The Rockefeller Center is the center of all attractions during the holiday season in Manhattan, NYC. It features a skating rink that attracts people yearly. People flock to the Center to skate and come from across the nation to marvel at the giant Christmas tree and witness the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting. Every year people look forward to enjoying themselves in New York City during the Holiday Season.

The Rockefeller Center is spread over a whopping 89,000 square meters (22 acres), bounded by Fifth and Sixth Avenues, 48th Street, and 51st Street. Rockefeller Center was named after John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who leased the space from Columbia University in 1928 and developed it beginning in 1930. At the time, Rockefeller Center was the largest private building project ever undertaken. Workers began constructing the Center’s 14 buildings in the art deco style on May 17, 1930. The structures were completed and opened in 1939. After some renovating, Rockefeller Center eventually added a skating rink to complement the holiday season.

Shopping in New York City is a must during the holiday season. With plenty of shops and stores throughout Manhatten, visitors can find upscale stores and casual shopping. Shoppers will definitely find anything they need or want from gifts to personal items. The Grand Central Holiday Fair, housed in Grand Central train station, is a must, especially for jewelry. However, NYC’s only indoor seasonal market offers many other goods, such as clothing and gourmet foods. The iconic Macy’s Herald Square store in Manhattan is world-renowned for its Christmas displays in the large windows that dress its exterior. Visitors can sip hot chocolate while waiting in line to grab an up-close view of the spectacular windows. This year’s windows feature Tiptoe the Reindeer in a “Give-Love” display.

Kassi Horton ’23 shared that she loves spending time with her friends and wearing Christmas outfits during the holiday season. Horton said she always goes to NYC to shop for Christmas gifts with her father. In her opinion, the skating rink at Rockefeller Center is on the list of best places to go at Christmas time in NYC. She also enjoys dining at the restaurants inside the mall at the Vessel and taking in the beautiful views from its location.

Diego Lopez ’23  said he only likes ice skating with his family. Besides skating at Rockefeller Center, visitors can find frozen ice in Bryant Park, which is transformed every year into a festive old-European-style winter village with a skating rink. The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park boast over 100 vendors. Shoppers can dine at Celsius, a pop-up restaurant after a long afternoon of picking out gifts.