Thanksgiving in New York – Things to Do in November & More

By Katie Sagal

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite times of year in New York City. It kicks off the beautiful holiday season and is a wonderful holiday in its own right. It’s also the time of year when one of New York’s greatest public events takes place – the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

If you’re searching for some great seasonal activities and things to do in November, check out a few of these suggestions. Here are our top attractions and events to make the most of Thanksgiving in New York, including:

  • Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
  • Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar
  • Holiday Train Show
  • Bank of America Winter Village
  • Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

From 77th Street to 34th Street

Image of People, Person, City, Traffic Light, Urban,

There isn't a more iconic holiday event in New York City than the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This parade, which began almost a century ago with only 50 people marching through the streets of New York, has become a real institution. Find a spot along the route to watch the giant balloons of your favorite cartoons, the fantastically decorated floats and the artists parading in front of you in a festive atmosphere.

Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar

501 Union Street

default alt tag

Image credit: Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar.

A great destination for all your holiday shopping needs is the Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar. Browse through hundreds of beautiful gifts from local makers and select national crafters. You’ll find everything from paintings to handmade paper to handcrafted jewelry. Enjoy festive music and grab a bite to eat from participating vendors to get in the festive spirit. After shopping, make the most of the neighborhood with a walking tour.

Admission to the Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar is free, and you can use your pass to enjoy the Brooklyn walking tour.

Holiday Train Show

New York Botanical Garden

default alt tag

Image credit: New York Botanical Garden

This uniquely New York phenomenon is a sight to behold. Come to the New York Botanical Garden to find yourself immersed in a magical world of nature and technology. Watch trains wind through a wonderland of NYC landmarks and icons. All the pieces of the set are constructed out of natural elements like bark, leaves, berries, and more.

Plus, there's a half-mile of train tracks throughout, so you'll get to see plenty of the technological side, too. This annual event is beloved by locals and is a must-see for families and adults alike! Access to this special exhibit is included with regular admission.

The Nutcracker Ballet

Lincoln Center

default alt tag

This Thanksgiving weekend, don't miss out on the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with an iconic performance of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. It's a tour de force of flawless ballet, gorgeous sets and costumes, and a timeless score. No wonder some people go every year! If you don't get to see The Nutcracker, it's still worth taking a tour of Lincoln Center to see the holiday decorations.

Bank of America Winter Village

Bryant Park

default alt tag

Image credit: Bryant Park Facebook page.

Searching for a unique, yet affordable place to pick up holiday gifts in New York City? The Winter Village in Chelsea’s Bryant Park should be on your list. There are more than 120 shops, kiosks, food stands, and more. You’ll be able to find something for everyone on your list.

This European-inspired market provides an excellent souvenir-shopping opportunity too! Don’t forget about the ice-skating. Skating is free (although you need to bring your own skates), and Bryant Park’s massive outdoor rink is a sight to behold. The ice-skating rink is open until March.

Getting In: Admission to Winter Village is free.

Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

default alt tag

Rockefeller Center

If you happen to be in town for a few days after Thanksgiving Weekend, it's worth a trip to Rockefeller Center to see them light their iconic tree. Typically a Norwegian Spruce, this tree will arrive in NYC in early November. A massive 30,000 LED lights and a Swarovski crystal star will decorate the tree. The lights are switched on during this ceremony, however!

This special holiday tradition is sure to inspire the festive spirit in you. While you're in the area, why not take a tour of Rockefeller Center? You will learn all about its significance and rich history.

Save on attraction admission

Regular admission to a number of these New York attractions is available with a pass by Go City®. Choose as you go from dozens of top attractions and save on combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available New York passes, attractions & prices. Please note, some of these special November events may be separately ticketed and not included with the pass.

Consider adding a few of these fun options to your November weekend itineraries. Happy Thanksgiving!

Share your trip with us

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and share your adventure with us. Tag us at @GoCity on your travel photos to keep us up to date with your vacation!

