Take a car (approx. 25 minutes) to:

 10:30 a.m. Brunch: Refinery Rooftop, 63 W 38^th St.

Walk 4 minutes to:

 11:30 a.m. Bryant Park Winter Village

Walk 10 minutes to:

 12:30 p.m. Grand Central Terminal, 89 E 42^nd St.

 Walk 2 minutes to:

 1:00 p.m. Admission: Summit One Vanderbilt, 45 E 42^nd St.

Note: The entrance to Summit is through Vanderbilt Passage via the main concourse of Grand Central.

Walk 5 minutes to:

 3:00 p.m. Early Dinner Options in the area (see map):

Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina

Springbone Kitchen

Sweetgreen

Byrant Park Grill

 Walk to:

Grand Central Madison Terminal

4:25 p.m.-4:59 p.m. Take the LIRR from Grand Central to Elmont-UBS Arena.

Note: Click the link to see the schedule. I recommend downloading the MTA Train Time App to purchase the tickets on your phone.

Walk 10 minutes to:

5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Great American Christmas Festival: UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike-Elmont, NY

 Take a car (approx. 35 minutes) to your hotel.

Walk 12 minutes to:

 9:15 a.m. Breakfast: Little Ruby’s-SoHo, 219 Mulberry St.

 Take a car  (approx. 30 minutes) to:

 11:00 a.m. Central Park: NYC Horse Carriage Rides, 180 Central Park South

Walk 5 minutes to:

12:15 p.m. 5^th Avenue Sightseeing Walk (see map):

• The Plaza Hotel
• Bergdorf Goodman
• Tiffany & Co
• Cartier Mansion
• Patrick’s Cathedral
• Saks Fifth Ave
• *Rockefeller Center
• Magnolia Bakery

*There are grab and go food options (sushi, pizza, sandwiches, etc.) and restrooms Under 30 Rock, on the concourse level (basement) behind the skating rink.

Walk 2 minutes to:

2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Radio City Music Hall: Christmas Spectacular, 1260 6^th Ave.

Take the subway (approx. 23 minutes) to:

Subway Instructions: Walk 6 minutes to 50^th St Station. Enter via Broadway & 50^th at SE Corner. Follow signs for the DOWNTOWN 1 Train. Tap your credit card on the OMNY screen on the turnstile. It will charge your card $2.90 and let you pass through. Board a DOWNTOWN 1 Train and take it 9 stops to Canal St Station. Exit via Canal St & Varick St at NW Corner. Walk 6 minutes to:

Hotel: SoHo Grand Hotel, 310 Broadway

Walk 10 minutes to:

5:30 p.m. Dinner Reservation: Shuka, 38 MacDougal St.

Note: Reservation made on Resy platform under your name and information. I recommend the Hummus or Labneh w/pita, Delicata Squash, Crispy Cauliflower and Kebabs!

Walk 10 minutes to your hotel.

Optional:

Take a car (approx. 30 minutes) to:

Dessert: Serendipty 3, 225 E 60th St.

Walk 12 minutes to:

 10:00 a.m. Breakfast: Jack’s Wife Freda-SoHo, 226 Lafayette St.

 Take the subway (approx. 10 minutes) to:

Subway Instructions: From the restaurant, walk 2 minutes to Spring St Station on Lafayette St & Spring St at the NE corner. Follow signs for the UPTOWN 6 Train. Tap your credit card on the OMNY screen at the turnstile. It will charge your card $2.90 and let you thorugh. Board an UPTOWN 6 train. Take it 3 stops to 14 ST-Union Sq Station. Exit via Broadway & 16^th St at the NE Corner. Walk 1 minute to:

11:30 a.m.  Union Square Holiday Market, Union Square Park

Walk 10 minutes to:

1:00 p.m. Levain Bakery, 2 W 18^th St.

Take a car (approx. 10 minutes) to:

2:00 p.m. Late Lunch & Shopping: Chelsea Market, 75 9^th Ave.

Note: Los Tacos No. 1 is in Chelsea Market.

Take a car (approx. 14 minutes) to: 

3:30 p.m. Hotel: SoHo Grand Hotel, 310 Broadway

Take a car (approx. 50 minutes) to:

6:00 p.m. New Jersey Performing Arts Center: Lindsay Stirling, 1 Center St. Newark

Take a car to your hotel.

9:00 a.m. Breakfast at your hotel.

OR

Walk to:

Iconic SoHo Pastry Shops:

Laduree, 398 W Broadway

Dominique Ansel Bakery, 189 Spring St.

 Take the subway (approx. 22 minutes) to:

Subway Instructions: From your hotel, walk 4 minutes to Canal St. Station at Lispenard St. & West Broadway on NE Corner. Follow signs for the UPTOWN C or E train. Take an UPTOWN C or E Train 7 stops to 50^th St Station. Exit via 8^th Ave & 51^st at NE corner. Walk west on 51^st St toward 8^th Ave, approx. 5 minutes to:

10:10 a.m. Admission: SPYGAMES, 928 8^th Ave

Walk 10 minutes to:

Times Square

Walk 1 minute to:

12:00 p.m. Admission: RiseNY, 160 W 45^th St

Walk 8 minutes to:

 2:00 p.m. Gershwin Theater: Wicked, 222 W 51^st St.

Walk 12 minutes to:

 5:15 p.m. Dinner Reservation: Mitr Thai, 37 W 46^th St.

Note: Reservation made on Resy platform under your name and information. Website is down but I linked to their google profile.

Take a car (approx. 20 minutes) to:

6:45  p.m. Classic Harbor Line: Cocoa and Carols Cruise, Pier 62-Chelsea Piers

 Note:Arrive 10 minutes early to get your boarding pass at the kiosk.

Take a car to your hotel.

Sightseeing Walk Options. Look at the map and choose your own adventure! You could easily combine option 1 and option 2.

• Little Italy and Chinatown

Walk 8 minutes to Canal Street.

 Walk down (east) Canal Street to:

Chinatown (see map)

Walk to Mulberry St to:

 Little Italy

• Financial District, 9/11 Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO

 Walk 20 minutes to:

9/11 Memorial

Walk 7 minutes to:

City Hall Park/Brooklyn Bridge

Walk 30 minutes to across the bridge to:

DUMBO Sightseeing 

• Dumbo/Manhattan Bridge View
• Pebble Beach
• Jane’s Carousel
• Brooklyn Bridge Park

• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Viewing

HERE is the map of the parade route. I recommend getting as close as you can to Central Park on Central Park West down to Columbus Circle (Point A, B and C on the map).

Take a car to as close to Columbus Circle as they can get you and then walk from there.

Take a car to:

Hotel: SoHo Grand Hotel, 310 Broadway

5:00 p.m. Dinner Reservation at your hotel.

Optional: Take a car to Times Square to see it at night!