‘Tis the season in New York City: the trees lit up, the streets garlanded, and the skating rinks bustling. The holidays have come to usher in the New Year, and with it, a reflection on all that has changed. Make sure to schedule a regular eye exam, spend those leftover flex dollars, and be sure you’re seeing all the holiday attractions New York has to offer. Check out our list below of the four must-see decorations this year, and may 2014 be clear and bright for us all!
- The Christmas Lights
Known for their excess and gusto in all things holiday, Dyker Heights has been the go-to place for lights for the last decade. Featuring a full range of colors, flashy animations, and full-sized Santas, reindeer, and Frostys, a walk through this quaint Brooklyn neighborhood should be your one-stop-shop for zealous holiday spirit.
- The Skating Rink
If you’re worried about putting on some holiday pounds, we recommend taking a look at Bryant Park’s admission-free skating rink. It’s not as popular a choice as the famed Rockefeller Center’s, but with less of a crowd, it’s sure to please impatient young ones wanting more time on the ice.
- The Holiday Fair
Featuring multi-level shopping and a train exhibit for the kids, there’s no better destination than Grand Central Terminal’s Holiday Fair. With over 70 venders of unusual, beautiful, and exotic goods, you’ll find gifts here for the uncle who has everything while your family watches the antique model trains puff through a beautiful holiday landscape.
- The Holiday Windows
No holiday season is complete without extravagant window displays, and Bergdorf Goodman has the best of the best. These windows feature high fashion and antiques and are every year the most exquisitely designed displays in the city. Come for the entertainment but stay for the shopping, as Bergdorf Goodman is also one of the finest places to buy a gift for the ones you love.
Bonus – New York’s Famous
If the holiday lights of Dyker Heights didn’t whet your appetite for holiday decorations, head on over to Queens, to Kevin Lynch’s home, where you’ll see the single biggest personal display of lights in the city. The home is featured on “The Great Christmas Light Fight” airing on ABC this winter, and draws a large crowd every night.
