New York City at Xmas! Get the very best apartment rates right now!

For many Americans, the kickoff of the holiday is identified with the lighting of the gigantic Xmas tree in Rockefeller Center Plaza, New York City's veritable holiday hq. Locals and travelers head to the plaza in crowds, where they are able to skate on the rink developed below the plaza's Prometheus statue, or merely goggle in enjoyment at the tremendous Christmas tree, hung with around 30,000 LED lights.

Get the children and hightail it to every child's utopia, FAO Schwarz, the huge toy retailer where it literally is possible to play the piano with your dancing feet on the giant floor keyboard, a la the Tom Hanks' movie, Big. Next, you'll desire to meander to Macy's Santaland, a real winter wonderland filled with toy trains, pixies, Christmas trees and other holiday scenes bound to conjure up wonder in the entire family group. Then finally, in case you haven't overloaded on the holiday crowds, make sure to order tickets to the Radio City Music Hall's Xmas Spectacular, in which you'll not only see dozens of grooving Santas, but also the high-kicking legs of the renowned Rockettes.