Carnegie Hall

Winter, lights twinkling on the tree, skaters gliding across the ice, carols ringing in the air and the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular. <br/> Rockefeller Center is the nation's favorite Christmas destination. The spirit of the laborers who decorated the first tree on the site almost seventy years ago lives on in the giant, gloriously lit spruce that graces the Plaza throughout the holiday season. The tree lighting ceremony draws huge crowds eagerly awaiting the official start of the season. And for weeks, happy kids and harried commuters are stopped in their tracks by the sight of the gossamer angels with golden trumpets and the sound of music in the winter air. <br/> This year, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular celebrates 85 magical years of the Rockettes and will perform to cities outside of New York including Nashville, Chicago, Dallas and St. Louis.<br/> America's most popular entertainers have thrilled audiences at Radio City Music Hall since its doors opened December 27, 1932. Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett to mention only a few of the celebrities and luminaries to grace the Great Stage.

Built by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., son of the architect of Central Park, in 1935, and gifted to the city of New York by John D. Rockefeller in 1917, Fort Tryon Park remains one of the city’s most beautiful outdoor pieces of art and one of the best presents ever received. <br> Centuries after its creation, parkgoers can picnic, run, play, and enjoy the historic architecture that has survived and thrived within the park. Beyond its dedication to natural beauty, as evidenced by its gardens and grounds, Fort Tryon Park is unique in its dedication to manmade art. Perched high above its northern grounds are the Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum that houses nearly 5,000 medieval works in a reconstructed medieval monastery. After soaking up ancient artwork, visitors can venture next door to the New Leaf Restaurant & Bar, an upscale restaurant perfect for romantic dinners and friendly brunches.

Castle Garden, today known as Castle Clinton National Monument, is the major landmark within The Battery, the 23 acre waterfront park at the tip of Manhattan. From 1855 to 1890, the Castle was America's first official immigration center, a pioneering collaboration of New York State and New York City.

Picture yourself stepping into a space where hands-on discovery meets cutting-edge innovation—a place that transforms how you think about technology and imagination. This midtown Manhattan destination pulls together interactive exhibits that let you jump right into learning rather than just observe it from behind glass. The winter months bring a particularly cozy energy to exploring these galleries, with plenty to captivate visitors seeking indoor adventure during the colder season. The facility prioritizes creating that rare sweet spot where families actually want to linger, where curiosity drives the experience, and where playfulness sits alongside serious technological exploration. Whether you're tinkering with exhibits or watching demonstrations, the environment invites you to get your hands involved and test ideas in real time.

Explore a sprawling network of four research hubs and 87 neighborhood branches woven throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. The flagship sits grandly on 5th Avenue at 42nd Street—that marble-columned Beaux-Arts masterpiece you've probably walked past dozens of times. Step inside and you're surrounded by soaring chandeliers, vaulted ceilings, and the kind of hushed reverence that makes winter afternoons feel even more contemplative. The walls hold treasures like the Berg Collection of English and American Literature, the Theatre Collection, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Everything here is free: books, journals, newspapers, computers, and Wi-Fi. You can attend workshops, lectures, and book clubs throughout the year, or dive into the digital collections online anytime—millions of manuscripts, maps, photographs, and more available from your couch. During the quieter winter months, the reading rooms take on a particularly intimate quality, filled with researchers and curious minds seeking refuge in stacks of knowledge. More than a lending system, this institution functions as the city's cultural backbone, connecting New Yorkers to information, ideas, and each other through programs and collections that have shaped countless lives.

Citi Field is located on Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing, The stadium is conveniently accessible by subway and Long Island Railroad. You can also take the bus, ferry or drive.

This non-profit center encourages environmental and educational awareness. A Long Island oasis, it advocates sustainable environmental policies and practices. Entrance and parking are free! The nature trails have many environments to be explored. Some of these include ponds and salt marshes where one can see shore birds and many small animals. Alley Pond Park, in which this New York attraction is located, also features a children’s adventure course; New York City's largest ropes course, a zip-line, a rock-climbing wall, and balance platforms in a beautiful woodland setting. There are many places to BBQ, run, bike and watch birds. The park itself sits on a beautiful 657 acres. Easily accessible from virtually any neighborhood in the city by car, bicycle or public transportation, there is every reason to come and spend a day relaxing, learning and exploring in this sublimely serene setting. A slice of paradise right here in Queens, it is home to the tallest tree in New York City, known as the “Queens Giant”, a tulip poplar approximately 350-450 years old and a stunning 133 feet tall. You can also dip your toes in Oakland Lake, 15,000 year old glacial pond fed by underground springs. It’s easy to lose the cares of the day in the beauty of this vast, colorful and unique Queens natural attraction.

