Touring the city of New York is always a fun adventure but doing so at Christmas time takes it to another level. On one of our family adventures we took a trip to New York City during the holidays and we were brave enough that we did not fly but we decided to drive. Yes, we drove from Georgia to New York City! I thought Atlanta was an intense place to drive but I quickly learned that NYC traffic is on another level. I still recommend flying if you are able to do so just because trying to find parking in the city can be a bit of a struggle. We made the decision to drive because we needed our vehicle for some other adventures that we were taking at the time.

We made our way through each state and enjoyed the scenery along the way. When we finally arrived in the city, the holiday decorations were so beautiful. We made our way (very slowly) to the heart of Time Square which is where all of the action takes place! Our hotel was located in Time Square which made everything within walking distance and so convenient. We stayed at the New York Marriott Marquis and I would totally recommend staying here anytime you are visiting the city and want to be in the middle of everything. Once you can get past the excitement of all the traffic and the struggle of trying to find parking (again, I recommend flying), you can begin to enjoy the adventure as we did!

My Favorite Things To Do In NYC

• Take an adventure around Time Square and explore the shopping in this area
• Make your way over to Fifth Avenue for some more shopping at some of the world famous stores
• Hop on one of the tour buses (Using the City Pass) and see all of the major sites throughout the city – this is also a great way to travel around the city from one end to the other
• Visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum– this will surely leave you speechless
• Take a trip to the Statue of Liberty
• Travel to the top of the Empire State Building
• Make your way to the Rockefeller Center and even catch an episode of the TODAY show! (If you are able to visit during the correct time frame then you can see the beautiful Christmas Tree)
• Take a horse and buggy ride through Central Park
• Do not miss your favorite show on Broadway! (The Lion King is my absolute favorite)
• Enjoy all of your favorite foods! There are so many great places to eat
• Take a tour of Carnegie Hall
• Take lots & lots of pictures

Favorite Places to Eat In NYC

• The Original Delmonicos Steakhouse In 1837, this was considered the first fine dining restaurant in the country. In 1862, Charles Ranhofer was named the Chef and who would become known for the creation of Egg Benedict, Baked Alaska, Lobster Newburg and Chicken A la Keene – of which you can still find on the menu today.
• The Grill Another fantastic NYC steakhouse will give you some of the greatest tasting food on your trip. This is going to be your fancy dress up kind of place where you can enjoy a night out on the town for a great meal and the true NYC experience.
• Rubirosa You cannot visit NYC without grabbing some of the best pizza! There are so many fantastic places to grab a slice.

Broadway Show

You cannot go wrong with grabbing tickets to your favorite Broadway Show! The entertainment in New York City is truly one of a kind and will only add to the overall experience of travel. Even if you think that you are not the person who enjoys this kind of entertainment, I would recommend that you try it at least once. I think you will be glad that you did. I may be biased because of my love for Disney but my favorite show still remains The Lion King. The costumes are absolutely captivating in beauty and the singing is out of this world. I felt as if I were right in the middle of the production the entire time. I would see this show time and time again.

The level of talent on Broadway is exceptional across the board. I do not think that any of the shows would be considered a disappointment under any circumstances! Consider grabbing tickets to one of the following shows.

• The Lion King
• Wicked
• Aladdin
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

New York City has made itself famous through one movie after another for those who love a great Holiday movie on the Hallmark channel. It is the cornerstone for much of the financial world today and it has so much rich history and one of a kind culture. I found it to be one of the most thrilling trips that I have ever taken during the Holidays and because of that, I recommend that being the best time to visit. There seems to be a magical excitement in the air that adds to the beauty of all of the decorations. There are so many great places to eat, and so much to do that you will certainly not be able to cover it all in a day. This city is full of experience and adventure! I am looking forward to my next trip and cannot wait to help you plan yours!