By Ruth Taylor
Winter is a great time to visit
New York City because the early nightfall gives visitors an opportunity to appreciate the lights and sights of the skyscrapers. Some activities take place only in the winter, so bundle up and get ready to have some fun! Plan some memorable outdoor activities to make your winter visit to New York City unforgettable.
Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
The outdoor ice skating rink is open to the public from October to March every winter. Enjoy skating under the towering buildings that are alive with lights, and the sidewalks filled with tourists and shoppers. 150 are allowed on the rink at a time, and private lessons are available. The ice skating rink is open from Monday to Thursday, 9:00 am to 10:30 pm, Friday and Saturday, 8:30 am to midnight and Sunday 8:30 am to 10:00 pm. Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink, entrance on Fifth Avenue (between 49th and 50th Streets)
New York, New York, 10020
Phone: 212.332.7654
www.therinkatrockcenter.com
Watch the Animals Play
Animals like polar bears and tigers love the cold weather. Take advantage of fewer crowds and more active animals by watching the animals romp and play at Central Park Zoo or the Bronx Zoo all winter long. Be sure to wear warm layers and gloves to fully enjoy your visit. The Central Park Zoo is located in Central Park between 65th and Central Park South Streets. The Bronx Zoo is located on Fordham Road and Bronx River Parkway. Both have winter hours from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm every day.
www.centralparkzoo.com
www.bronxzoo.
Holiday Lights at the Botanical Garden
Although it may sound strange to visit a botanical garden in winter, tourists come every year to visit the holiday decorations and lights at New York Botanical Garden. Located right next to the Bronx Zoo, the lighting ceremony is at the end of November and lights stay on until the second week in January. The New York Botanical Garden is on Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458.
www.nybg.org
Chinese New Year
Greet the lunar New Year in Chinatown as impressive fireworks ward off evil spirits while dancing dragons and unicorns frolic on the streets of Chinatown. The Chinese New Year parade features magicians, even more dancing animals, acrobats and local businesses and organizations. Feast on Chinese specialties while you enjoy a feast for your eyes. Dates change according to the Chinese calendar every year, but the Chinese New Year always takes place either at the end of January or the beginning of February. Chinatown is between Broadway and Rutgers Streets from West to East and Canal and Madison North to South.
Resources
About the Author:
Ruth Taylor is a teacher and a freelance writer. She has been writing for years, but only recently started freelancing. Her articles have appeared in Livestrong, eHow and other websites. In college she majored in Spanish and graduated summa cum laude with a M.A.T. in teaching a second language. She has taught both in high school and elementary school.
