holidays Archives - Globetrotting Mommy

Top 10 New York City Holiday …

December 4, 2019 By admin

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…

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

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

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.

5. 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

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

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. 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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Top 10 New York City Holiday …

November 22, 2017 By admin

New York City really shines during the holidays with glitzy holiday window displays, decked out stores and holiday markets, iconic holiday shows and the city’s famed Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Pack your comfy shoes and check out my picks for the Top 10 New York City holiday activities for families.

Top 10 New York City holiday activities for families

Bergdorf Goodman’s 2017 holiday windows feature a To New York, With Love Theme showcasing several NYC institutions including the American Museum of Natural History with a window of crystal covered dinosaur skeletons.

1) Holiday Windows and Displays in New York City

People wait in line to see NYC’s famous holiday department store windows and in-store displays so try to go during the week or early on weekends. My favorites are Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. Be sure to step inside Henri Bendel, Bergdorf and Saks for some the most elaborate holiday displays in town.

Ice Skating is free at NYC’s Bryant Park so just bring your skates and helmets.

2) Ice Skating in New York City

The Rink at Rockefeller Center is the classic choice with the best holiday vibes in town. Central Park is another option for ice skating with gorgeous backdrops. Winter Village at Bryant Park offers free ice skating right in the center of midtown. The Rink At Brookfield features ice skating in an outdoor plaza and overlooks the Hudson River.

The holiday light show at Saks is one of the Top 10 New York City holiday activities for families.

3) Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show

Located right across from the Rockefeller Christmas tree, the Saks Fifth Avenue light show is a must see. Watching the 10-story-tall theatrical light show with the accompanying music will make the whole family say “wow” out loud. If you’ve got Disney fans, don’t miss this year’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs themed holiday windows. Shows are on the 5th Avenue facade every 30 minutes starting at dusk.

Rockefeller Center is one of the Top 10 New York City Holiday Activities for Families

4) Rockefeller Center in New York City

Rockefeller Center is the center of NYC’s holiday activities. From the world famous Christmas tree to the decked out Channel Gardens and shops galore, every holiday visitor comes here. Top of the Rock offers great views of the city’s skyline and kids will love visiting the American Girl Place in its newest location and city’s famed Lego Store.

Macy’s in Herald Square features Santaland and gorgeous window displays for the holiday season.

5) Santaland at Macy’s in Herald Square

New for the 2017 holiday season, Santa is making advance appointments in Macy’s Santaland at Herald Square so definitely sign up for a 30-minute window before you visit. The famed 13,000 square foot Christmas wonderland is super popular so try to go midweek or early morning.

Tourists and locals alike love shopping at Union Square’s Holiday Market.

6) Holiday Markets Galore

New York’s holiday markets rival those found in Europe with culinary treats, great gifts and special events. The most famous holiday markets are located in Union Square Market, and Bryant Park.

The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show is great for multigenerational visitors.

7) New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show

Head to Brooklyn for the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show, 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 as they travel along a half-mile track. This is a great option for a multigenerational outing.

Don’t miss The Rockettes at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular

8) The Rockettes at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love seeing the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the famed Rockettes. A holiday fixture since 1933, the spectacular now features techno-tricks, amazing costumes and backdrops and super talented dancers who really steal the show.

Seeing a Broadway show is fun tradition for families visiting NYC for the holidays.

9) Family Friendly Broadway Shows

You can’t visit New York City for the holidays without seeing a Broadway show (or two). For 2017, families will find a good variety of options including The Lion King, Aladdin, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, School of Rock, The Play That Goes Wrong and Sponge Bob SquarePants. If you’re not picky, get last minute rush tickets (when box office opens for day of shows) or try the TKTS booth.

Tea at The Plaza hotel is a holiday favorite. Top 10 New York City holiday activities for families.

10) Family Friendly Shows and Attractions in New York City

There are so many family-friendly shows and attractions for families in a variety of price points. Some popular choices for tots are Gazillion Bubble Show, The Hungry Caterpillar and Central Park’s Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre. For older kids, The Ride, Tea at the Plaza, Gulliver’s Gate, Big Apple Circus, Blue Man Group and various Nutcracker performances are all great options. For a magic show the whole family will love, don’t miss Believe in Magic at The New Victory Theater.

