Most Romantic: Lake Placid Lodge Lake Placid
Lake Placid Lodge, Lake Placid
Built in the Great Camp style, Lake Placid Lodge is a romantic winter retreat located directly on the lake shore. Expect magnificent views and hand-hewn furniture, and rooms filled with carefully chosen art and antiques. For the most tranquil stay, opt for a room in the Main Lodge. Wake up late in your hand-carved king bed, then spend indulgent afternoons in the deep soaking tub or relaxing together in front of the wood-burning stone fireplace. In-room massages are available upon request.
During the day, the snowy forest and frozen lake set the scene for adventures on foot, skis, or snowshoes. You can go ice skating together, learn how to ice fish, embark on a dog sledding tour, or visit nearby Winter Olympics sites. As darkness begins to fall, gather at the lake edge for a snow bonfire complete with hot chocolate and smores. Artisans restaurant serves sumptuous breakfasts and gourmet four-course dinners overlooking Whiteface Mountain, while Maggies Pub is a cozy retreat complete with a billiards table and board games.
Best For Families: Hope Lake Lodge Virgil
Hope Lake Lodge, Virgil
Hope Lake Lodge is your one-stop shop for family fun near Virgil in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York. Its the official accommodation option for Greek Peak Mountain Ski Resort, with a shuttle to the mountain and excellent Junior Ski and Ride childrens programs. You can also enjoy hours of family fun while snow tubing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and exploring on rented kicksleds. When youve had enough of the cold, visit the lodges Cascades Indoor Waterpark or head to Starlight Arcade.
Bearfoot Den Activities Center is another option for kids and teens, offering Wii games, arts and crafts, books, and puzzles. Dont forget to check out the scheduled daily activities as well, which range from movie marathons to scavenger hunts. The resort has plenty of dining options. The most family-friendly are Acorn Grill and Trax Pub & Grill . Suites come with one or two bedrooms, with the largest accommodating up to 10 people.
Christmas In New York: 19+ Things To Do In Nyc At Christmas
My first ever trip to New York was at Christmas time. I had an incredible week in The Big Apple and I can happily say New York City is the place to be at Christmas. The festive cheer is so infectious in NYC that even the biggest Scrooge couldnt fail to get in the Christmas spirit.
Ice rinks and fairy lights spring up all over the city, and the department store windows are transformed into festive works of art. Childrens faces beam as they stare up at the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, and everywhere you go, New Yorkers wish you Happy Holidays!
I now live in New York and when the holidays come around I always love searching for the best new popups and things to do! New York at Christmas is absolutely magical, so if youre heading there at winter time, here are the top festive things to do in New York City:
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Things To Do In Central Park
You can easily spend a full day walking around Central Park.
- Dont miss Central Parks The Mall, Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge and The Ramble.
- Nearby world famous museums include The MET, Natural History Museum and Guggenheim Museum.
- Easy access to the upper parts of Midtown, such as 5th avenue shopping, Top of the Rock, MoMA and Broadway.
We would recommend looking for a hotel right along the southern edge of Central Park or as close to it as possible for your budget.
Go To Brooklyns Dyker Heights
While Manhattan is famous for its Christmas decorations, Brooklyn has the magical Dyker Heights lights display that is a must-see during the holidays! The residents of this Brooklyn neighborhood go all out decorating their homes for the holiday season. The best lights are on 11th to 13th Avenue between 83rd and 86th Street.
But if you want to learn about the history of the neighborhood and the lights, you can book a guided tour of Diker Heights.
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Enjoy A Rooftop Dinner
Rooftop dining probably isnt the first thing to cross your mind when you think winter in New York. But during the holiday season, some of the citys rooftop bars and restaurants are converted into cozy indoor, heated winter wonderlands. Some of the best ones to check out are Birreria at Eataly, 230 Fifth and Refinery Rooftop.
For more ideas, be sure to read The Best Winter Rooftop Bars in NYC.
Best Hotel In Upper West Side Hotel Newton
Located in Manhattan, Hotel Newton bursts with historic charm. Established in 1920, this fantastic three-star hotel boasts a variety of modern amenities, including a coffee bar and laundry service.
The rooms are comfortable, spacious and outfitted with wifi and a refrigerator. Theres also an on-site restaurant.
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Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Even though it wasnt our favorite of things to do in New York at Christmas, you cant NOT go to the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Its would be like going to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower.
If you go in the morning or later at night, crowds are much less and you can see the lights displayed on the tree overlooking the famous skating rink.
I wouldnt recommend skating here. The fees are high and there is a long wait to get on the ice. But its worth stopping by to see the holiday display at the Rockefeller Center, and to use the free public washrooms, have a seat, and warm up with a cup of coffee in the concourse. Book Your Tickets to visit the Rockefeller Center
Where To Stay In Nyc For 2022 By Neighborhood
New York City is an iconic destination that literally everyone should visit if possible. The city is so massive and every city block is packed with things to do. Amazing food, speak easies, cool hotels, broadway shows, and more. This guide will break down the Big Apple by its best neighborhoods so you know where to stay!
