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Top 10 New York City Holiday …

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New York City is fun any time of year but a visit during the holiday season is something every family should experience. New York City holiday activities for families will surely wow visitors of all ages. From glittering holiday windows, iconic holiday shows and ice skaing galore, there is something for everyone. Pack your comfy shoes and come explore…

New York City Holiday Activities for Families

Top 10 New York City holiday activities for families

1. Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is one of New York City’s classic holiday scenes. Stop by for photos in front of the famed Christmas tree and take in the larger than life bronze Prometheus sculpture and hoards of ice skaters. If you want to see the city from above, Top of the Rock offers great views of the city’s skyline.

10 best New York City holiday activities for families

10 best New York City holiday activities for families

2. Department store holiday displays

Visiting department store holiday windows is a must for the holidays. My favorite store displays can be found at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, Barneys New York, Tiffany & Co., and Macy’s. The Saks evening light show is a must (every 30 minutes) and Frozen fans will especially love the 2019 Frozen themed windows. Macy’s Santaland boasts an elaborate indoor winter wonderland with Santa photo ops.

10 best New York City holiday activities for families

10 best New York City holiday activities for families

3. Ice skating in the city

One of the most iconic New York City holiday activities is ice skating. The most popular (and priciest) choice is The Rink at Rockefeller Center. Try to go off-peak to avoid the crowds. Trump Wollman Rink in Central Park offers stunning city views. The Bank of America Winter Village Bryant Park rink is free (just pay for skate rentals) and has awesome snack and shopping options.

4. Rockettes at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Don’t miss the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Rockettes Celebration. This annual stage show has been a holiday fixture since 1933 for good reason. The spectacular has kept up with the times and now features a 3-D portion, techno-tricks, amazing costumes and backdrops. The famed dancers, however, really steal the show.

10 best New York City holiday activities for families 10 best New York City holiday activities for families

10 best New York City holiday activities for families5. Shop till you drop

Tourists strolling down New York City streets toting shopping bags can be seen on ever block during the holidays. If you’ve got a family of shoppers, you’ll want to get in on the fun. Kid favorites include the Lego Store, FAO Schwarz, Nintendo, CAMP, American Girl Place and Build-A-Bear. Parents will want to check out NYC’s famed department stores and jewelry boutiques. There are also several festive pop up holiday markets in Bryant Park, Union Square, Columbus Circle and Grand Central.

10 best New York City holiday activities for families

10 best New York City holiday activities for families

6. New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show

Head to Brooklyn for the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show, a one-of-a-kind experience where families can watch model trains zip past more than 150 miniature New York landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and Rockefeller Center. Make advance reservations for this hot holiday pick. 

10 best New York City holiday activities for families

10 best New York City holiday activities for families

7. Special New York City Holiday Activities for Kids

December in New York City offers a wide range of special holiday events for kids. Choose from options like gingerbread house decorating at Eloise at The Plaza, GingerBread Lane at the New York Hall of Science, Nutcracker ballet performances and holiday puppet making at Central Park’s Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre following Yeti, Set, Snow.

8. Live Theater

Every trip to New York City should include attending a live performance. There are some really fun holiday shows this year including 42FT at The New Victory Theater (think circus and actobats) and The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays (six famed illusionists in one non-stop show) which will wow the whole family.  Broadway favorites like Aladdin, Wicked and The Lion King or off-Broadway picks like the Gazillion Bubble Show are other good options. 

9. Tea time

Take an afternoon break for tea or hot (or frozen) chocolate at one of the city’s famous sweet shops or a meal at iconic holiday restaurants. Some favorites include Alice’s Tea Cup, the Russian Tea Room, The Palm Court at The Plaza, Serendipity 3, Max Brenner, and Rolf’s German Restaurant.

