Hello! I am surprising my daughter with a trip to NYC on 12/18-12/21 to celebrate her 19th birthday. We've been several times before and love, love, love it, but this is our first Christmas trip and I want to make sure we don't miss anything.

We have tickets to Young Frankenstein, Spring Awakenings, The Color Purple, and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, so much of our schedule is already set. However, what other Christmas-specific activities would all you experts recommend?

Also, I've made cancellable reservations at the Millennium Broadway and The Time hotels. Special deals were available through Travelzoo (rates drop around that time) but I'll try right before we go for a great Priceline deal. Of those two hotels, though, does anyone have a preference or opinion? Both get decent reviews on Tripadvisor.

I'd appreciate any tips or advice anyone might have. Thanks in advance!!!

I don't know what rate you got for the Time, but $199 for the Mill. Broadway is pretty terrific. It's now being won on Priceline as a 4* hotel in mtw for more than that (granted at pricier times). I don't think you'll do better on Priceline. You could pay less, but it will probably be for one of the Hiltons (NY or Times Square). I'd go for the Millenium since the travelzoo special says it's a high floor room so you'd have a view.

As to other activities, see the Xmas windows (Lord & Taylor, Bergdorf, Barney's and Saks are usually the best), watch the skaters in Rock Ctr. and Central Park, maybe check out the Xmas markets....and then there's shopping!

Think about making some dinner reservations since it's a busy time and you're doing a lot of shows which will put you in limited time frames. Opentable.com can be helpful for finding what's available. Reviews on menupages.com

If you haven;t done it befoer do Top of the Rock.

Walk up Fifth AVe from Lore & Taylor (38th) to 57th - seeing all th store windows, Rock Center, St. Pats etc.

If you have time also check out some of the other special trees - the Neapolitan creches at thee Met an the origami tree at the Museum of Natural History.

Also - if you get a nice day do have a look at the skating in Central Park.

I've stayed at both The Millenium and The Time. The Millenium was ok. I just felt everything was a shade of beige. A little drab for my tastes. The Time has a color theme in each room. I liked the room but it was much smaller than the room at the Millenium. The Time was also quieter. For a view, chances are you would get a better view on a higher floor in the Millenium, but it all depends upon where your room is. All in all, I preferred The Time.

My friend stayed with her daughter (then 14) at the Time and really liked it (hotel and neighborhood), but did comment that the room was quite small.

See:

http://tinyurl.com/2lsd2n

For the Holiday Fairs at Bryant
Park (plus free skating, skates
rent for $10) and Union Square
both outdoors and indoors at
Grand Central. A shopping gal's
delight!

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I hadn't heard of the special museum exhibits or the holiday fairs - they sound perfect! And we still haven't done the Top of the Rock, so that should be fun. Do any of you have any favorite restaurants that really feel festive during the holidays? We love any kind of food and are always up for something new!

Spring Awakening is amazing!! Excellent choice, if you know what you're getting into. It definitely has adult content and deals with subjects that many people might not be comfortable with.

Try the Stardust Diner in Times Square, too, if you haven't already.

I spent Christmas in NYC two years ago and loved it.
I'm glad to hear you have tickets for Radio City Music Hall. It was great.

As for other activities, I really enjoyed wandering up 5th Ave looking at all the windows. It was really festive.

If you are going to try Priceline, I wouldn't wait. I've had very good luck bidding in advance. You have nothing to lose if you keep trying every couple of days.
Good luck,
and have a great time.

Thank you, Enna, for the positive review on Spring Awakening. It sounded rather edgy and hip for an middle-aged mom, but perfect for my daughter. We both loved Rent, though, so perhaps I'm hipper than I thought

I looked up the Stardust Diner and it looks great! How have we missed that? We'll definitely put that on the agenda.

Can't wait to see the store window displays. Just ordered a couple of books: "Through the Shopping Glass: A Century of New York Christmas Windows" and "Christmas in New York." Should really help get me in the mood!

