Rockefeller Center at Christmas

Where: New York, NY

When: December 21, 2003 and many times since

With: Mom, Ashley

As I've said in many of my posts, I didn't spend as much time in New York City as a kid as you would expect for having grown up just 40 minutes away. I guess it wasn't the ideal place to bring small children in the 80s? So it was a serious treat when my mom's new company decided to host their Christmas party in Manhattan. She decided we should make a family event out of it by staying over for the night (even though us "kids" couldn't go to the party). We got a room at a really nice hotel, Pam and Aunt Lee Lee came too, and we headed in early to explore the city for the day. 

This was the first time I got to see New York in its Christmas splendor - not that I was super familiar with the city otherwise. But who couldn't appreciate random decorations like this?

But of course, when "Christmas" and "New York" are mentioned, the attraction that comes to mind is Rockefeller Center. This has been a main tourist site in New York since John D. Rockefeller Jr. commissioned the construction of a collection of buildings around a large plaza in the 1930s. Today it is home to NBC studios, where several famous shows are filmed, as well as Radio City Music Hall, home of the Rockettes. 

But the most famous time of the year to visit Rockefeller Center is at Christmas time when a 100ft Norway Spruce is set up and decorated in the center of the plaza. While a tree has been put up since the plaza's constructions workers first erected one in 1931, the lighting ceremony has only been a televised production since 1997, when musical acts and dance numbers create a spectacle aired live and leading up to the tree's switch being flipped. 

This was the first year we had ever seen the Rockefeller Christmas tree in person. We were so excited.

No really, we were. 

I visited many times afterwards when I eventually moved to New York. And just like a New Yoerk, I became slightly disgruntled by the cramped crowds of tourists jostling for the money shot of the tree. But no matter what, it is always pretty beautiful, especially when looking at it from 5th Avenue. 

This angle is looking back from the plaza. While I've never skated in the famous rink that sits under the tree, the line of people waiting to get out onto the crowded ice makes me not sad about this. I'm perfectly content to just enjoy the lights from below. 

Yes, it's crowded and hectic. But it's also totally worth a stop. And hands down, the best time of the year to enjoy this iconic plaza.