Day Trip to Holiday Sights

The holidays are upon us, and with them come weeks full of festive sights, sounds, and celebrations! There are plenty of holiday delights within an easy drive from our area; here are just a few of the traditional favorites that are sure to help ring in the season.

Perhaps the crown jewel of Manhattan at this time of year is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, which is widely considered a world-wide symbol of the holidays in NYC. Traditionally an enormous Norway spruce, this year’s 78-foot, 10-ton jolly green giant was lit on November 30, with tens of thousands of LED lights on miles of wire, topped by a tremendous 9.5-foot Swarovski crystal star. It is located in the plaza between West 48th and West 51st Streets and between 5th and 6th Avenues and illuminated from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 midnight daily, 24 hours on Christmas Day, and from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The tree will remain up until 9:00 p.m. on January 7, after which it will be donated to Habitat for Humanity to be milled, treated, and made into lumber for home building.

The Rockefeller Center tree draws tens of thousands of visitors each year, who come to gaze up through its branches and pose for photos. Down below, New Yorkers and tourists alike will be found lined up for their chance to take a spin around the Ice Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center, under the watchful gaze of oversized wooden soldiers, glowing angels, the golden sculpture of Prometheus, and fellow visitors. Glide on over to www.therinkatrockcenter.com for hours and rates for admission and skate rentals.

“Window shopping” takes on a whole new look in December, as some of the city’s flagship department stores decorate their windows with elaborately designed and animated themed tableaus. Wander your way along the avenues, stopping to take in the sights at Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdale’s, Barney’s, Bergdorf Goodman, and other shopping emporiums. While standing outside Saks, don’t forget to look upwards to enjoy the dancing musical snowflakes that come to life at regular intervals in the annual 3-D light show.

If you’ve gotten a kick out of those sights, you’re sure to get an even bigger kick out of the famed Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring the renowned Rockettes. This family favorite show has been entertaining audiences for more than 80 years, and includes a cast and crew of hundreds, a living nativity with a menagerie of live animals, an indoor winter wonderland, a spectacular Santa, a dazzling, high-kicking march of beautifully costumed wooden soldiers, and more state-of-the-art wonders. For more info, visit www.radiocitychristmas.com.

Going from the metropolitan to the Victorian, head south instead of north, and visit lovely Cape May, NJ. December in Cape May is a truly magical time of year, as the town takes on the appearance of a Dickens village with picturesque and historic Victorian homes decked out in twinkling lights and fragrant green garlands, old-fashioned trolley tours taking visitors to and fro, candlelight house tours, dinner shows and theatrical productions, food and wine tastings, craft shows, and more. During the holidays, this lovely summer beach destination becomes a magnificent winter getaway, offering a memorable and heartwarming step back in time. A complete schedule of events and all the details on what to do and see can be found at www.capemaymac.org.

Looking to sink your teeth into a sweet holiday season? Why not travel west, to Hershey, PA? Each year, Christmas in Hershey presents unique holiday-themed attractions, special activities for children, festive culinary events, abundant shopping, and more. The Hersheypark Christmas Candylane delights visitors of all ages, as the park is decorated with over two million sparkling lights, themed rides, merry entertainment, and Hershey’s costumed characters meeting and greeting guests, decked out in their holiday finest. Visit Santa’s reindeer, browse the shops, and stop to listen to the talented choral group performances. Christmas in Chocolate Town is an interactive holiday dinner musical presented at the Hershey Lodge, with a delicious meal accompanied by spirited song and dance by a talented cast. And you won’t even have to get out of your car to ooh and aah over the winter wonderland of Hershey Sweet Lights, a drive-through spectacular with nearly 600 illuminated, animated displays set up along a two-mile route of wooded trails. Sound like a sweet celebration? Go to www.christmasinhershey.com for all you need to know.

Wherever you go, and whatever you celebrate, enjoy the sights and sounds of the season, and take time to relish at least a brief escape with family and friends – or perhaps even on your own, to give yourself the gift of peaceful and happy solitude – as we ring out the old year and ring in the new!