Thanks, too, for the thumbs up on Radio City Music Hall. Didn't know if it was too juvenile, but hey, anything with the word "Spectacular" in it . . . I'm in!

Thanks for all the help. This is such fun!

Don't miss the tree at the Met. It is spectacular. How about a carriage ride through the park? Touristy but fun anyway. One of my favorite memories is going to Radio City to see the show and then having dinner at the Sea Grill and watching the skaters at Rockefeller Center.

Jealous of your trip.

It's not specifically Christmas-oriented, although I'd count on lovely holiday decorations, but one thing I'd do is have afternoon tea at somewhere that does tea up right (Plaza?).

P.S. You are never too old for the Radio City show. We used to go all the time as kids in the 50's and 60's (no advance tickets and loooong waits on line in freezing cold weather) and then I didn't go for like 25 years. Was worried when going back as an adult but shouldn't have. I was right back into the magic of it. Got to love those Rockettes and the toy soldier routine.

I agree, Sharon. I loved it when I went 2 years ago.

I kindof wish I was going back this year, but I want to do something different every year.

The windows are fabulous. The crowds were all in a good mood..

I also went to a couple of Christmas markets. SOrry, can't tell you exactly where they were, but they were fun. One is not too far from where all the windows are. (Maybe at 6th and 44th???? I'm really guessing here)

As touristy as this sounds, I would get reservations for a lunch at Tavern on the Green. We ate there last year around the same time - and the decorations are FABULOUS!!! Also, if you want good Italian - in Little Italy - Pellegrino's (like the water)... Have a great time, maybe I need to book me a little trip up there, too....

Oh, dear - - I fear this is becoming an obsession! I can't wait to check my computer for new suggestions!! Thank you for all the wonderful ideas. I've Googled all the suggestions, printed them out, and put them in my "Christmas in New York" notebook! Will work on an itinerary later.

Debi, nothing is too "touristy" for me! I'm sure I'm quite amusing to the locals with my camera, guidebooks, and gaping mouth, but I can't help it - I just love this city! Would love to do Tavern on the Green. Went for drinks with my sister and mom a couple of years ago, but have never had dinner there. What fun!

And the Sea Grill, and Pellegrino's, and the Met, and a carriage ride . . . oh, I can't wait!!!

Thanks again for all the help!

I live in NYC; midtown specifically. Since so much of your schedule is already set, I recommend just walking and looking at the holiday decorations. Maybe a stop of two for coffee or lunch. Don't put too much else on your schedule and enjoy the city. I think your hotels are fine. After all, how much time will you spend there? Take a walk up 6th Ave to Central Park. Across Central Park South to 5th Ave. and then down 5th. This is the main touristy area but with the best decorations. The Met Museum is wonderful in itself but decorated beautifully at Christmas. A walk through Central Park is nice, too. Make sure you have WARM footwear, hat and gloves so you can enjoy yourselves. Stop and get a warm pretzel.

As of yesterday, a lot of Broadway shows are closed due to a strike. You may want to check to see if this will effect your daughter.

YIKES! The Broadway strike really has me worried! Does anyone have any idea how long the strike is expected to last? Surely they'll work it out fairly quickly!

bhn1020 - you can't imagine how I envy you! Ah, to live in midtown Manhattan! I can't wait to stroll along, taking in the scenery, eating a warm pretzel . . . sheer bliss!

By the way, I've read about Christmas at the Cloisters. Sounds lovely, but does it take all day to get there and back? Can't seem to find any info on how long it takes. Would you consider it worth the trip, or would you spend that time elsewhere?

Again, thank you all so much!

You can go up to the Cloisters and back in a half-day. It can be subway in both directions, or you can do what we did, take the bus back downtown as a very inexpensive tour of upper Manhattan -- it takes a while, but you see stuff you wouldn't otherwise see.