape.
The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show (Courtesy of New York Botanical Garden)
3. Macy’s Thanksgiving Eve Balloon Inflation
Everyone knows about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade - but fewer people know about the balloon inflation, which occurs the night before Thanksgiving. On the Upper West Side, parade officials and inflation teams prepare all the iconic balloons for the following day’s event, and it is an incredible way to experience the iconic event from a completely different lens and avoid the crowds who flock the streets on Thanksgiving morning.
2. Bryant Park Winter Village
The Bryant Park Winter Village has been a staple in the New York City holiday season. Most people go for the impressive array of food stands and the incredible artisan storefronts. Free to enter, it is beautiful to walk around, shop, eat, drink and maybe even rent a private igloo to dine with friends! Personally, I love truffles, so the truffle fondue with pretzel bites from The Trufflist is incredible. There is also a reason Gunther’s tomato soup with grilled cheese bites is so popular - it's the perfect bite, especially during these cold winter months. In terms of art, one of the greatest gifts you can give comes from a store called Chopstick Art – a small storefront that transforms chopsticks into home decor. I have personally bought it for multiple family members, all of whom have loved it.
1. Ice Skating At Roebling Rink
Ice skating in New York City is a massive bucket list item that must be crossed off your list if you are living in the city, and there is no other place to complete this than Roebling Rink. Located right underneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo, the views here are completely unmatched. Not only is this one of the most affordable ice skating experiences in the city, priced at $16 a person for a 60-minute time slot and an additional $8 for skate rentals, but the views of the New York City skyline and New York Harbor are absolutely incredible. While during peak tourist season it might be difficult to get a reservation, you can register for a particular time slot online and arrive worry-free!
Whether it’s a bake off, a trip to Bryant Park or an ice skating escapade, don’t miss out on these incredible activities this holiday season.