Explore New York at its lovelist and most romantic - during the Christmas holiday season! Stroll down Fifth Avenue, check out the shops at Columbus Circle for unique (and sometimes very inexpensive) gift ideas! See the trees at Rockefeller Center and Lincoln Center, take a spin around the skating rinks in Central Park, attend free concerts of seasonal favorites around town - or get a group of friends together and go caroling! There's a reason so many tourists come to New York this time of year!

For the perfect Christmas walking tour, walk down Fifth Avenue from 59th Street and look at all the holiday displays in the store windows and take in the holiday cheer! There are some beautiful churches along the way, from St. Thomas Church at Fifth Ave. & 53rd Street, to St. Patricks Cathedral at Fifth Ave. & 50th Street. At 49th Street, admire the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue. Just around the corner you'll see The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree! If you're celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish Museum (http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/) offers dozens of events including storytelling celebrating the holiday. There are also several large Menorah lightings around the city that are open to the public, including at Bryant Park (http://www.bryantpark.org/) and in Central Park (http://www.centralparknyc.org/).

Check out the Radio City Christmas Spectacular -- it truly lives up to its name! When I saw it, I felt like I was 6 years old again! http://www.radiocitychristmas.com/newyork/tickets.html While there, go experience Rockefeller Center in its seasonal glory - see the tree (30,000 lights!), and watch the skaters on its famous skating rink! Skating there is first come first skate, but if you plan ahead you can actually reserve skating time: http://www.patinagroup.com/restaurant.php?restaurants_id=74

Here are some other places to go skating!Chelsea Piers is a sports lovers dream and offers everything from ice skating to golfing over the Hudson River.
http://www.chelseapiers.com/
Bryant Park Ice Rink
http://bryantpark.org/things-to-do/pond.html
Central Park Ice Rinks
http://www.centralpark.com/guide/sports/central-park-ice-skating.html

A lovely way to experience winter is a horse-drawn carriage ride in Central Park! You can hire one of these carriages near the Plaza Hotel on 5th Avenue, or at the old Tavern on the Green by Central Park West near 66th Street.

There is a wealth of museums to see in New York City and what better a time to visit then when its cold outside? Here are just a few:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art http://www.metmuseum.org/
The Museum of Modern Art http://www.moma.org/
New York Historical Society http://www.nyhistory.org/
Museum of Natural History http://www.amnh.org/

Go bowling! There are several bowling alleys in New York City - here are several:

Lucky Strike (42nd St/West Side Hwy - bowlluckystrike.com)
Bowlmor Lanes (in Greenwich Village - www.bowlmor.com)
Frames Bowling Lounge (in the Port Authority Bus Terminal, 40th St/9th Avenue - www.framesnyc.com)

After the holidays:
Winter Restaurant week - Twice a year, in January/February and June/July, there is a great opportunity to experience some of the finest restaurants in New York City for a fraction of the usual price. Restaurants throughout New York City participate in "Restaurant Week", offering a three-course lunch for $24.07 (& some even offer dinner for $35). Restaurant Week is a perfect chance to try out a restaurant that might normally be beyond your budget, or simply to try some new restaurants with a nice discount.
http://www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek

Daisy says: "I like Restaurant Week! Though I am not allowed in the restaurants, my Daddies sometimes bring back doggie bags filled with yummy leftovers - I always watch carefully when they eat them, just in case I can catch a falling crumb!"

Murray says: "Winter is my favorite time of year because I can utilize my secret pug maneuver - 'The Snuggle'! Nothing better after a brisk cold walk then a nice snuggle in Daddy's lap!"