weekend_celebrations

This may still work for those heading to NYC for February school vacation.

We have spent an eventful day in NYC with our five year old daughter during a recent holiday school break.
Here are the three highlights of the day (check out my blog post for pictures and links to these places http://celebratetheweekend.com/holiday-adventure-nyc/)

1, Rockefeller Center Skating.
Skating in this famed NYC landmark rink lit with the sparking Tree Lights seems an adventure that somehow puts your New York experience on a different level (and well deserved – try carrying a skating bag around the city bustling with the holiday crowds!). Speaking of crowds- we did find an excellent way to beat hours-long line at the rink by signing up (same day, on the phone) for a 30 min $50 skating lesson (skating access is included so you are really paying $20-$35 per lesson depending on the skater's age). Skate rental is additional (we had ours). My daughter loved her lesson and overall, I highly recommend to try this holiday experience at least once.

2, Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
The leg kicks were as high (and highly) synchronized as they have everyone believe and the teamwork leading to the fall of the Wooden Soldiers in the Parade of Wooden Soldiers Dance- is spectacular; so along with the full size tourist bus, 100 dancing Santas, live camel and ships on stage- this NYC holiday tradition is worth every penny (especially considering that we got the half-price tickets).

3. Bryant Park Winter Wonderland.
The skating at this Winter Wonderland is free (skate rental extra) and with the artsy crafts and fancy street food kiosks (think crepes and waffles and Turkish delights), the carousel, and lounge chairs around the open fire – you get as close to a European winter holiday bazaar as it can get… between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues (behind The Public Library). We parked nearby and it was a great way to start and finish our holiday adventure in the City.

janisj

Your link doesn't work

here is the correct one http://celebratetheweekend.com/holiday-adventure-nyc/

No need for parens, and putting one at the end of a url messes it up . . .

nytraveler

Another holiday tradition that we also do is the Nutcracker ballet at Lincoln Center. Kids of 5 and 6 are old enough to enjoy it unless you know they are the super restless type. And definitely great for older kids and adults. We were near a family with 2 young ones this year and it was obvious from the discussion that they had shown them a video of the ballet so they would know what to expect and enjoy it more.

Sorry this is holidays only - but for those going next year.

weekend_celebrations

Thank you janisj

weekend_celebrations

Nytraveler we also have a Nutcraker tradition at Boston Ballet where we try to get discouented tickets via group sales or at bostix.org. Does anyone know hot to get discounted tix to Lincoln center performances? Thanks