Continue reading

Friends Header
Blog

Friends Locations in New York City

This year marks 25 years since Friends premiered. Despite first appearing on our screens a quarter of a century ago, Friends remains ever popular with audiences old and new. If you’re a Friends fan visiting New York City, you have to check out these top New York destinations. Here’s our list of top Friends New York locations, including... 90 Bedford Street Bloomingdale’s The Plaza American Museum of Natural History Madison Square Garden And more! 90 Bedford Street The first stop on any Friends fan’s tour of the city has to be 90 Bedford Street. You’ll see the exterior of the apartment building that the gang lived in for 10 seasons. And though it’s not Central Perk, there is a café below the apartments called The Little Owl where you can stop for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. While you’re in the area, take a tour of Greenwich Village to get a feel for where they hung out. The Plaza While The Plaza is a beautiful building so worth a visit in its own right, Friends fans will appreciate that it’s where Monica and Chandler intended to celebrate their engagement. However, in Season 7 Episode 1 ‘The One with Monica’s Thunder,’ the gang faces various hurdles and plot twists and never make it to The Plaza. Why not raise a glass of champagne in their honor? Bloomingdale’s Visit the luxury department store where Rachel began her fashion career as a personal shopper. Walk the aisles of Bloomingdale’s and admire the luxury clothes and accessories. Inspired by the stylish outfits to do a little shopping yourself? You can get a discount at Bloomingdale’s with a pass for New York by Go City. Solow Building This building on West 57th Street is home to Chandler’s office where he works as a... “transpondster?” This famous building has also featured in other TV shows and films Sex & the City, Zoolander, Cloverfield, Superman and Lost in America. If you’re interested in other filming destinations, check out our guide to NYC for TV fans. In reality, law firms and hedge funds make up the building’s offices, as well as the designer brand Chanel. American Museum of Natural History Another place of work: the American Museum of Natural History. Sort of. Ross actually works as a paleontologist at the Museum of Prehistoric History, which doesn’t exist. Visit the next best thing at the American Museum of Natural History to see the fossils and dinosaurs up close. Check out our guide to the American Museum of Natural History to make the most of your visit. Newark Airport If you’re flying in or out of Newark Airport, New Jersey, note that this is where Rachel gets off the plane in ‘The Last One.’ Rachel is due to fly to Paris, but decides to get off the plane at the last minute to be with Ross. Earlier in the episode, Ross and Phoebe mistakenly race to JFK airport to try to catch her. Madison Square Garden In the fourth episode of Friends, Chandler, Joey, and Ross watch a Rangers game at Madison Square Garden. You can catch a game like the guys, though try to not get hit in the face with a hockey puck, as Ross did! If you can’t get tickets to a game, you can take a tour of Madison Square Garden to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the famous stadium. The Lucille Lortel Theater Head to this off-Broadway theater to see where Joey acts in a play in Season 3. Though Joey’s play receives terrible reviews, why not see a play there yourself? Check the website to see what’s on at Lucille Lortel Theater during your visit. Theater fans will also be interested in taking a walking tour of Broadway to learn all about its history (and secrets)! So there’s a list of the top NYC destinations for Friends fans. Be sure to get a photo with these famous locations, (especially on Bedford Street)! Hopefully, this list will give you a chance to experience where the Friends gang lived, worked and had their adventures over the 10 seasons. Save on admission Admission to many popular Friends New York attractions is included with Go City. You could save on admission vs gate price. Share your trip with us Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and share your adventure with us. Tag us at @GoCity on your travel photos to keep us up to date with your vacation!
Seren Morris
Blog

