Spending the holidays with your family in New York City? You can check out the tree at Rockefeller Center from your taxi window as you head to the more family friendly destination (and equally beautiful tree!) at Bryant Park. Each year, the Winter Village is packed with kid-oriented activities, restaurants and pop ups.
The Rink at Winter Village is our family’s favorite ice skating rink in New York City, and for good reason. The medium sized rink is manageable for all ages, and offers more amenities than the larger Wollman or smaller Rock Center rinks. The tree is at the east side of the rink, and it makes a great backdrop for ice skating photos. Mom tip: Save your back by renting an "aid" in the form of adorable snowmen and penguins for your children to push around the rink. Or, take it one step further, and reserve a skating lesson in advance ($60 for a private) for your child while you sip a hot beverage in the waiting area. Toe pick!
Not tired after skating around the rink? Walk over to Le Carrousel on the south side of the Park to keep spinning in circles. My younger kids love how slowly the French style carousel moves, and delight in riding the quirkiest animals like the frog and the bunny.
If the holiday shops in Winter Village are too jammed, or the pop up igloos at Frost Fest are already booked, I recommend crossing to the south side of 40th Street to enjoy lunch at Maison Kayser. With many locations throughout Manhattan, this French restaurant is the perfect spot for a delicious and quick family meal. Open early (most locations open for early risers around 6:30AM), my kids dig into their Pain Perdu or Yaourt Parfait while we prefer the Saumon Fume or ouef cocotte with our lattes. Grab a bag of mini financiers on the way out for a more gourmet snack than goldfish!
