By Vincent Runyon
Things to Do in New York in January
It seems like a strange proposition to come to
New York during January. It's one of the coldest months of the year in one of the coldest states. Why go to New York when there is sun and sand in Florida,
Mexico or Hawaii? Well, New York has as much to offer in its coldest months as it does during its more mild seasons. Whether it's a trip around downtown New York City, the world's best dining at bargain basement prices or Olympic-caliber winter sports facilities, New York has plenty to offer the enterprising tourist during the beginning of the new year.
Ice skating in Rockefeller Center and New York City
January's an ideal time to come to New York City for every reason except the weather. With New Year's and Christmas having passed, tickets for flights to the city become much cheaper, and the price of hotel rooms drop to their lowest levels. However, there is still that weather issue. January tends to be NYC's coldest month, and the tall buildings make windy gusts feel like arctic blasts. Still, for the enterprising traveler, this potential weakness can be turned into a strength. Instead of being turned off by the cold, it can be embraced at the skating rink over at Rockefeller Center. The Christmas tree will be gone, but so will quite a few of the tourists.There are also a few places for skating in Central Park and in Brooklyn.
Lake Placid
Back in 1980, Lake Placid hosted one of the most exciting Winter Olympics of all time. It included the United States' incredible win over the USSR in the "Miracle on Ice". Happily, a lot of the equipment and facilities are still there for the public's use. It's the ultimate place to imitate great winter athletes, whether it's Shaun White, Kristi Yamaguchi or the Jamaican bobsled team. The Lake Placid facility has plenty of runs for skiers and snowboarders, no matter what their skill level. There are plenty of trails for snow-shoers and cross-country skiers, as well as plenty of opportunities to ice skate, too. Perhaps its biggest feature is its bobsled and luge run, where it's possible to experience the speed and excitement of racing on ice through hairpin turns.
Restaurant Week
If racing down a bobsled track is not your idea of fun, having some of the world's best cuisine for a shockingly low price may be. Twice a year, New York City has a restaurant week, occurring in January and then either June or July. During these weeks, restaurants drop the prices of incredible multi-course meals as much as 50%. It's a steal to eat a four course lunch from a world renowned chef and pay less than $30. Understandably, the tables fill up quickly and reservations are a must. Luckily, there are a few ways to get deals. The best is to go to opentable.com, a reservation site, but another way is to simply call, call, call the restaurant of your choice. Even if it is booked up, someone may drop out at the last minute.
About the Author:
Vincent Runyon is a writer working out of Portland, Ore. His work has been featured in "The Oregon Voice" and "Portland Monthly." Runyon received two bachelor's degrees from the University of Oregon. His greatest passions are traveling to new and different places and enjoying a good basketball game. Usually the two are mutually exclusive.
Photo Credits:
John Kelly
