10Best: Places to see holiday lights in NYC
New York City is unquestionably one of the world's top spots for enjoying the holiday season. From famous landmarks swarmed with crowds to intimate, little-known hideaways, festivities and illuminated decorations of all stripes can be found throughout the city.
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Here are 10 of NYC's most festive options for lighting up your holiday season.
Rockefeller Center, Manhattan
The foot traffic around NYC's most iconic holiday attraction grinds to a halt as soon as 30 Rock's famous Christmas tree is unveiled. The holiday tree first appeared at Rockefeller Center during its construction in 1931, when the city was mired in the Great Depression. If you're visiting NYC for the holidays, snapping a postcard-worthy picture of the massive spruce, dressed in tens of thousands of environmentally friendly LED lights, is a must-do for tourists.
New York Botanical Garden , The Bronx
Families looking to enjoy the holiday spirit minus the Manhattan crowds can escape to the Bronx, where the New York Botanical Garden puts on its impressive Holiday Train Show. Visitors are surrounded by illuminated trees as they take in the gardens' seasonal offerings, the highlight of which can be found in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. There, handsome model trains zoom past 150 replicas of famous NYC landmarks along a quarter-mile track. For an inviting cold-weather holiday experience, bundle up and explore the gardens' 250 acres of attractive landscapes, stopping to watch ice sculpture demonstrations and illuminated "Light Up the Night" performances.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights , Brooklyn
To catch the best NYC neighborhood for home decorations, follow the crowds and tour buses out to southwestern Brooklyn, where the residents of this largely Italian-American enclave pull out all the stops. Known to some as "Dyker Lights," the largest concentration of eye-popping displays can be found from 83rd to 86th Streets, between 11th and 13th Avenues. Roughly 250 homes participate; yards are filled with every decoration and nativity scene imaginable, and miles of lights are draped over every surface in sight.
Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
A stroll down world-famous Fifth Avenue is a rite of passage for anyone visiting NYC during the holiday season. Iconic stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, Tiffany and Co., and Lord and Taylor try to outdo one another with eye-popping window displays, many of which feature multimedia collaborations with well-known artists. To truly appreciate the spectacle while avoiding some of the daytime crowds, visit in the evening when the illuminated displays truly come to life.
Bank of America Winter Village , Bryant Park
Perhaps the city's best spot for a comprehensive one-stop holiday experience, the Bank of America Winter Village takes over Bryant Park every holiday season. Visitors in search of unique, local holiday gifts stroll through the 100-plus shops and vendors housed in brightly-lit, custom-designed kiosks. Families take a spin on the admission-free skating rink (skate rentals are available for a fee), then refuel at one of the numerous eateries and snack bars in the shadow of a giant Norway spruce.
World's Largest Menorah , Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
For eight nights every holiday season, Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza welcomes thousands of visitors who gather around a 32-foot (the maximum allowed by Jewish law), 4,000-pound menorah widely considered to be the world's largest. It takes a cherry-picker to reach the top of this massive symbol of the annual Jewish Festival of Lights. The holiday begins this year on December 16, when community leaders and special guests will gather for a public celebration featuring live music, special gifts for children and hot latkes for all.
Holiday Under the Stars , The Shops at Columbus Circle
One of NYC's bastions of high-end shopping, Time Warner Center's Shops at Columbus Circle houses one of the largest specialty-crafted displays of illuminated color-mixing in the world. Shoppers look on in amazement as a dozen 14-foot stars, hung from the ceiling of the 150-foot Great Room, are choreographed to flash and flicker in time with festive tunes. After perusing the world-class shops, visitors can cross the street to purchase gifts from local designers and artisans at the Columbus Circle Holiday Market.
Macy's, Manhattan
The world's biggest department store packs in the crowds throughout the year, never more so than during the holidays, when it transforms into a winter wonderland. Wrapped in lights and filled with magical window displays, the building itself is a huge draw. Inside, shoppers from around the globe fill baskets with gifts, then stop in one of the numerous eateries for a snack. Macy's Santaland provides little ones with an immersive, interactive fantasy-land filled with fake snow, giant toy soldiers, and more. Engaging elves keep the lines moving as kids wait patiently for the opportunity to meet the star of the show, Santa Claus.
Historic Richmond Town , Staten Island
For an intimate holiday experience providing a fun, educational look back in time, head to Staten Island's Historic Richmond Town. The village is filled with holiday decorations and nostalgia from past centuries, featuring educators and reenactors who help explain the holiday traditions of yesteryear. Visitors can pose for photos in front of the classic Christmas tree, then pick up unique gifts and crafts for their loved ones. Holiday highlights include Christmas in Richmond Town (Dec. 8) and festive candlelight tours (Dec. 13).
Park Avenue, Manhattan
One of the city's most famous avenues never looks better than it does during the holidays, when it transforms into a festively illuminated promenade. Hundreds of fir trees are lit up along a 2.5-mile stretch between 54th and 97th Streets; the tradition began in 1945, when numerous Park Avenue families wanted to honor those who died in World War II. Today, the trees serve as a symbol of peace and a reminder of those who have lost their lives defending our country.