In many cities there are few activities to partake in during the winter. However New York is a city that never sleeps and activities are numerous. One of my favorite things to do is ice skating. My favorite place to skate is Bryant Park. This is because it is free to skate at Bryant Park if you have your own ice skates. Also it is located on 42nd street a few blocks from Times Square so after I have finished skating I refill the tank with food and check other activities. Another activity that I love to partake in during the winter time is to watch the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center. This tree is nothing short of amazing. There is a search for large trees that takes place. The past trees that have been found have been large. It is breathtaking to see the size of these trees. The tree at the New York Stock Exchange is quite impressive also. I also view the New York Stock Exchange after, which is the most important financial market in the world. Then I visit Trinity Church; one of the oldest churches in the country. It also has the graves of some of the famous Americans from the 17th century. I then walk down to the ferry and take a trip to Staten Island and back. On the ferry I pass by the Statue of Liberty which is the symbol of American liberty.
Posts Tagged ‘ice skating’
Bryant Park
My favorite activity to do in the winter time in New York City is to visit Bryant Park. For the past three years this has become a kind of tradition for my boyfriend and me. The reason why this is such an enjoyable activity is because there is so much to do. While many people feel that Rockefeller Center is the place to be in NYC during the winter months, I think that the tourist foot traffic here detracts from its wintertime wonder. In Bryant Park during the holiday season the park is turned into an outdoor market. It is a great place to do your holiday shopping because with so many varied handmade shops to choose from, it’s almost guaranteed that you can find something for everyone. There are shops selling handmade chocolates, purses made of recycled material, jewelry, hats, leather goods and even personalized ornaments. With at least a hundred shops to choose from you can make a day out of window shopping. Even if you do not feel like buying anything they have delicious food stands selling everything from artisan cupcakes to hot mulled apple cider, complete with a cinnamon stick! You can then take your snacks and head over to the ice skating rink within the park. While you enjoy your snacks you can watch the skaters of various levels try their hand at the rink. You can watch as a parent teaches their child to skate or as couples skate by hand in hand. After you finish your snacks you can even head on over to the ice skating line and try your own luck on the rink.
Ice Skating in the Park
My favorite New York winter memory is ice skating in Wollman’s Rink in Central Park when it was an affordable place for families to take their children. In the 1960’s, if you were able to be there before 8 AM on Sunday, admission was free and after 8 AM admission was ten cents. Almost every Sunday during the winter when the skating rink was open my mother and I rode the bus to Fifth Avenue and walked through the park to the rink. It was always so quiet – this was a time when all of the stores were closed on Sundays so the streets were deserted – the only people that you saw were also going to the park. Many times my mother didn’t want to spend the extra ten cents because she didn’t skate so she’d sit outside and watch me. Many of my classmates lived very close to the park so there were always some people there that I knew but it was never crowded. There was also a small cafeteria inside and they had the best cocoa! There was also a pond in Central Park alongside the path to get to the skating rink. When it froze over there was a sign that skating was permitted but for most of us city kids it was too dangerous to consider.
These days Wollman’s Rink is much higher priced but now there is a free rink at Bryant Park behind the Public Library which lets everyone experience ice skating in New York City – but that wonderful feeling of quiet and solitude isn’t there the way that it was.
Skating in NYC
One of the best thing to do in New York City for New Year’s Eve is to glide across the smooth ice of Rockefeller Center. It might be busy that evening but it is so festive and well worth the crowd and wait. It is a once in a life time experience. The lights, the laughter, it is like no other ice skating rink in the world. If someone does not want to skate, they can wait and kill some time at all the unique shops of New York City around the skating rink. There is so much to do and something to please everyone in your crowd. After a nice skate at the Rockefeller, it will be too crowded to see the countdown at Times Square. Instead, we like to go to the roof top (or a high level) of a hotel or a building and watch from there. It is nice and warm and you get the thrill and excitement without the crazy crowd. Also, it is easier to leave when the festivities are over. Whatever you choose to do in New York for New Year’s Eve is unforgettable and truly one of the best experience one can ask for. Everyone should make the effort to take the trip to New York City for New Year’s Eve at least once in their life.
Christmas is the Best in New York!
There is no better place to be than New York in Christmas. My most recent Christmas in New York was one of the best; we spent it at my mom’s having dinner after opening gifts. The true celebration started two days before. We gathered all of the children and grandchildren together and went ice skating in Central Park. Central Park has a large rink , called Wollman rink and it is less crowded than the rink at Rockefeller Center. We had cocoa and coffee and took tons of pictures. Following our day of ice skating, we decided that it was too early for the fun to end. We took the kids to see all of the department store windows at Macy’s and then went inside. Macy’s is completely decorated and lovely during the holiday season. We even took the children upstairs to see Santaland and they were elated as they got to see the elves and Santa. The children took pictures that we had made into key chains and snow globes. They were able to give the snow globe to my mom as a Christmas gift. It was one of the most memorable and best Christmases I have ever had with my family and I can’t wait for this year !