Have you visited New York City for the holidays? What was your favorite memory or what would you most like to experience?

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Gear Up for Some Cinco de Mayo …

May 4, 2016 By admin

Living in NYC, my daughter is surrounded by people from all different cultures and exposed to cuisines from around the world. It is very common to see young children chowing down on sushi, edamame, pad thai, tandoori chicken, tacos and other ethnic dishes around town.

Gear Up for Some Cinco de Mayo Family Fun. Ole!

Since Mexican food is one of our favorite cuisines (hello bright colors, nachos and margaritas), I thought I’d share some of my tips for hosting a kid-friendly Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

Whether you order in or cook up a storm, a Cinco de Mayo gathering is guaranteed fun for everyone. And don’t worry, those are mocktails above….

What’s your kid’s favorite cuisine? Tell me below in the comments.

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2015 Holiday Gift Guide for …

December 10, 2015 By admin

If you’re looking for some holiday gift ideas the whole family can enjoy, today is your lucky day. Below I’ve rounded up some fun family gift ideas for globetrotting families to enjoy at home and away…

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

The Gift of Membership – If you’re looking for a gift that keeps on giving, a family membership to a favorite museum, amusement park, zoo or other cultural attraction is an awesome gift. Some museum memberships include reciprocal benefits where you can receive complimentary admission to hundreds of museums across the United States. Check out the North American Reciprocal Museum Association and the Association of Science-Technology Center’s Travel Passport Program for more details.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

Go See a Show – Save a date and take the whole clan to see their favorite artists perform on stage. From Frozen on Ice, Peppa Pig LIVE! and the Big Apple Circus to Sesame Street and Yo Gabba Gabba shows and musical concerts, there are dozens of family favorite events going on this winter. My top picks for families include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes, Blue Man Group, Aladdin and The Lion King.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families – A Duck Tour around Boston makes a great holiday gift.

Take the Family Sightseeing – A staycation or vacation makes a great holiday gift. Give your family the gift of go with a Go City Card valid for tourist attractions in 11 cities across the US or book a family fun sightseeing tour like The Ride in New York City, a Boston Duck Tour or a Carriage Ride around Charleston.

Family Friendly Travel Books – From travel inspired coffee table classics like Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel and Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places to trip planning guides and Lonely Planet Kids Activity Books, books are a great family gift idea.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

Culinary Gifts for All – Foodies of all ages will appreciate culinary gifts that offer tasty treats from near and far. Some ideas include the Peninsula Grill Ultimate Coconut Cake® from Charleston, South Carolina, Tessemae’s Chesapeake Mayo from Maryland, Norwegian Smoked Salmon, Trader Joe’s Chocolate Passport, The Everyday Eatalian gift box featuring products from Italy, a Great Lakes Food Club membership from Michigan or a Try The World foodie gift box subscription.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

Must Have Family Friendly Travel Accessories – I’m always bringing home leftovers from holiday celebrations and Igloo has a great selection of chic insulated totes (Trend, Maxcold and Stowe) that make nice holiday gifts for everyone on your list. I especially love that these bags fold up for storage and are leak-resistant making them great picks for road trips and plane rides. For junior travelers, the adorable bag tags and travel journals from Mudpuppy are sure to please. Other ideas for family friendly travel accessories include selfie sticks (I know, I know) and gift cards to make photo books showcasing your travels.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families – Family friendly games are sure to please.

On The Go Games – Family friendly games are great to bring to holiday get togethers and the classics from Hasbro (think Twister, Operation, Jenga and my all-time favorite Monopoly) are perfect options. I also love travel friendly family games like Melissa & Doug Travel Hangman, Spot It, eeBoo’s Color Go Fish Cards which are great for little hands.

I received some review items at the Momtrends holiday event but all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Mother’s Day Gift Guide …

April 28, 2014 By admin

Mother’s day is coming up (May 11 in the United States) so don’t wait till the last minute to get your mom (or wife) a great Mother’s Day present. Of course the best gifts are handmade so have your kiddo make a card or necklace to go along with one of these picks from my Mother’s Day Gift Guide.