Escape into 39 acres of blooming gardens where roses, herbs, and seasonal flowers create a peaceful retreat from the city's pace. This verdant sanctuary celebrates the diverse cultures of Queens while offering the perfect summer backdrop for a leisurely stroll, picnic, or quiet moment surrounded by nature.

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is located in Flushing, in the New York City borough of Queens and has been the home of the US Open Grand Slam tennis tournament played every year in August and September. According to the United States Tennis Association, the center is the largest public tennis facility in the world with 22 courts inside the facility and 11 more in the adjoining park. All 33 courts have used the DecoTurf cushioned acrylic surface since the facility was built in 1978. Source: en.wikipedia.org

Aqueduct Race Track, also known as Aqueduct Racetrack or simply Aqueduct, is a horse racing track located in Queens, New York. The track is part of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and is open for live racing throughout the year. The track has three separate tracks: a main dirt track, an inner turf course and an outer turf course. Aqueduct is home to several major horse racing events throughout the year, including the Wood Memorial Stakes, the Gotham Stakes, and the Cigar Mile Handicap. These events attract some of the top horses and jockeys in the sport and offer significant purse money to the winners. The track also hosts the New York Racing Festival, which features several graded stakes races.<br/> The track was originally opened in 1894, and has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years. In 2011, Aqueduct opened the Resorts World Casino New York City, which is now the largest casino in New York City and the only one in the five boroughs of New York City. The casino offers electronic slot machines and table games, and has a wide variety of dining and entertainment options.<br/> Aqueduct Race Track is easily accessible by public transportation, with the A train subway line stopping at the Aqueduct-North Conduit Avenue station, which is a short walk from the track. The track also has a large parking lot for those who choose to drive.

The Staten Island Zoo, also known as the Staten Island Children's Museum, is a zoo located in Staten Island, New York. The zoo was founded in 1936 and is home to over 1,200 animals from around the world. The zoo's mission is to educate visitors about the importance of preserving wildlife and the natural world.<br/> The zoo features a wide variety of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. Some of the most popular exhibits include the African Savanna, which features zebras, giraffes, and ostriches, and the Rainforest, which is home to monkeys, parrots, and tropical fish. The zoo also has several aquariums, including one that features sea turtles and another that is home to a variety of sharks.<br/> The zoo also has an extensive education program, offering classes and programs for visitors of all ages, as well as a summer camp. These programs aim to educate visitors about the importance of preserving wildlife and the natural world.<br/> The Staten Island Zoo is a great destination for families and animal lovers. Its location in Staten Island provides a great opportunity for visitors to explore the area and to take in the beauty of New York City from a different perspective. The zoo also has a playground and a carousel which makes it a great place to spend the day with kids.<br> The zoo is open year-round and there is an admission fee to enter the zoo. However, the zoo offers free admission on Wednesdays during the winter months. The zoo is easily accessible by public transportation, and there is also a large parking lot on site.

Family Fun and Open Skate Hours

Spread across 2,800 acres in the middle of Staten Island, this sprawling conservation area brings together forests, wetlands, and grasslands into one immersive landscape. Winter visits reveal a quieter, more contemplative side of the terrain—fewer crowds mean you can really sink into the stillness of the bare trees and frost-touched trails. The connected parks like LaTourette, Willowbrook, and High Rock each carve out their own character, where you might find yourself golfing, practicing archery, catching a baseball game, or tracking birds through the W. Davis Wildlife Refuge depending on the season. There's also a beloved carousel spinning year-round that draws families in for simple, timeless fun. Beyond the recreational side, the Conservancy runs environmental education programs, seasonal camps, and special events including concerts that shift with the calendar. Guided tours let you dig deeper into what makes each habitat tick and meet the creatures that call it home. Whether you're a local seeking refuge from the city's pace or traveling through, this green space delivers both adventure and peaceful escape.

