Christmas in New York City: Our favorite holiday decorations

We’ve always heard that Christmas in New York City is magical, so we decided to check it off our bucket list this year with our 2 children and my mom in tow. Bertaut scored a great deal at Park Hyatt (see our Park Hyatt New York Review to learn how and see photos of the gorgeous hotel), which was within walking distance to many of the iconic must-see holiday decorations. Lucky for us it was unseasonably warm during the few days of our visit, so we were able to walk around without freezing our butts off. We buckled the kids into our double stroller and off we went to see some of the sparkling lights and beautiful Christmas decorations of NYC. My favorite window displays were at Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue because they were dazzling with crystals, and what girl doesn’t love sparking jewels? Other great holiday window displays include Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Henri Bendel, Bloomingdale’s, Barneys New York, Lord & Taylor, and Tiffany & Co.

We meandered down a few blocks to Saks Fifth Avenue just in time for the holiday light show that illuminates the exterior of the department store to the sounds of favorite holiday music. This was a big hit for our kids, who climbed out of their stroller to dance to the music on the crowded sidewalks. Even some busy New Yorkers rushing by couldn’t help but pause and smile for a moment to watch the kids get moved by the spirit of Christmas while the lights danced too.

Of course we couldn’t miss Rockefeller Center, which is just steps away from Saks Fifth Avenue, on our quest to see the best Christmas decorations in this magnificent city. The colorful lights and energy in the air were felt by all, especially our 18 month old son Christophe. He was so wound up that I thought for sure Grandma must have snuck him some sugar, but I think he was just picking up on all the excitement around him. It’s hard not to when experiencing the magic of Christmas in New York City!

After all the excitement we knew we better get the kids to bed soon before a major meltdown, so we walked back to the hotel and spotted a few more decorations on the way. You can’t go a block in the city without seeing lights on trees, holiday window displays, or other beautiful decorations to get you into the spirit of the holidays, all without having to reach for your wallet. We will definitely be back to try some of the other winter holiday favorites, including outdoor ice skating, a carriage ride through Central Park, and a Rockettes show once the kids are old enough to sit through a performance without causing a scene. We hope you are able to make it to the Big Apple during the holidays because there are so many fun things to do for solo travelers, couples, and families wanting to get into the spirit of the holidays. While in town, make sure to check out some of New York’s best museums when you are ready to get a break from the cold. Check out this NYC travel guide for more ideas of what to do and see in NYC any time of the year, as well as more ways NYC rocks Christmas. If you liked this post, please sign up for our RSS feed to get updates on every new blog post and our email newsletter for our tips to travel like a millionaire.