New York at christmas
 

My husband and l will be visiting New York City and Niagara Falls at christmas time.We would appreciate any information re. hotels,sights,etc
Donna(australia)

Please see my response to "Favorite Hotel in NYC". Please feel free to e-mail me for any more questions (about NYC...I'm not too big on Niagra Falls).

- KEVIN

Agree with Keith on Niagara Falls. Unless you are "just passing through," I say don't bother. The pictures do the Falls justice, and there is nothing else of interest in the area. Besides, around Christmas time upstate New York will be bitterly cold. Spend the extra time in New York City.

I agree with the others: unless you are required to be in Buffalo to visit family or whatever, I'd leave the Falls for another time, i.e., summer.

You should definately plan a trip to Rockerfeller Center to see the Christmas tree and do some ice skating. Afterward, dinner at the Sea Grill (if you like fish) or the Rainbow Room would be costly but very nice. Another site to see is Lord & Taylor's (39th Street & Fifth Avenue) window displays.

The City has so much to offer - I think a trip to Niagara would be disappointing after that.

Niagara and NYC are a long drive from each other, particularly in the winter. If you go to Niagara, go to the Canadian side. Consider the Shearton Fallsview, great location with 24 hour views of the falls.

If you do NYC, try not to miss the holiday show at Radio City. We've done that show several times and have always enjoyed the grand productions. Many of the department stores do very elaborate holiday decorating, so there's sure to be many eye pleasing views. Christmas is the best time of year to be in NYC!

Have been to NYC many times at Christmas time.
A glass of wine in the bar and/or dinner at Tavern
on the Green (touristy but beautiful and unique) on
Central Park is a must. Have heard that the World
Yacht dinner cruise provides fantastic views of the
skyline and Statue of Liberty. Just walking the
streets and looking at the decorations is a treat.
Ice skate at Rockefeller Center or in Central Park.
Trump Tower is gorgeous and a great place to watch
people while having coffee. Enjoy!
people

Hi Donna: We lived in Buffalo for five years in the late '50's. The only reason to go to Niagara Falls around Christmas is because the falls may be frozen over and seeing them at night from the Canadian side under the blue illumination is a unique sight. If you happen to get caught in the famous Buffalo snow storms you will have something to talk about for a while. The average snowfall in Buffalo is 100 inches a year and while they clean it off the streets very quickly they also push it to the sides of the roads so walking is sometimes dicey. The Canadian side is much better than the American - oh, they have a nice rotating restaurant located high above the falls in a steel tower and the view is very fine. That area gets much colder than NYC so bring good jackets, hat, gloves and boots. At night it often goes down to 0' F. and this can cause frostbitten noses and earlobes.

NYC: catch horse carriage in front of Plaza hotel and take to Tavern on The Green..Do Fifth Avenue and Saks and Tiffany's christmas windows and of course Rockefeller Center with tree and skating rink, the christmas show at Radio City is something to see once. This would be my A list for NYC as a tourist..beyond this of course there are the museums, and Times Square and all the plays.

Niagara Falls: as others have said, this is a long drive on the New York State Thruway which often has big storms around Syracuse this time of year.
It will be too early for the falls to be really frozen but the lights are pretty and the Canadian side much better, better view of the falls, less tacky tourist traps, etc. As long as you are showing your passport to visit Canada for the falls, why not not drive the short distance (70-90)miles to Toronto? This is a fabulous world class city with lots to do and the Falls is an 4 or 5 hr visit at the very most & there is not much to do there beyond photo ops in December.