Here is Steve’s list of Must-Do Holiday Activities in New York City during the Christmas Holidays -Plus my Top 10 things to see and do year around in NYC.

I am writing to you this week as I am getting ready to travel to New York City between Christmas and New Years to watch the Nebraska Cornhuskers play in the Pinstripe Bowl on December 28, 2024. New York is magical around the holidays.Here is my list of  Must-Do Holiday Activities in the Big Apple during the Christmas Holidays:

1. Visit NYC Holiday Markets –Bryant Park Winter Village is one of my favorites for sipping hot cocoa, and watching people ice skating. Although I have never visited the Columbus Circle Holiday Market, friends say this is fun to discover artisanal goods from local vendors.

2. Rockefeller Center – I love to visit the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center and watch the ice skaters glide beneath its twinkling lights. It’s a truly breathtaking sight. And if you are looking for another classic ice skating experience many locals head to Wollman Rink in Central Park. 

3. Holiday Window Displays –I love to walk Fifth Avenue and peer into the amazing window displays of the luxury retailers like Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy’s.

4. Christmas Lights –New York City is a winter wonderland during the Christmas holidays. Two areas with a history of over-the-top lights and festive displays are Dyker Heights and Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. There is also a cool Christmas light tour using the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour which is the easiest way to see everything. 

5. Holiday Shows –My favorite is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular – This will dazzle you as it features the famous Rockettes. The Nutcracker is also a timeless ballet for all ages. 

6. New Year’s Eve – Times Square Ball Drop – You have probably watched this world-famous event two dozen times on TV but nothing like seeing the spectacular countdown live.
I can’t wait to experience the magic of New York City during the holidays and cheer on the Cornhuskers at the Pinstripe Bowl.

Now here are my top 10 things to see and do the rest of the year when traveling to the BIG APPLE:

1.  Statue of Liberty –The Statue of Liberty is the world-famous sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor and was a gift from France as an icon of freedom welcoming immigrants to our great country. 

2.  Empire State Building –This 102-story skyscraper stood as the tallest building in the world for almost 4 decades when it was built in 1931. Visiting the observatory will take your breath away as you can see the city in all its splendor. I remember my mom bringing me there over 60 years ago. 

3.  Broadway and Times Square –When people say New York City they almost always think of Broadway and the dozens of theaters dotting along the street known as the heart of the American theatre industry. I love to see Broadway shows and musicals. Times Square is the epicenter of Broadway as giant neon and digital signs climb hundreds of feet up into the sky. There is no place on earth like standing in Times Square at night time. 

4.  Central Park –An estimated 40 million visitors each year visit this 700-acre park that has been designated a National Historic Landmark. This park is in the center of the island and alive with people walking, running, playing baseball, bicycling, walking their dogs, and enjoying the park’s beauty. One of my favorite places to eat is the restored historic icon Tavern On the Green.

5.  Hop-On Hop-Off city bus tours –One of the best ways to see the city is to jump on one of the many double-decker bus tours. A one-day pass costs $58 and lets you jump on and off the bus as many times as you like. The best value is a 3-day pass ($99) that lets you visit almost every major site and neighborhood in the Big Apple.

6. 9/11 Memorial and Museum –Nothing on your visit to NYC will be more emotional than a visit to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. These commemorate the attacks on the World Trade Center that killed 2977 victims in 2001. The new One World Observatory at the top of One World Trade Center is a dynamic can’t miss attraction. 

7. High Line –One of the hottest attractions in the City is the High Line which is a 1.45-mile-long section of the old elevated New York Central Railroad that was renovated into a walking park and just recently completed. This is the perfect way to stroll and see amazing views of the city and the river. 

8.  Brooklyn Bridge –This landmark is one of the oldest bridges in the U.S. and is now over 130 plus years old. The bridge is a great walking experience and is only about a mile and a half long so it is an easy walk for old duffers like me. The best time to walk the bridge is to start early in the morning from the Brooklyn side to watch the city come alive with the sunrise. 

9.  Restaurants and Food markets –New York City is the food capital of the world. You can find almost any food from around the world. Even an old farm boy like me can find an amazing steak in this city as some of my favorite steakhouses are all around the city. New Yorkers love their food markets. Don’t miss Urban Space Vanderbilt next to the Grand Central Station, Gansevoort Market at the Meat Packing District, and Gotham West Market in Hell’s Kitchen.

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