I'm making my first trip to NYC next week (from Scotland) and believe the Tree at Rockefeller Centre is being lit on Wednesday. Is this worth going to see or best saving for another evening?

I've also heard that the Empire State Building is worth doing at twilight. What time is this exactly at the moment and is it busier then?

Is it too cold to walk the Brooklyn Bridge at this time of year?

Any other tips would be appreciated, I've already picked up loads from other posts.

NYC is a walking city. Right now it is very cold. Coming from Scotland, you might not think it is that bad.

How many days will you be spending in the city would alter my opinion on the questions you asked.

THE TREE: It will be REALLY REALLY crowded. They have a show that lasts for about an 1-1/2 hrs prior to the lighting. People arrive quite early to get a view. Most, however, are too far back to see anything except the lighting of the tree itself. IMO, it is not worth it. However, some enjoy going. Another night you can come right up close and get a picture of the tree and watch the skaters. If you are interested in skating, it is quite a dramatic place to just have fun. However, it is crowded and expensive. There is also skating at Wollman ring in Central Park.

Brooklyn Bridge: I personally would find it too cold and not worth it.

I would spend some time seeing the windows on some of the famous 5th Avenue stores such as Sachs. They can be quite a marvel.

I would try to get tickets for a show. You may consider using TKTS in Times Square.

Also, I would spend an afternoon in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Hope you have a delightful trip!

There is a visitors'bureau for the Times Square area on 7th Ave between 46th and 47th St. It is a great place to pick up brochures, tours and the $4 all day pass for buses and subways.

Have fun!!

Don't bother with the tree hysteria on the night it's lit. Just go some other day, or evening - it's beautiful and the ambiance is enhanced by watching the people ice skating on the rink beneathe it...

Walk up or down 5th Avenue, starting or ending at 59th Street. Beautiful Xmas windows....

The TKTS tickets are for the same day. You wait on line and buy discounted tickets for shows - can't always get a particular show that you might be interested in, but worth it. Theatre has gotten very expensive, with the top musicals selling for $100/ticket.

Enjoy your trip!

Unless you are willing to camp out for five hours minimum pass on the tree lighting. If you don't get close in you will see nothing. View the tree at any other time. Walk the bridge? Make that decision when here. It is very cold in the city now and it is expected to remain cold for the next few days. It might not be as cold when you are here. Whenever you decide to visit the Empire State building do it on a clear day or evening. I prefer a daylight viewing.

Adele
I walk across the Bklyn Bridge all year - except when it's icy! Just dress warm as you would no matter where you were going!
Have a wonderful time in NYC,
Mara

Saks Fifth Avenue is right across the street from Rockefeller Center and next door to St Patricks Cathedral.
A visit to the church if that interests you is nice then go into Saks, up to the restaurant and get a table by the window overlooking Rock Center and the tree. You can enjoy it all and have a cup of tea and be warm.
Early evening is nice, the lights are amazing.
Have a wondeful time!
katie

that is Saks Fifth Avenue Department Store

Avoid Rockefeller Center when they light the tree -- very crowded, but do go see the tree some other time. The Brooklyn Bridge would be cold this time of year -- a better suggestion might be to go to South Street Seaport where you can get a good view of it. While you're downtown you might want to visit Chinatown or have lunch in Little Italy where you can get a wonderful Italian meal in a nice restaurant very reasonably priced. Of course you want to walk about lower Manhattan and see Trinity Church, Wall Street and you may be able to visit the Federal Reserve and see the rooms with gold deposits or visit the NY Stock Exchange if they still allow visitors (not sure if they do anymore post-9/11 but they used to and were free) You can get a wonderful view of lower Manhattan plus a nice inexpensive boat ride (I think it's now free) if you take the Staten Island ferry roundtrip -- about 20 minutes each way. Walking about Rockefeller Center and over to nearby Times Square. Fifth Avenue between 59th and 49th Street is a nice walk. Definitely allow at least 3 hours to visit the Metropolitan Museum, and you still won't begin to cover it but don't miss it or the Egyptian collection, reportedly he largest outside Cairo. And there are lots of upscale shops on Madison Avenue from 59th Street (Bloomingdales) up to about 77th Street although too expensive for most of us. Park Avenue is also lovely to walk from about 57th Street going north although it's mostly old pre-WWII apartment buildings and lovely side streets with elegant townhouses. Have fun.

Adele

We are also coming over from Scotland to visit New York next week for 5 days arriving on 7/12 - where are you staying??

Thanks everyone for all your great suggestions. I'm definitely going to give the tree lighting a miss and wait to see it another day.
Bernie - we're leaving on the 7th but have a great time!

You may want to see the tree in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has an 18th-century Neapolitan crèche scene.

Also don't miss the department store windows. My favorite is Lord & Taylor's at 5th Avenue between 38th and 39th Street.

Take your friends e-mail addresses w/ you as you can send free e-mail photo postcards from the visitor's center.

Also, to avoid standing in line in the cold too long at TKTS, go to the one in front of the American Indian Museum
near Battery Park. The line is shorter and you can get your tickets earlier in the day. The subway stops right there.

Have a wonderful trip!

regarding line at TKTS, we waited in line on Wednesday, the afternoon before Thanksgiving, and although the line looked very intimidating, we moved quickly -- got on line at 3:20 and had tickets in hand at 3:50pm -- had a wonderful choice of musicals, and got great seats for 42nd Street, at half price. What a deal!

In addition to the suggestions above, if you like people watching, grab a cup of hot cocoa and stroll over to Central Park. Watching people ice skate (or skate yourself)is fun, and it's very pretty to see the rink with the city in the background.