Seven Holiday Trips Worth Taking

During the holiday season there are many things you can do with your family to mark the time without shopping. Here are some great holiday highlights worth a jaunt to New York!

1. Holiday Train Show at the Bronx Botanical Gardens

A train show with a twist: all of the cars travel through a landscape that includes buildings constructed entirely of plant parts including nuts, bark, and leaves. A model-G scale train winding its way through a Hudson Valley landscape is new this year. Make a day of it by visiting the Everett Children's Adventure Garden. Kids can visit a series of interactive "train stops" that includes an artist's station, an engineer's station, and a builder's station, as well as an educational display of train show houses. Finish off with a holiday craft project.

For an adult night out try Bar Car Nights; view the Holiday Train Show while sipping a complimentary cocktail. Tickets are required and the dates are limited so plan to go soon.

"Get into the holiday spirit under the magical glow of thousands of twinkling lights—a perfect holiday date night! A professional photographer will be on hand to capture this special holiday memory, and the images will be available for download or purchase after your visit. And new this year, head outside to the Conservatory Courtyard to watch expert ice carvers from Okamoto Studios take giant blocks of ice and transform them into holiday works of art—trains, Garden landmarks, and more. Add dinner to your perfect holiday outing at the limited-run Holiday Dining Pavilion: "The Streets of New York", and enjoy Stephen STARR Events' inventive New York-themed menu options." Or take your Bar Car Nights ticket to one of our restaurant partners offering exclusive discounts to Bar Car Night attendees (browse partners below!)

Check the website for hours, ticket prices and specific project details.

2. Macy's Santa

Herald Square store only; Santaland is on the 8th floor. At busy times of the day a line will wind around through the store display until you are closer to Santaland, a display that will entertain you until you are close. Santa and his helpers are in individual "cottages." An elf with a sassy name (they all wear name tags) will guide you to the next one who is ready. The elves like to make conversation and can be very entertaining. Santa will talk with your child and take some pictures, which you can see immediately on a monitor. Don't be afraid to ask to take pictures with your own camera, they do allow it. The pictures are also available in various packages at the photo store at the end of the line. Santaland is open everyday, including Christmas eve until 5 pm. Check website for details.

3. NYC Store Windows. Many of the larger stores have displays. Here are our favorites:

Macy's: Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus on Herald Square. The classic window; it never gets old. Based on Virginia O'Hanolan's letter to the editor originally published in 1897, the windows follow the story of Virginia and her friends to a discovery that Santa is real.

"Dream...and Believe" on the Sixth Ave side is an interactive display to make you a part of the experience. The story follows a little boy who wakes up to find that his dreams have come true. Animatronics and clever design make the experience magical.

Lord and Taylor: It is the 100th anniversary of the department store next year. The windows celebrate the glamour of old style New York. Visit nearby Rockefeller Center while you are there.

Saks Fifth Ave: Six scenes from The Yeti Story. Before your trip click here to discover your Yeti name. Using the magic of smartphone technology you can then "ping" your Yeti name from your phone onto a snowflake that appears in the window. Watch for the "snowflake spectacular that showers the outside of the building with LED snowflakes every half hour

4. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

The classic tree, in the heart of midtown shopping and sightseeing. Skating is available at the rink in front of the tree. Don't miss the LEGO store nearby; test out your design, buy sets and loose bricks, learn about events. Check website for event details.

5. Metropolitan Museum of Art Christmas Tree

At the center of the gallery is a giant spruce decorated with silk-robed baroque angels and candles. The highlight of the exhibit though is the Neapolitan Nativity scene which includes more than 200 18th century figures, in distinctive hand sewn costumes, collected by the late Loretta Hines Howard, who began collecting the figures in 1925. The distinctive display brings the Christmas story to life. Recorded Christmas music and special lighting shows add to the atmosphere. Finish off with lunch in the museum café. Check website for details.

6. Grand Central Station Train Show

The 12th annual Lionel Train Show at Grand Central Station takes you on a trip to the North Pole. The extensive 34' O-Gauge layout features a limited-edition model of Grand Central Terminal (only 250 created) and 8 separate loop tracks traveling through New York City, into the country and up to the North Pole. Maira Kalman's mural Next Stop Grand Central surrounds the exhibit with a mural depicting a typical day at the station. While you are there ask at the Transit Museum store for a Grand Central Station scavenger hunt for the kids or watch for the holiday light show to light up the walls and ceiling of the main terminal. The exhibit is located in the shuttle passage off the main concourse. It is open M-F, 8 am - 8 pm; Sat. 10 am – 8 pm; Sun 10 am – 7 pm. For more information, click here.