By: Sophia Elmstrom & Lily Sheldon

The month of December is such a magical time to be in New York City. There are endless activities to do or see in the Big Apple. Coming to the city can be a great way to celebrate the holiday season. Here are 7 things you can do this Christmas in NYC.

1. Book tickets to see The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. The Rockettes are a classic wintertime spectacular to see when visiting New York City; many families make it a tradition to see them every year. It is such a cool experience and it can ignite your holiday cheer!

2. Visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The Rockefeller tree is a classic destination for holiday lovers in NYC during December. The amazing 74 foot tall tree is decorated in over 50,000 lights for the holiday season and is a perfect place to go for photos with the family or by yourself.

3. Going to F.A.O. Schwartz. F.A.O. Schwarz is a toy store that is filled with holiday spirit this time of year. This store is well known in the movie ‘Home Alone’ 2, and inside it is decorated beautifully for Christmas. It has 2 floors but it was crowded making it seem smaller than in the movies. It is a great place to visit, but you have to be willing to wait in the long line to get inside. This long line can be worth it because when you turn the corner the Rockefeller tree is there and it is the closest you can get to it, so it is a perfect place to take a few pictures without crowds!

4. Visiting the Plaza Hotel. The Plaza Hotel is a beautiful hotel decorated elegantly for Christmas. Although the hotel itself is not open for visitors, and only guests, you can go around the corner to the shops at the plaza and look at the beautiful Christmas decorations while shopping.

5. Going to see the lights in Dyker Heights. Seeing a Christmas light display is not what you would expect to see when going to NYC but if you take the subway to Dyker Heights, just 39 minutes away from Manhattan, there is a neighborhood with many houses decked out for Christmas with many food trucks and lots of hot chocolate!

6. If you are walking near Rockefeller Plaza to see the tree, stop by Bryant Park to visit their annual Christmas market. You can do lots of holiday shopping and there are local crafts and other gifts at the shops as well. The Winter Village is also a big hit with its food and drink. It is more on the pricey side, but there are lots of fun holiday snacks and drinks available at different vendors and cafés. The Bryant Park Winter Village is a great place to grab a bite to eat, visit some shops, and experience the winter wonderland!

7. Another fun activity you can do downtown is ice skating at the Rockefeller Plaza. This seasonal rink is iconic in New York as you are skating right under the Rockefeller Christmas tree. This is definitely something that you want to check off on your list if you are traveling to the city. The rink is open all day and is a super fun way to experience the city’s holiday spirit with family and friends.

Overall, visiting New York City during the Christmas season is a great way to make the most of the holidays. There are so many attractions to see, shows to watch, and activities to do. There is really no other place that has this charm like New York City does during Christmas time. With all of the twinkling lights and decorations, the city is bursting with holiday cheer that is sure to be an unforgettable experience.