Thanksgiving Weekend in New York City
New York City is one of the most exciting places to visit for Thanksgiving. You get the city at it’s best. The Macy’s Parade. Colorful Fall leaves (if you’re lucky). A peek at the Christmas season splendor.
With so many options though, what do you do with a long weekend in New York City?
affiliate links may be included below.
Before Your Trip
New York City is one of those places you could just wander. There are endless things to see and do and eat. With kids though, I think New York City is a place where you want to have a game plan before you land.
Research
When you are planning a trip to New York City, start with the big things you want to do.
- Are you going to the Macy’s Parade?
- Are you dying to visit one of the awesome museums?
- Are you planning to stay in Manhattan the whole time or are you going to branch out into the other boroughs.
No clue where to start? Begin with this: New York City with Kids or for your first trip you might just want to start with our 10 Must Dos for a first family visit to the city.
Books to Read
Before we head somewhere I like to read a couple of books with my kids and talk with them about some of the cool things we’re going to see. Older kids might also want to help you plan.
12+ Children’s Books about New York City
Packing
The most important thing to remember about visiting New York City is that you will spend innumerable hours walking around outside. You need to have great walking shoes and clothes to keep you comfortable outside.
Make sure to pay attention to the weather before you pack because the weather can vary a lot in November.
In general you will want:
- Comfortable walking shoes or boots
- Warm socks
- Jacket (warmth will depend on weather)
- Hat and Mittens
- Long Sleeved Shirts
- Pants
As a tourist, I also recommend that you carry a slightly less obvious bag (think not oversized backpack) and looking at a map before you leave the house/hotel. GoogleMaps on your phone will tell you how to navigate the city – including trains! Pull up directions, take a screenshot. Then, do your best to memorize your way to the train before you head out and look at your next directions on the train so you know where to go when you get off.
Another thing to consider is that although your phone is super helpful for navigating and that’s much easier than trying to figure out maps on your own, it does drain your battery. However, similar to finding bathrooms, places to charge your phone are elusive. Having a rechargable battery pack is super helpful.
Where to Stay
There is no easy answer to where to stay in New York City. This is especially tricky with kids because hotels tend to be on the small side.
A couple things to keep in mind:
Despite being relatively small in actual size, it can take a while to get anywhere in New York City. I would think about you want to do and then try to find somewhere to stay that is near those things.
I would also make sure that you are no more than a couple of blocks from a subway station. In New York City that isn’t hard to accomplish in most areas, but something to keep in mind. If it’s a train station with more than one train line running through that’s even better. Having trains close will cut down on your travel time.
Thanksgiving Weekend Family Itineary
The options are truly endless. New York City has something for everyone. While we were living in the city I compiled this rather thorough list of the Best of New York City for Kids with tips and tricks and advice along the way.
To help you narrow it all down for a Thanksgiving Weekend, here is what we most recommend:
Day One: Thursday (Thanksgiving)
You will likely arrive on Wednesday at some point. Grab a slice of pizza, explore the neighborhood where you’re staying, or check off something on your personal must-do list. Then get to bed early – Thanksgiving will be a busy day!
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
If you’re visiting NYC for Thanksgiving then it’s likely that going to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is on your list. I’ve done this three times, twice with my kids. It is an awesome experience, but you definitely need to know a few things before you go. READ MORE
Central Park
Central Park has my heart. It’s my absolutely favorite part of NYC and in my opinion it is a must for any trip to New York City.
Try to schedule this for the best weather day of your trip because you will obviously be outside, but it is a nice run around break for the kids after standing and watching the parade.
This is a park that is unfathomable until you actually explore it. The size is staggering. To give you a small kid-friendly taste, here is our guide to the 21 playgrounds in the park. Yes, TWENTY ONE. That wasn’t a typo. Depending on where else you’re going on your trip, popping into the park to visit one of these awesome playgrounds will likely be a welcome and easy play break for your kids.
See a Show
Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall are always a fun Christmas option. You can also see any number of Broadway shows. They are always changing so look on line for what is currently open. The age guidelines are pretty accurate in our experience.
Day 2: Friday
This is Black Friday and Black Friday in New York City is a whole new level of crowded and crazy. We went to Macy’s once on Black Friday for the experience and it certainly was an experience. If you aren’t looking for insane early holiday shopping, then here is what we’d recommend.