NYC Neighborhoods Well Cover:
- SoHo
- Midtown
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Iii A Christmas Carol
For something completely different, the Merchant House Museum has a reading of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol in the parlor of this 1830s house. The performance is December 1 31, 2021.
As an additional option, on select days, you can reserve a spot to join Charles Dickens in the houses kitchen for mulled wine, cider, and traditional Dickensian Christmas food.
Ticket prices range from $55 to $125 depending on day, time and seat.
Location: 29 East Fourth Street
Have A Frozen Hot Chocolate At Serendipity
Serendipity has all sorts of delicious treats and desserts, but they are especially famous for their giant frozen hot chocolate! Just make sure to bring someone with you to help you finish this tasty treat because you probably wont be able to finish it all on your own.
The food at Serendipity is just okay and overpriced for what you get, which is why I dont recommend it for lunch or dinner. This is a place to come just to grab a delicious dessert!
Serendipity 3 is located on E 60th Street and 3rd Avenue, close to Bloomingdales. Its a short walk from Central Park or Rockefeller Center.
Also, makse sure to check out the Best NYC Desserts that you need to try
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Best Hotels Near Rockefeller Center
Some of our top value picks near Rockefeller Center include:
- The Jewel facing Rockefeller Center – great value and location. My NY high school classmates stayed here for our reunion
- Radisson Hotel Midtown-Fifth Avenue – rebranded and reopened in August 2019, some suites & kitchens.
- 3 West Club – consistently receives excellent reviews, especially the location and value for the price.
- Radio City Apartments – a NYC Insider Guide Favorite
See the Insider Guide for dozens more Hotels Near Rockefeller Center. Rockefeller Center runs from 47th – 50th Streets, between 5th and 6th Aves. Download our free neighborhood maps at Midtown East Hotels and Midtown West Hotels
Drink Hot Chocolate At Loreley Beer Garden
Loreley Beer Garden is a Biergarten thats modeled after the Brauhaus in Cologne and decorated for the seasons. At Christmas time the restaurant is covered in holiday decorations and the menu features festive cocktails such as Bourbon Apple Cider and Boozy Bourbon Black & White Hot Chocolate with toasted marshmallows and candy cane. Theres a heated outdoor patio too, should you wish to sit outside.
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Peninsula Hotel Night Before Christmas
The Peninsula Hotel offers amazing holiday package for both kids and adults.
- Nights Before Christmas Package Good boys and girls spending the holidays in the Big Apple will be rewarded with an in-room Christmas Tree and gingerbread playhouse, candy cane scavenger hunt, gingerbread cookie decorating kit, holiday-themed turndown amenites, exclusive access to The Peninsula Sweet Shoppe and a Christmas movie library complete with classic films and more.
- Holly Jolly New York Holiday Package Let The Peninsula take care of all the details for the perfect NYC holiday getaway, including a decorative window display walking tour, VIP admission to Top of the Rock, access to Saks Fifth Avenue before store opening and a trip to Brooklyns Dyker Heights to view the famous holiday lights display.
Back to Top of NYC Hotels Best Holiday Decorations
Walk Around Central Park
While the leaves may have fallen off the trees in December, there are still lots of things to do in Central Park at Christmas time. Midtown Manhattan can be very crowded during the holidays so Central Parks tranquil pathways and grassy lawns are great for escaping the chaos. Go ice skating at the Wollman Rink, order a hot chocolate from one of the Christmas markets and visit some of Central Parks most famous attractions, including Bethesda Fountain, Strawberry Fields and Bow Bridge.
Is Central Park lit up for Christmas?
Yes! Every year theres an annual holiday lighting at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, which concludes with a flotilla of illuminated trees on the Harlem Meer.
Is there are Christmas tree in Central Park?
While there isnt a tree like the enormous one at Rockefeller Center, theres a flotilla of trees on the Harlem Meer, located inside the park near 110th Street.
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New York Neighborhood Guide
New York City is one of the most massive and sprawling cities in the world. A epicentre for food, fashion, culture, finance and trade, NYC is truly a global metropolis.
It is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet each year New York City attracts more than 50 million domestic and international visitors to tour its museums, gawk at its iconic sights, and stand at the center of Time Square.
Divided into six boroughs, New York City is home to 59 neighborhoods. Each borough has its own unique culture and atmosphere, and could be a city all on its own. In fact, if Brooklyn was its own city, it would still be one of the biggest cities in the US. For that reason, we are going to focus on accommodation in Manhattan, NYCs most famous and touristy borough.
