Thanksgiving in NYC

You’ve seen it before – the crowds, the balloons, the performers. But watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV isn’t quite as magical as seeing it in person. Here’s a quick guide for those of you who will be travelling to New York City to witness the festivities…

The 2010 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place on Thursday, November 25. The parade begins at 9 a.m. at 77^th Street and Central Park West, and ends a couple of hours later at 34^th Street and 7^th Avenue. The best public viewing areas are as follows:

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
7th Avenue: between 58th & 42nd Streets
42nd Street: from 7th to 6th Avenues
6th Avenue: between 42nd & 34th Streets
34th Street: between Broadway & 7th Avenue

Keep in mind that people will show up as early as 6 a.m. to stake out space, so arrive early for the best views. And remember to bundle up! Temperatures in NYC are already in the low 50s/upper 40s, and are sure to drop even further by the 25^th.

And no worries if you haven’t booked a hotel yet – this page lists some great NYC hotels with Turkey Day vacancies, starting from just $99/night.