christmas in NY with my family
 

My husband and I are taking our 2 daughters (age 9/12) to NYC for christmas. Any suggestions for family activites over the holidays? Also suggestions for a place to have family christmas dinner... I would like to make it special,(casual elegance) but don't want to break the bank!
Thanks.D.

What is your budget?

Have you any ideas of what you want to do?

Have you been to NYC before? If not, I highly suggest you purchase a guidebook and start reading to narrow down your choices. It will make the trip less overwhelming.

Holiday things:

Store decorations
Ice skating at Wollman Rink or Rock Center
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Tree at Metropolitan Museum
Carriage Ride Central Park

ttt

There's also the Holiday Fairs at Grand Central and Union Square which are fun, and you can find unusual gifts there.

The NEW skating rink at Bryant Park looks wonderful, have not been skating yet, but the whole area is set up so you can skate and then get out of the cold and get some hot chocolate.

The Museum of Natural History always has a lovely tree and I think they still do Orgami ornaments.

A MUST see is the Bronx Zoo. The whole Zoo is lit up in something like a millon lights, and many of the buildings are open for you to enjoy. You can take the train up and back easily or arrange for a car service. There are usually carollers for some holiday music. If you join the Zoo as a family, and it's not expensive you will get to visit the Central Park Zoo and the Aquarium at Coney Island as part of your membership fee, and get their magazine sent to your home for a year.

The City is magical over the holidays, have a wonderful time.

In addition to the other suggestions, I bet your daughters would enjoy:

* the Museum of Natural History on Central Park West

* Belvedere Castle in Central Park (not far from the Nat'l History Museum)

* ESPNZone in Times Square (huge "arcade" on one level with every imaginable video/interactive game)

Enjoy!