Christmas Market
There are Christmas Markets all over Manhattan. We like the one at Union Square because of a few booths we love and it’s proximity to the Strand Bookstore, but there are all good and pretty comparable.
The Bryant Park one has an ice skating rink which I’d avoid skating there on Black Friday but it’s definitely another fun option.
Strand Bookstore or other bookstore options
New York City is full of awesome bookstores. The Strand is one of our favorites. There is a great collection of children’s books for kiddos, but also book of all types and sizes for everyone else as well. Books Are Magic is another amazing shop.
Ice Skating
Ice Skating in New York City is one of those must-do things. There are a lot of options. Rockefeller Center is definitely the most iconic. We skated there once again for the experience and it was cool, but it’s also super pricey and crowded.
Wollman Rink in Central Park is another iconic option. We skated there this year. It is still pricey and crowded, although less pricey and less crowded and the rink is larger. Skating around as the sun set behind the city was a priceless experience.
Day 3: Saturday
One World Trade Center
If you haven’t been to New York City in the past couple of decades, then the 9/11 Memorial should be on your list. It is powerful and free to visit and sits between the 9/11 Museum and One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.
The One World Trade Center is fine for all ages although your toddler likely won’t be as excited by the view as the adults. If you want to go up in the One World Trade Center then you might want to consider purchasing tickets ahead of time. For more tips you should know before you visit, READ MORE HERE.
On the other hand, the 9/11 Museum is truly fantastic as well, but I would recommend that for 10+ depending on the sensitivity of the child.
There are also other fun things to do in Lower Manhattan while you’re down there. Here are our absolutely favorites: 9 Hours in Lower Manhattan
If you want to visit the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island this would also be a good time to tackle those because you’re relatively close to the ferry.
Sea Glass Carousel
This little carousel in Battery Park definitely an overlooked gem. It is one of the coolest and most unique carousels. This year we went at nighttime and it looked extra cool in the dark, but it’s cool anytime of day. The carousel is near One World Trade Center and the Staten Island Ferry so it’s pretty easy to tuck this into your adventures.
Day 4: Sunday
Sunday might mean that your weekend is coming to an end. Hopefully you still have a full day for adventures in the city because there is still lots to do!
Grand Central Station
Grand Central Station is one of those iconic places. Standing in the center of the main terminal is a spot that just feels alive. I especially love it when it’s decorated for Christmas.
You kids might be less impressed by the splendor of an old building, so here is what you don’t want to miss if you’re visiting with kids.
- Trains! Not just the big ones, although you can see those too. There is also a fun train show in the gift shop. It runs all over the store which delighted my twins when they were younger.
- Whispering Corner. There is a spot around the corner and down the ramp from the main terminal where if you stand on opposite corners from someone and whisper they can hear you on the other side.
Rockefeller Tree and Holiday Windows
The Rockefeller Tree is not lit up for the season until the week following Thanksgiving so if you are in the city longer then hold off on this one until you can see it all aglow. If you have to leave before the lighting however it is worth strolling past, especially because the LEGO store and FAO Schwartz are right in Rockefeller Square.
Across the street you will also find the Holiday window display at Saks. This year it was FROZEN. They are always beautiful displays. If you have time, you should also pop down to the holiday windows at Macy’s in Herald Square which stretch two city blocks.
Insert Museum of Your Choice Here
There are a host of excellent museums in New York City and many are very family friendly. Depending on your family’s interests, spend the afternoon at the Museum of Natural History, Museum of Math, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim, or any of the other awesome museums that sound interesting to your family.
Bonus Day? Brooklyn!
If you have a bonus day then I would definitely spend it in Brooklyn. We loved living in Brooklyn and there are tons of things to do that are often overlooked by tourists. I could write an entire weekend posts about just Brooklyn, but to get you started – if you have a day to spend in Brooklyn, I would:
- If it’s nice outside, visit Brooklyn Bridge Park and eat Pizza across the street
- OR Prospect Park. We loved the family friendly botanic garden inside the park, the playgrounds, and the Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.
- If it’s less nice, I would start at the Transit Museum – don’t miss the subways in the basement – but the Children’s Museum is also fun.
