New York City: Big City, Even Bigger Christmas Celebration
The Big Apple tends to swell in size over the holidays, as millions of tourists rush to take in the sights and sounds of a city they might only have seen before on a television screen. From Rockefeller Center's gorgeous (and enormous) tree surrounded by heralded angels to Bryant Park's Winter Wonderland and, of course, the unbelievable performances of the Radio City Rockettes and the Nutcracker ballet troupe, New York City reserves the holiday season for its moment of magical transformation. Just be sure to bring your patience — waiting in line to see the holiday window displays at Macy's, Barney's, Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue may evoke your not-so-cheerful side, but it's an unmissable tradition, just like the shopping you can do inside those stores. Even the city's side streets seem to sing with cheer during the holidays, as trees are adorned with white lights and wreaths go up in windows. It's almost like a movie scene, but then again, New York always is.