Birthday in NYC

December 23, 2017

Last Saturday we took a mini trip to NYC to celebrate Tyler’s 8th birthday. Because it was going to be a short trip (3 days/2 nights) we only planned two things in advance. Top of the Rock and a carriage ride through Central Park. The rest of the time was going to be spent walking around the city.

We have been to NYC numerous times in the past but this was our first time right before Christmas. December might be best time to visit the city because the best NYC attractions turn into illuminated winter wonderlands, decked out with Christmas trees, beautiful lights, and gorgeous window displays! Our first stop was the Rockefeller Christmas tree. It was extremely crowded but oh so worth it! The tree was beautiful!

This is the closest we got to the tree that evening because of the crowds.

The Rockefeller tree the next morning. Less crowded and much easier to see.

Our first planned attraction: Top of the Rock!

Top of the Rock is one of the best attractions in NYC! There are three observation decks (67th,69th and 70th floor). The 70th floor has no glass or metal enclosures, making it perfect for photos (no glare if you’re using flash photography). Tip: no need to spend extra money on VIP access if you plan your visit early in the morning 8-9am the line is short and it moves very quickly. Also, once you get to the top you can easily move back and forth between all three observation decks. Kids 6 and under are free! You can read more about our experience at Top of the Rock HERE.

After Top of the Rock it was almost time for lunch. The concierge at the hotel recommended the best Bagel place in NYC – Pick-a-Bagel. When we got there, the line was literally out the door and it wrapped around the tables inside. Lucky for us, it moved fairly quickly! Final verdict: Definitely worth the wait!

Our second attraction planned during our visit was a horse carriage ride through Central Park. There are so many options out there! If you plan on riding through Central Park for an hour or so, then I would recommend booking a VIP ride in advance. Those can be pricey ranging anywhere from $140-$300 (not including gratuity), but if you’re looking for a quick 20 min ride then wait till you get there. Our 20 min ride was $55 + gratuity. Our driver pointed out all the major attractions and where movies like Home Alone 2 or Ghostbusters were filmed in Central Park. He even took our picture at the end:)

A trip to NYC wouldn’t be complete without walking through Times Square. It was super crowded but we wanted to make our way to the M&M world to buy some souvenirs. It was also on our way to the famous John’s Pizzeria, where we planned to eat dinner that night.

John’s pizzeria had a line out the door just to request a table. Once you got inside there was another 30-45 min wait to be seated. Again, totally worth it! The food was amazing! Highly recommend!!