Ultimate New York Bucket List

There are more exciting, amazing adventures to have in NYC than you could tackle in a single vacation. From inspiring cultural attractions to outdoorsy activities, even New York locals have a hard time deciding what to do on a given weekend. Prioritizing what to see and do in New York City is possible, however, with the help of this ultimate New York bucket list. Check off a few at a time to get to know one of the most diverse cities in the world. New York Bucket List 1-10 Compare the views. Visit both the Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock to make the final determination for yourself on which is better. Enjoy real NYC pizza. Avoid the stuff in Times Square and head into Little Italy for an authentic slice. Snap a photo of Lady Liberty. There are many ways to see the Statue of Liberty, from a cruise to a visit to Liberty Island itself. Climbing up to the crown is worth it, too. Honor the fallen at the 9/11 Memorial. This sobering attraction is an important place for all Americans to visit at some point with its enduring influence on modern culture. Attend a taping of Saturday Night Live. It can be tricky to manage, but we’ve got a few tips on how to get Saturday Night Live tickets. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s a rite of passage. You could also bike across, or make it part of a larger tour including DUMBO. Visit The Strand. This legendary bookstore features 18 miles of new, used, and collectible volumes. It’s an experience just to roam the stacks. Marvel at the vastness of the universe. The Rose Center for Earth & Space, at the American Museum of Natural History, is the premier place on the East Coast for space reflections. See the original soup cans. Andy Warhol’s iconic soup cans can be found at the MoMA, which is also home to some famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, and hundreds more. Explore an Ancient Egyptian Temple. The Met houses the reconstructed Temple of Dendur, which was originally built around 15 BCE. New York Bucket List 11-20 Look up in Grand Central Terminal. This historic train terminal is renowned for its unique artwork—especially the “celestial ceiling” in the Main Concourse. Tour a WWII-era aircraft carrier. The USS Intrepid, once host to more than 50,000 men who served during various campaigns, is today part of the Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum. Take in a show or game at MSG. Madison Square Garden is among the most iconic performance venues in the entire world. See the Knicks, a concert, or any of other popular events they host each year. Peek at the windows in NYC’s Fashion District. Enjoy some active window-shopping (or pull out that plastic) while you stroll 5th Ave. to explore the city’s legendary fashion culture. Visit the New York Public Library. The reading rooms at the NYPL feel like something out of a Harry Potter movie. Ice skate at the Rockefeller Ice Rink. Featured in several movies, this is also a romantic thing to do in NYC. You could also take a tour of the Rockefeller Center for the full experience. Count the sculptures in Central Park. While tallying them all is impractical on one trip, a tour of Central Park will highlight things like Cleopatra’s Needle and Angel of the Waters. Walk the High Line. This massively popular elevated park offers great views alongside an infusion of nature in the concrete jungle. Check out our guide to the High Line[insert link here when it’s up] for more info. Pay a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The largest Neo-Gothic Catholic Cathedral on the continent, their stained glass windows alone are worth the visit. Eat like a New Yorker. There are culinary adventures to be had across the city, from Chinatown to Hell’s Kitchen to Harlem. We’ve got some foodie recommendations, too. New York Bucket List 21-15 Take your significant other to the Museum of Sex. This quirky, unique museum manages to engage both the intellect and the libido. Visit historic Coney Island. One of the most iconic amusement parks in the country, Coney Island offers nostalgia and fun in equal doses. Check out Luna Park for the rides, too. Get pictures of the cherry blossoms. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the few places in the country to feature these lush Japanese trees. See Shakespeare in the Park. This beloved summer tradition means inexpensive or free performances of the Bard’s plays in various locations throughout the city. Pick up some new art. The galleries in Chelsea—a booming neighborhood—frequently play host to up-and-coming artists and are a good place to hunt for that next art investment. Save on New York Bucket List Ideas Many of these ultimate New York bucket list ideas are included with the New York City Explorer Pass. Snag one today to save up to 50% versus buying individual tickets. Share Your Adventure with Us Tag @GoCity or use the hashtag #GoCityPass in your vacation photos and we'll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook pages for competitions, special offers, and events and inspiration for your chosen destination, too!
Katie Sagal
Blog

