Sorry - hit key too soon.

Hotel prices will be at their height either time - and you should start trying to find a decent place/price now. Some like Radio City Apartments (a hotel) but is often sells out months in advance modest but reliable.

Thanks sf7307 & nytraveler.

We're looking at 23rd Nov to 3rd Dec in NYC, via a few days at Disneyland.

I'm trying to confirm when the lighting of the tree will be, but it seems to be around 30th November, in which case we will still get to see it.

What are alternatives to do on Thanksgiving Day? It would be a nice custom to celebrate, though I will not eat turkey! I guess we could attempt to watch the parade, possibly catch a tiny glimpse.

I'm desperately trying to get it all lined up so we can book!

This year November 23 is a Wednesday, the Day before Thanksgiving. This might be considered one of the worst travel days of the year to pass through a U.S. airport. Be prepared.

Thanksgiving Day is one of the few days of the year in the U.S. when most places (aside from restaurants) are closed. Many restaurants that are open will have limited schedules with two or three reserved seatings only. While a traditional turkey dinner may be one of the options offered, there is usually a special menu with a few limited selections.

Here's an idea of activities available last year on Thanksgiving:
http://www.newyorkology.com/archives...anksgivi_2.php

The Friday after Thanksgiving is the traditional day Christmas shopping begins—huge sales, huge crowds, and because schoolchildren and many adults have a holiday, lots of visitors descend upon NYC just for the day.

You do not want to actually see the Christmas tree lighting—unbelievably crowded and requires hours of waiting. You WILL want to see the tree the next day/evening after it is lit.

IMHO the parade is best appreciated on TV. There are more than a milllion viewers on the street and you need to be standing in place hours in advance to see anything. Also - all the performances (Rockettes, numbers from Broadway musicals and pop stars on floats) are right in front of Macy's (the sponsor) and tha tit limited to the broadcasting crew and invited VIPs. Getting even within blocks of there requires waiting on the street from 6 am.

What else to do on Thanksgiving - people have a huge family dinner and watch football after. Almost everything is closed. You can go to the movies and they will be empty. You can go skating at one of the rinks around the city. You can ride the Staten Island ferry back and forth. (NYC transit runs 24/7/365 -although holiday schedules have trains and buses much further apart).

Friday is black Friday - the day stores go into the profit for the year. Do NOT go to a store this day. The shoppers are literally elbow to elbow and Macy's has facilitators to pull the slow and clueless off the escalators - so the don;t cause a pile up of people falling on top of them.

The tree lighting is another event best seen on TV. Hundreds of thousands gather starting many hours in advance - you have to stand around the rink (2 levels below you at Rock Center) and can see next to nothing of the performances unless in the first row or two. Again about an hour of performances - various skaters, choirs, pop stars etc - ended with the official lighting of the tree.

The best time to see the store windows and the tree is 10 pm or later - when the crowds will be less and the lights and displays most dramatic. See Lord & Taylor (Fifth & 39th) and the walk up Fifth to Saks - and a bunch of other, stop off at St Pat's, head across to Rock Center, then up fifth to 59th and across to Bloomies.

nytraveler has given an excellent rundown what (and how and when) to do and not to do over Thanksgiving weekend. (But isn't that "hundreds of thousands" gathering for the tree lighting a bit of hyperbole?)

Don't know current numbers since I haven't been in at least 12 years. The last time I went those were the number used in the press.

Great tip elleem. Maybe we would be better actually travelling ON Thanksgiving day then?! Flight leaves LA approx 9am and arrives at 5pm. We'd miss the day completely!

It sounds like the parade and tree lighting would be off the list.

I could cope with the shopping frenzy but would leave husband and child far, far away. Although am guessing it will all be winter clothing etc which is useless here (today is the coldest Brisbane day in 8 years, it got down to around 39F overnight).

nytraveler - thanks again for more helpful tips!

Yes - you will see almost all winter clothes in the stores then - you don't get the resort wear collections until Jan. That said you can still look for shoes, purses, lingerie and cotton sweaters (which you might hae use for). The sales are huge - but the crowds are unbeleivalbe. (Assume you will be waiting online 20 to 30 minutes to pay for anything.)

(I won't go to the stores on Black Friday - it's just TOO unpleasant. The stores are open extended hours for the holidays and I try to go at 8 am and shop for a couple of things before other people show up -esp on Sundays.)

Since you are unconcerned about participating in any Thanksgiving festivities, traveling that day might be a good option for your family. You would avoid wasting a day trying to find something to do when many things are closed.

nytraveler - now you have me excited about the shopping prospects! However shall find something more pleasant for the Friday, which would be our first day in NYC if we travel on Thanksgiving Day, which is starting to seem like a good plan.