Operating since 1905, the Staten Island Ferry is one of the oldest continuously operating ferry systems in the United States. The ferries operating on this route are equipped with services such as refreshment points, rest areas and toilets. The journey from one terminal to the other takes about 25 minutes. The ferry is also an alternative to the car as it offers a convenient and reliable way to travel between the two parts of the city without traffic jams. Additionally, the ferry is an important part of New York City's transportation infrastructure and helps reduce congestion on the area's freeways.<br/> The Staten Island Ferry is a unique and distinctive feature of New York City that continues to play an important role in the city's transportation network.

Step back in time at this open-air museum sprawling across Staten Island, where more than 30 authentic structures transport you straight into New York's colonial past. The complex brings together a courthouse, schoolhouse, residences, and commercial buildings—each one meticulously restored to show how people actually lived generations ago. Winter visits carry a particular charm, with frost-lined pathways winding through quiet grounds that feel even more removed from the modern world. The Staten Island Historical Society operates from here, maintaining an extensive collection of artifacts, documents, and photographs that piece together the lives of residents throughout the centuries. You're not just walking through buildings; interpreters demonstrate period crafts and daily routines, while guided tours and hands-on activities let you engage with the material directly. Lectures and workshops happen regularly, and the surrounding gardens and grounds offer exploration beyond the structures themselves. The adjacent Decker Farm rounds out the experience, showcasing organic growing methods and seasonal harvests that illustrate how past communities sustained themselves. Year-round programming keeps things fresh whether you're visiting solo or bringing the whole family. The combination of genuine architecture, working demonstrations, and carefully preserved history creates something you won't find replicated elsewhere—a chance to genuinely understand what daily life looked like in early America.

Explore layers of American history through the lens of a borough that's always been at the center of it all. The Bronx stretches across mainland New York City, home to 1.2 million residents whose cultures and traditions have shaped the nation's story from colonial times forward. Founded in 1955, this organization safeguards those interwoven narratives through multiple windows into the past. The Valentine-Varian House opens up colonial-era life as the Museum of Bronx History, while Edgar Allan Poe's cottage preserves the intimate spaces where the legendary writer spent his final years. Both buildings carry National Register recognition. Winter visits carry a particular quietness here, with frost settling over these 18th and 19th century structures in ways that somehow make their histories feel more tangible. Behind the scenes, the Archives and Research Library hold thousands of documents waiting to connect visitors with their own family threads or deeper understanding of the borough's evolution. Whether you're chasing genealogy, studying local heritage, or simply curious about how one borough reflected American transformation across centuries, you'll find substantial material to explore.

Lace up and glide across fresh ice right here in the Bronx—this recently opened rink welcomes skaters every single day of the week, from wobbly first-timers to seasoned blades. Whether you're looking to join group lessons tailored to your skill or just want to cruise around on your own, there's something for everyone from kids through adults. Winter's the perfect time to experience that crisp rink atmosphere, and you can catch open skating sessions throughout the colder months whenever the mood strikes.

In 1960, the Perkins-Freeman family deeded Wave Hill to the City of New York; Wave Hill, Inc., was formed in 1965 as a non-profit corporation. Today, as one of 33 City-owned cultural institutions, Wave Hill provides an oasis of serenity and offers programs in Horticulture, Environmental Education, Woodland Management and the Visual and Performing Arts. Through the arts and sciences, Wave Hill seeks to foster connections between people and nature.

Home to the New York Yankees since 2009, this state-of-the-art ballpark in the Bronx delivers an unforgettable game day experience with world-class amenities and stunning views. Catch a summer game in one of baseball's most iconic venues, or dive deeper with the Yankee Inside Experience, which includes a meet-and-greet with a current player, guided stadium tour, and buffet lunch. Built across from the original stadium at a cost of $1.5 billion, it stands as one of the most impressive sports facilities ever constructed.

The best way to connect to nature in New York City is by visiting the Bronx Zoo, the world’s largest urban zoo. With world-class exhibits such as the Wild Asian Monorail, the Tiger Mountain, the Congo Gorilla Forest and the newest exhibit, Madagascar, the Bronx Zoo features more than 600 different species, including mammals, birds, reptiles & amphibians and insects. Check the daily schedule of feedings and enrichment demonstrations and then customize your trip with their interactive trip planner. Find your inner animal on the Animal Activity Trail; watch amazing aerial tricks at the World of Birds; experience a very unique form of New York City transit when you ride a camel around Wild Asia Plaza; feed and watch Magellanic penguins come out of their dens and bob for fish; watch one of the most popular attractions, the Sea Lion feeding and training demonstration; visit the Butterfly Garden, a wild meadow and spacious greenhouse where you can identify different butterflies, smell the flowers and learn how to plant a nectar-rich garden. No matter how you plan your trip to the Bronx Zoo.