10 best New York City holiday activities for families

10 best New York City holiday activities for families

10. A holiday ride

A fun family friendly (kids 6+) sightseeing option is The Ride which offers a comfortable tour of NYC hotspots with great views and interactive entertainment along the way (think part tour, part show, total entertainment). Look for discount codes on their website and book in advance as popular times will fill up.

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Five Cool Things to Check Out …

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NYC’s new American Girl Place, one of our favorite New York City hotspots has a glitzy new home in Rockefeller Center. The 40,000-square-foot flagship store is stunning and the location is perfectly central for locals and tourists. If you’ve got an American Girl doll fan at home, read on to learn about Five Cool Things to Check Out at NYC’s new American Girl Place.

Five Cool Things to Check Out at NYC’s New American Girl Place

Five Cool Things to Check Out at NYC's New American Girl Place

Five Cool Things to Check Out at NYC’s New American Girl Place

1) The American Girl Salon, Only At American Girl New York

One of the major enhancements at the new American Girl Place is the gorgeous American Girl Salon. Dolls have always been able to enjoy salon pampering but now girls can get in on the spa and salon action too. Girls can choose hairstyles to match their dolls (or not) and they can now enjoy mini mani’s and ear piercing alongside their dolls. And yes, the ear piercing is major news! Girl hairstyles start at $25 while doll styles begin at $10. It was so fun to watch my daughter and her doll Lea have their hair done in matching styles with coordinating ribbons. If you’re looking for a special girl’s day out treat, a stop here will definitely impress everyone. You’ll want to review the salon options and make reservations in advance, especially over holidays and weekends.

2) The New American Girl Cafe

Always a classic choice for a special dining treat, the new American Girl Cafe features modern decor, an updated a-la-carte menu and they have done away with the set seating times so you won’t find yourself waiting in a long line. You and your dolls can enjoy brunch, afternoon tea, lunch or dinner with old menu favorites (pink lemonade, pigs-in-blankets, cinnamon buns, chocolate mousse flowerpots) as well as new offerings. Dolls can enjoy meals (in their own seats – so bring them along or borrow one at check-in) and girls are given souvenir dining accessories to use and take home. We enjoyed our lunch and my daughter loved getting to share the experience all glammed up along with her doll. Yes, they have private rooms for birthday parties so keep that in mind when birthday season arrives.

3) Explore American Girl Books and Movies

The new American Girl store features a comfortable section where kids can watch the company’s award-winning movies and videos. There is also a cozy nook where kids can browse the brand’s hundreds of best-selling fiction and advice books. I love that these areas are for kids (and parents) to relax as shopping in NYC can be very hectic. My daughter is in third grade and the American Girl books have really been essential in teaching her how to navigate friendships and her growing body.

4) Create Your Own Design Studio

My favorite new addition is the Create Your Own Design Studio where girls can custom design their own doll via an online experience that takes personalization and customization to a whole new level. There are more than one million possible design combinations from hairstyles, eye colors, skin shades and accessories galore so girls can truly create the doll of their dreams. Girls can also design one-of-a-kind doll and girl-sized clothing at the design studio, which can be printed in-store. If your daughter likes to add her personal touches to everything, she will love these new options.

5) Check out the American Girl Doll of the Year!

We’re huge fans of these annual additions (like Gabriela, Grace and Lea) and I love that the 2018 American Girl Doll, Luciana Vega encourages girls to explore science as she aspires to explore Mars someday. The New York City store features a special section dedicated to the annual doll as well as specialty items (like cafe drinks and salon services) toys and clothes. Best of all, the BeForever characters and newer dolls are featured in special showcases where girls can get a glimpse into their worlds and play in interactive areas. Younger girls will especially love exploring the WellieWishers and Bitty Baby areas.

Ready to visit? Check out my Top Tips for Visiting American Girl Place in NYC and pin this for your next NYC trip.

Have you been to NYC’s new American Girl Place? Who is your favorite doll?

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Thanks to American Girl for providing us pampering spa services and lunch. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

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