Ice skating is a beloved New York City Christmas tradition.The holiday season is among the best times to visit New York City, and with direct flights now running from Chattanooga to NYC, you can reach the Big Apple in no time. A quick Google search reveals that a round-trip flight leaving Chattanooga Dec. 2 and returning Dec. 5 takes about two hours, and the next-shortest flight, including a layover in D.C., gets you to NYC in about four hours. The difference in cost was minimal, with most flights in the $200-$250 per ticket range.
What to do:
The classic Christmastime New York experience is ice skating at Rockefeller Center. Never skated before? The rink offers private 30-minute lessons for $50 per person, which includes general admission. The rink is open daily, with the first session beginning at 8:30 a.m. and the last ending at midnight, until April 10, 2017. You can also enjoy this tradition from the sidelines, for the length of time it takes to enjoy a cup of cocoa and take a few photos of the tree and scarf-draped statue below. You’ll still be part of the lovely scene at Rockefeller Center that is New York City at Christmastime.
Keep in mind that the admission price goes up the closer you get to Christmas, and after the holidays, you’re less likely to have to wait in a long line to skate.
Other ways to get on the ice without a wait include getting a VIP pass or the rink’s new Starlight Skates, for which people can make reservations for the last skate sessions on select dates. Since the Rockefeller Center is practically the center of Christmas in the city, the rink’s price schedule is a good indicator of which days you’ll find the peak crowds – and the peak prices – at many other places in the city you may want to visit.