A Guide to the High Line in New York City

The High Line is one of the world’s most unique public parks. The park in New York City is made from reclaimed elevated rail running above Manhattan’s West Side. It was originally slated for destruction after remaining unused for decades. But locals and the city decided to repurpose the stretch of rail for public benefit. They opened the High Line in 2009. Today, it’s one of the more unusual tourist attractions in NYC, but it’s also becoming increasingly popular with visitors. If you’re looking for a quick guide to the High Line NYC, we’ve got you covered. Where is the High Line? The New York High Line runs for 1.45 miles above the west side of Manhattan, from Gansevoort Street & Washington Street, north up to 34th Street & 12th Avenue. It roughly runs from the Meatpacking District, through Chelsea, up to just south of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. There are multiple access points at various intersections. Plus, there are elevator access and ramp access at a few points for those with mobility concerns. There are also restrooms at the following access points: Gansevoort & Washington and 16th Street. When is the High Line Open? As a public park, the High Line does have regular operating hours. These vary seasonally, with the longest hours in the summer months. Regardless of the time of year, the park is open at 7 am every day, including weekends. What to See on the New York High Line? There are many points of interest along the High Line, many of which are unique to the park. Others are found below the High Line. These make for an easy attraction to add on to an afternoon spent exploring the park. Here’s a complete guide to the attractions below, in geographical order from southernmost to northernmost. Gansevoort Street – 17th Street Tiffany & Co. Foundation Overlook (at Gansevoort St.). This dramatic overlook marks where the original rail line was taken apart in the 1980s to make way for construction. Whitney Museum of American Art: Located just east of the overlook, this popular museum features over 21,000 modern works of art. Donald Pels & Wendy Keys Gansevoort Woodland (between Gansevoort & 13th St.): A lush garden space filled with striking flora, this is a great spot for photos. 14th Street Passage (between 14th St. & 15th St.): A quasi-enclosed passageway, here you can find an original video series on display at dusk each evening. Diller-Von Furstenberg Sundeck & Water Feature (between 14th St. & 15th St.): This water feature marks the spot where water tended to gather during the days when the High Line was still a railroad track, drawing inspiration from life. Chelsea Market Passage (between 15th St. & 16th St.): Running right along the iconic Chelsea Market, this section of the park is the perfect place to descend if you’re looking for a snack or souvenir. Chelsea Market: This expansive complex is beloved for its food hall. It is brimming with vendors selling everything from cheese and wine to coffee and bread. There’s also a retail component with many popular and hyper-local options. Northern Spur Preserve (at 16th St.): This section of the park honors the indigenous plants that grew on and around the High Line before it was converted into cultivated parkland. 10th Avenue Square & Overlook (at 17th St.): Featuring a giant “window” down onto 10th Ave., this area also encompasses an amphitheater with public performances. 21st Street to 34th street Chelsea Thicket (between 21st St. & 22nd St.): Another piece of wilderness brought to downtown Manhattan, this section of the New York High Line boasts a variety of dense trees and shrubs indigenous to the region. 23rd Street Lawn & Seating Steps (at 23rd St.): A great spot for picnics, this elevated lawn area is also home to many local art installations like a massive mural that changes each year. Philip A. and Lisa Maria Falcone Flyover (between 25th St. & 27th St.): Designed specifically to allow visitors to encounter larger trees like magnolias and sassafras, the path elevates several feet above the rail line. 26th Street Viewing Spur (at 26th St.): A great place to get views of the city below, and gain perspective on your position relative to the bustle. Crossroads (at 30th St.): This is the widest section of the High Line Greenwich and therefore often the most accessible to those wanting to sit for a bit. It’s also where the High Line switches from a North-South orientation to an East-West one. Spur (at 30th St. & 10th Ave.): The final section of the original trail to be converted to park space, the public art here is spectacular—keep an eye out for the High Line Plinth! Pershing Square Beams (at 30th St.): A delightful place for the little ones to play, the exposed steel beams have been coated in a safe silicone surface, turning them into a playground. Interim Walkway (between 30th St. & 34th St.): Stop here for panoramic views of the Hudson River. Stay for the wildflowers and uncultivated plants. CSX Transportation Gate (at 34th St.): The only point at which the High Line New York hits street level. This is where you can most easily access it from downtown Manhattan. Things to Know About the High Line NYC To protect the parklands, no dogs are allowed on the High Line except service animals. There are plenty of places to eat on the High Line! The Italian-inspired Santina is open year-round, while the 15th St. area boasts several diverse temporary vendors, serving up everything from German street food to gelato to empanadas. You can’t walk on the grass. Except for the High Line lawn at 23rd St., all other lawn beds are off-limits. The High Line is a “green” structure. It contributes to city sustainability efforts by functioning like a green roof would, reducing rainwater runoff into the sewers. You don’t need to go it alone. There are several themed tours of the High Line NYC, with tickets available on the first-come, first-served basis. You can also make reservations for large groups. Feel free to ride a bike to the High Line! There are bike racks at most access points. Just remember that no bikes are permitted on the High Line itself. Please remember not to pick any flowers. The preservation of local vegetation is an important part of the park’s mission. You can, however, get as many photos as you’d like! Love art? Then you’ll want to come back to the New York High Line again and again. They both commission and produce unique contemporary art every year. There are also frequent public performances, from music to theatre. Share Your Adventure with Us Tag @GoCity or use the hashtag #GoCity in your vacation photos and we'll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook pages for competitions, special offers, and events and inspiration for your chosen destination too!
Katie Sagal

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

  • Thick check Icon