Midtown is the heart of Manhattan, and where you will find NYs most iconic landmarks, like Time Square, Rockefeller Centre, Broadway and Bryant Park.
North of Midtown are the charming neighbourhoods, Upper West and Upper East Side. On either side of Central Park, these neighbourhoods are home to world-class museums, verdant parks, and famous addresses like Madison and Park Avenues.
Still not sure where to stay in New York City? Dont worry, weve got you covered!
Bryant Park Winter Village
Bryant Park Winter Village features an ice rink, a holiday market and a large lodge where visitors can enjoy a festive drink while watching the ice skaters do their thing. The ice rink is NYCs only free-admission skating rink, as long as you bring your own skates and a backpack. If you need to rent shoes, youll have pay a fee to enter. Make sure you book a skate time in advance before you go.
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Midtown South Manhattan Where To Stay In New York City To Be At The Heart Of Everything
Midtown South in Manhattan is about the closest area we could come up to encompass the strip of real estate between Madison Square Park and Bryant Park, sandwiched between 5th and 6th avenues.
This central strip of Midtown South is where you will find NoMad, Koreatown, Empire State Building and Macys department store.
Technically this area could stretch a little further South and West into Chelsea, which we loved walking around but think is more for third, fourth or fifth time visitors to NYC.
Iconic Buildings And Monuments
A trip to New York wouldnt be complete without a visit to the Empire State Building. Once the worlds tallest buildings, it remains a definitive feature of the cityscape. Get back to nature with a stroll in Central Park, with over 800 acres to enjoy. While a glimpse at the Statue of Liberty is also a must. Step onto Ellis Island for a poignant reminder of America’s former gateway or ride to the top of the nearby Statue of Liberty, the nation’s symbol. The beau-art Grand Central Terminal is more than just a train station with its Tennessee-marble flooring, frescoed ceilings and Italian-marble counters in the ticket office. Other iconic buildings and sights on your itinerary should include the Empire State and Chrysler buildings as well as Brooklyn Bridge.
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Nyc Citypass: The Best Money
New York City was the first place we ever used a CityPASS. Ive seen then advertised a million times and for lots of locations, but never did we get one. Doing NYC at Christmas, we new that things would be busy and that we wanted to be sure to do everything we wanted.
The NYC CityPASS is good for nine days from its first use, so if you are going to be in New York for a while, you can space out your activites.
Included with the NYC CityPASS :
- Empire State Building
- American Museum of Natural History
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck OR Guggenheim Museum
- Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island OR Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum OR Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
The savings if you were to do one of each of the options is over $90 USD so its totally worth it.
Upper West Side Where To Stay In New York City For Families
The Upper West Side is a classic New York neighbourhood. With its iconic architecture, tree-lined streets, and quintessential Brownstone townhomes, this is the New York that most people recognize from movies and TV.
The Upper West Side is our recommendation where to stay in New York City for families visiting.
Not only is the Upper West Side adjacent to the immense and expansive Central Park, it is home to world-famous cultural institutions like the American Museum of Natural History. Families with kids will love wandering through its exhibits, learning more about history, culture and the natural world.
In this neighborhood, youll find family-friendly restaurants, attractions for all-ages, and colourful candy stores perfect for rewarding your little ones after a long day of New York sightseeing.
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Cheap Accommodation In Queens
Queens is the right district to stay for you if youre looking for cheap accommodation in New York. Youll get a lot more value for your money and wont have to spend upwards of 200 dollars for your room.
Weve deliberately chosen Queens as our sole recommended district outside of Manhattan because its just a short ride from there to Midtown by subway . And it has some really nice hotels at a fair price.
If you dont mind taking the subway from Queens to Manhattan every day and you want more for bang for your buck, then Queens is the right place for you.
Pros of staying in Queens:
- Better value for money than in Manhattan
- Cheaper, but still fairly close to the most important sights
- Queens offers a beautiful panoramic view of the New York skyline
Cons of staying in Queens:
- Located outside of Manhattan
- You always have to take the subway to go sightseeing
Our personal hotel recommendations for Queens:
Saving Money On Accommodations
Hotels can be extremely pricey during the holidays. I recommend booking in advance or comparing prices on Booking.com.
When choosing accommodations outside of the city, youll want to consider the cost of transportation and commute length. This will help you determine if its worth your time and money.
For our first New Years in NYC, I stayed at my boyfriends brothers apartment in New Rochelle. We took the metro into the city every day. This saved us a lot of money on accommodation costs. However, when we wanted to take a break during the day this was difficult because it was a 40 minute train ride back to New Rochelle.
For our second New Years in NYC, we decided to stay in the city, which was more convenient. Accommodations were more expensive, but we booked well in advance to get a good rate.
Ready to plan your NYC vacation? See what hotel deals are available in the area thanks to Booking.com
If youre planning to visit New York City for the holidays, here are three things you need to know!
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