Red Hook Boaters is a community of boating enthusiasts located in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The organization provides affordable access to the waterfront for local residents and visitors, offering a variety of boating programs, classes, and events. Members have access to the organization's fleet of sailboats, kayaks, and rowboats, as well as the use of the boathouse facilities, which include a classroom and meeting space. The organization's mission is to promote boating as a means of connecting with the waterfront and fostering a sense of community among its members. They also focus on educating and training members on safety and boating skills, as well as promoting environmental stewardship on the water.<br/> Red Hook Boaters offers a variety of programs including youth sailing, adult sailing classes, and community sailing events. They also participate in local regattas and races, and host events such as on-water BBQs and full-moon paddles.<br/> In addition to boating activities, Red Hook Boaters also advocates for public access to the waterfront and works with local organizations and government agencies to improve boating infrastructure and facilities in the area. Overall, it is a great place for boating enthusiasts to come together and enjoy their passion for boating in the heart of Brooklyn.

Wander through habitats housing creatures you'd never encounter otherwise and let curiosity guide your steps through this sprawling Brooklyn animal sanctuary. The pathways wind close enough to observe behaviors you'd miss from a distance, whether watching a lion's commanding presence or a smaller creature's surprising quirks. Families find themselves naturally drawn into the rhythm of the day here, surrounded by the raw energy of the animal kingdom. Kids gravitate toward the discovery center to practice hands-on animal care under supervision, applying real techniques on live residents. The young naturalist area invites visitors to role-play a camping experience—complete with mock campfire cooking and wildlife identification using field guides. Come spring and summer when the sea lions are particularly receptive, feeding time becomes an interactive highlight that animals and visitors alike seem to anticipate. Weekend visits unlock conversations with zookeepers who share insider stories about animal personalities and daily routines. Winter visits carry their own quiet appeal, with crisp air and fewer crowds creating an intimate atmosphere for observation. There's genuine variety woven throughout—different experiences at every turn, different lessons waiting around each corner, different reasons to return.

Just a short ferry ride from Red Hook, this 172-acre island transforms into a vibrant summer destination with rolling hills offering stunning harbor views, historic military landmarks like Castle Williams and Fort Jay, and creative outdoor art installations. Hammock Grove invites you to kick back in one of 50+ suspended hangouts, while playgrounds, sports courts, and lush green spaces provide endless ways to spend the day. The island hosts year-round events including concerts, festivals, and outdoor movie nights, all accessible via free ferry service from Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The purpose of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, a 501c3 non-profit, is to promote human-powered boating and safe public access to the Brooklyn waterfront, to provide opportunities for people to learn about and participate in human-powered boating, and to promote environmentally sound policies that provide for and sustain human-powered boating in New York harbor.

Prospect Park is a public park located in Brooklyn, New York. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Central Park in Manhattan. Prospect Park covers 526 acres and offers a wide range of recreational opportunities for visitors. The park features several notable attractions, including the Long Meadow, a 90-acre meadow that is popular for picnics and sunbathing; the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a 52-acre garden that features a variety of plants, flowers, and trees; and the Prospect Park Zoo, which is home to over 300 species of animals. The park also has several lakes and ponds, including the Lullwater, which is popular for boating and fishing. Prospect Park also offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors, including bike and boat rentals, horse-drawn carriage rides, and ice skating in the winter. The park is also home to several playgrounds, sports fields, and courts for basketball, soccer, and handball. The park is also home to several cultural institutions such as the Lefferts Historic House, the Prospect Park Carousel and the Brooklyn Museum, which is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the country. The park also hosts various events throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and outdoor movie screenings.<br/> Prospect Park is easily accessible by public transportation, with several subway and bus lines stopping at the Prospect Park station, which is located at the park's main entrance. The park also has several parking lots for those who choose to drive.<br/> Prospect Park is a great place to spend a day with family and friends, with something for everyone to enjoy, and is considered as one of Brooklyn's most popular and important public spaces.