Your guide to a family-friendly Thanksgiving weekend in NYC

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People ask me a lot about navigating NYC with little kids. While it definitely has its challenges, there are plenty of things to do and Thanksgiving weekend is no exception. Last fall, our family braved the cold temps and visited New York City for Thanksgiving. I haven’t spent a Thanksgiving in NYC since I was a kid, so everything we did was all pretty new to me too. It was so much fun getting to explore and experience this holiday weekend with our kids. Here’s a list of our favorite family-friendly Thanksgiving weekend activities in NYC. If you’re considering spending Thanksgiving in NYC this year or next, I definitely recommend doing some of these with your little ones:

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is probably one of the most iconic, time-honored traditions in NYC. From elaborate floats to giant balloons of cherished characters filled with helium to marching bands from around the country, it’s a great way to kick off your Thanksgiving Day. If you want to see the parade in person instead of on your television, make sure you go early to get a prime viewing spot and dress warm for the weather. You can check out the parade route and other information here. Our family skipped the actual parade and it was a good thing too – it ended up being the second coldest Thanksgiving Day Parade on record. Definitely too cold for our littles who were 1 and 5 at the time. But this is something we would definitely consider doing in the future or in slightly warmer weather.

Packing tip: Layers are definitely needed for this one if you’re arriving early to get a good seat. We used this jacket on our toddler and it kept him nice and warm.

Balloon Inflation

Love seeing how things happen behind the scenes? You can actually see the balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade getting inflated the day before the parade. The hours of this may vary from year-to-year, but this generally runs from the early afternoon through the evening and it wraps around the Museum of Natural History.

If you go: I normally advocate for a stroller in NYC, but this crowd was definitely harder to navigate with one. Use the restroom before getting in line and bring snacks. Once you’re on the pathway to view the balloon inflation, it’s a little difficult to get out of the crowd until you’re all the way through.

Ice Skating

Whether you just like watching the action happening on the ice or want to get moving yourself, ice skating in NYC is such a fun winter activity. The ice rink at Rockefeller Center is probably the one people think of most often, but you can also find outdoor skating rinks in Central Park and Bryant Park.

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree doesn’t typically get lit until early December, but you can still see it over Thanksgiving weekend. It’s still pretty impressive, even when it’s not covered in Christmas lights.

Holiday Markets

NYC is known for its shopping and it’s even better around the holidays. You can find all sorts of handmade gifts, decorations, food at holiday markets and bazaars around the city. Two of my favorites are the Winter Village at Bryant Park and the Union Square Holiday Market.

Dyker Heights

If seeing Christmas light displays are your thing, then Dyker Heights is not to be missed. This neighborhood in Brooklyn is known for their elaborate displays of lights and decorations. It’s not the easiest to get to by public transportation – you’ll have quite a walk from the nearest subway station. You can drive if you have a car and don’t mind parking. Or you can sign up for a tour to help you navigate the area. Tours usually start December 1.

Holiday Window Displays

Fifth Avenue is known for its holiday window displays. Brands like Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., Barneys New York and Macy’s Herald Square turn their storefront windows into elaborate works of art and scenes for the holiday season.

If you go: Start at Central Park on Fifth Avenue and walk towards Herald Square. You’ll also be able to stop by Rockefeller Center along the way.

Holiday Train Show

Train displays and the holidays often go hand-in-hand. The New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train show is probably one of the best around. In fact, it’s the largest and most elaborate in the city. You’ll see more than 25 model trains and trolleys moving along as they pass more than 175 iconic buildings and structures around a scaled replica of NYC.

Tip: Purchase your tickets in advance. This guarantees you access into the exhibition for the time you’d like to attend. As a bonus, you’ll also get to skip the long line.

FAO Schwarz

While you’re visiting NYC for the holidays, make sure you stop by the city’s largest toy store. FAO Schwarz is another NYC icon and it’s now located at Rockefeller Plaza. You can find 20,000 square feet filled with toys and stuffed animals. And yes, you can find its famous floor keyboard here too.

If you go: Get there early, as there’s sure to be a line.

Are you spending Thanksgiving weekend in NYC? I’d love to hear what you end up doing!