It’s finally arrived – almost. Our Thanksgiving holiday is upon us and (if we had to guess), you’re probably planning on heading home this weekend to do absolutely nothing. Good for you. The break is certainly well-deserved and there’s no better time to kick up your feet and bask in the holiday’s (temporarily) commitment-free time.
But for those of you stuck in Boston with no set plans, it may be fun to leave town for a weekend. When else do you have a solid couple days off of work plus an entire weekend? I recommend taking full advantage of this time off and heading down to New York City for a last minute getaway – and (of course) to witness the one and only Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Stay Here
Wyndham Garden Hotel in Chelsea
37 West 24th Street, New York, NY
Yes, it’s true that New York City will be flooded with tourists during the holidays – but it’s certainly not impossible to find a good deal on a safe and reasonable hotel. If you’re looking for a mid-range hotel (and not looking to blow your money on a suite at the W), then I recommend staying at the Wyndham Garden Hotel located in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. The west side neighborhood is close enough to the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade to make it an easy commute – but still far enough away that it shouldn’t disturb your stay.
The rooms are also very affordable – hovering around the $180 mark. Not bad for a safe neighborhood, great location and comfortable accommodations.
Go Here
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning and will travel down Central Park West starting at 77th Street to Columbus Circle and then proceed down 6th Avenue to 34th street to Macy’s Herald Square. Here’s a simple map of the parade route, which you should be able to get to easily from your hotel in Chelsea (just south of the parade).
You’ll be able to see the decked-out floats, marching bands and celebrities from all of these 4 locales listed below. According to about.com, the parade’s public viewing spots include:
Central Park West: “West side of street from 70th Street to Columbus Circle & east side of street from 70th to 65th”
Columbus Circle: “West side of street”
6th Avenue: “between 58th & 34th Streets”
34th Street: “south side of street between Broadway & 7th Avenue”
Eat Here
Multiple locations, New York, NY
Let’s face it, there are thousands of awesome restaurants and places to eat in New York City. I couldn’t even begin to list all of my favorites. But if you’re just in NYC for one day and looking for a good brunch spot, I recommend one of my faves – Sarabeth’s. There are a few around Manhattan but my favorite is the Tribeca location.
The brunch spot serves up the best breakfast food around. Everything from lemon and ricotta pancakes to scrambled egg stuff popovers (oh my gaw). Just reading their brunch menu (and thinking about their pancakes) is enough to make any patron start to drool. I guarantee this restaurant will not leave you disappointed.
The Bowery Hotel, 355 Bowery, New York, NY
For a low-key yet elegant and upscale dinner, head downtown to Gemma. This gem of a restaurant is located next to the Bowery Hotel in the East Village and serves up delicious Italian food in a cozy atmosphere. The rustic feel and upscale food will make you think – this is so New York – without the overly-pretentious vibe that can come with other New York neighborhoods.
Images via company websites, hannahinthehouse.com, and newyork.seriouseats.com
