My daughter and I arrive Sunday for three full days of holiday sightseeing, shopping and fun, and we can hardly wait. But Monday's forecast is for rain, wind and snow which rules out that day for holiday windows, Empire State Building, and outside stuff in general, right? Here are my questions for Monday sightseeing:
1. NY Botanical Garden (by train from GSS)--would this be okay on a stormy day?
2. We're staying in Midtown; any suggestions for indoor sights that are a subway or taxi ride away? What about the Intrepid Museum?
3. It's in the 70's/80's here this week, and it just doesn't feel like Christmas. This is my daughter's first trip and my fourth to NY (all in the winter months--I've never seen leaves on your trees!) and so far the weather hasn't stopped us. WE LOVE NY! See you in a few days...

oops! just read my post. #3 isn't a question, huh? Must be heat stroke!

The Botanical Gardens might not be that interesting since only the plants in the greenhouses would be green and in bloom. Outdoor plants die down in the winter in New York and the leaves fall off the deciduous trees. The Botanical Garden has beautiful grounds, but best seen in the growing season.

The Bronx Botanical Gardens has a special Christmas presentation in several green houses - a major train set up and tiny villages made of natural elements. However, as I recall the grennhouses are about a 10 minute walk from the parking lot - not sure about the subway since we drive. So might not be good for a snow day.

One thing you need to recognize is that unless there is a lot of snow it rarely sticks for long in midtown - the streets and sidewalks are very warm since bulding cellars, underground passageways and steam pipes (carrying heat to many of the buidlings) run under them. Unless there's a lot of snow (not predicted so far) just ignore it and do whatever you want.

No help from me, just a suggestion to repost with your destination in the title.

Oh, I thought that is was only on the NY message boards, since I set it up that way. Sorry, beachbum.

pmhfromca: FYI. There really isn't a "NY message board". All messages are lumped together on one USA forum. Clicking on a specific state merely lets someone search for threads about that state.

I opened your thread because I'm in California and assumed you were traveling TO California and were worried about snow or rain (which we do get all winter depending on what part of CA you are in). It wasn't until I got to the "Empire State bldg" bit that I figured out what you were talking about.

You have received some good response -- but you'll probably get even more if you mention NYC (cuz that's what you are asking about) instead fo CA in your title.

Indoor sights in midtown (besides shopping ofcourse include the MOMA museum, St Patrick's, there's a Rockefeller Center tour, the UN is considered midtown (although it's all the way east on the East River) Grand Central Station has a laser light show (and a Xmas market), the Sony Wonderlab...

Here's a lot of holiday info
http://newyorkmetro.com/urban/guides/holidays/