Here are some festive child-friendly activities for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve in New York. I interviewed Fodor’s author and New York aficianado, Meryl Pearlstein, to gather these tips for families traveling to the Big Apple during the holidays.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (Photo Courtesy of Macy’s)

Meryl has attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade a whopping eight times. Although it is often a chilly affair, the unique experience is worth the low temperatures. She said, “There’s something about watching all those fabulous balloons float overhead that is mesmerizing.  Older kids will also appreciate the music and dance talent on the floats.”

Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink and Christmas Tree
(Photo Courtesy of Tishman Speyer-Photographer Bart Barlow)

No matter your children’s ages, Meryl advises visiting Rockefeller Center after its famous Christmas tree is already up rather than attending the crushingly popular tree-lighting ceremony. You can take in the beauty of the huge twinkling evergreen tree and watch the skaters, or lace up some rental skates and take a spin on the world-renowned ice rink. Afterward, do some holiday shopping at the center’s 49 shops.

A favorite Christmastime activity is perusing the city’s decorated store windows, which are elaborately dressed up for the holidays. Head to the world’s largest department store, Macy’s on 34th Street, for some of the city’s best window-shopping.

Dyker Heights Home Decorated for the Holidays
(Photo Courtesy of Meryl Pearlstein)

For a memorable experience, Meryl suggests taking the Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tour: Christmas Lights & Cannoli Tour. The tour takes visitors to Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights to view homes lit up for the holidays with an array of lights and over-the-top animated displays. The tour concludes with a sweet trip to the Mona Lisa Pastry Shop, a family-owned bakery that specializes in Italian goodies like cannoli, biscotti, and pignoli cookies.

Hanukkah Festival at 92nd Street Y (Photo Courtesty of 92nd Street Y)

Looking for Hanukkah celebrations? Meryl suggests the Annual Family Hanukkah Party hosted by The Jewish Museum. This fundraiser entertains families with children aged ten and younger with live music, arts and crafts, face-painting, balloon art and more. The 92nd Street Y hosts a Hanukkah Festival each year at which children can build their own menorahs, make candles, and decorate dreidels.

Although tweens and teens may get a kick out of ringing in the New Year in Times Square, Meryl warns the scene is overly crowded and not very family-friendly. Instead she advises traveling families celebrate New Year’s Eve by viewing the craziness of Times Square on television together from the safety of a hotel room. Order some pizzas or rooms service, get some noise makers and party hats, play a few rounds of charades, and toast the New Year with some sparkling cider!

For more tips on what to see, what to do, and where to eat in New York with children, buy a Fodor’s Family: New York City with Kids or enter to win one below. Meryl has been writing Fodor’s New York City guides since 2005. She writes restaurant reviews for Gayot.com and has written for New York Magazine and Boston Herald. She is the mother of two boys, ages 15 and 19. Read her blog Meryl Pearlstein’s Travel and Food Notes for travel and food observations from around the world and everything New York City.

Enter to win one of four copies of Fodor’s Family: New York City with Kids in this week’s giveaway. Fodor’s provided the giveaway copies as well as one copy for me to review. Travel Mamas is picking up the costs of shipping. The winner will be selected at random using RANDOM.org. You may enter up to three times, using each method of entry once, by November 28, 2009. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

1) Add a comment below about which New York holiday event listed above you would most like to attend and why.

2) Sign up to Become a Travel Mama to receive the Travel Mamas bimonthly e-newsletter. If you are already on our mailing list, instead post a comment mentioning the e-newsletter and stating what you like about TravelMamas.com.

3) Tweet about this contest on Twitter by copying and pasting the entire phrase below. Be sure to post a comment with a link to your tweet!
I love the holidays in NY! Visit @TravelMamas to win a ”Fodor’s Family: New York City with Kids” this week http://bit.ly/6jcyTC

For more information on this topic see:

• New York City’s Best Sites, Activities, and Restaurants for Kids

• Top 6 Reasons to Take a Thanksgiving Vacation

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