Christmas in New York

QUESTION: I will be spending Christmas in New York this year and was wondering what you could recommend for us to do as a family? Is anything open on Christmas Day? Is there a restaurant that does a decent Christmas dinner? I think the Empire State is open but not sure about anything else. - Chris Sykes

ANSWER: New York is a great place to be over the festive season and, with a bit of luck, you could have a white Christmas. The biggest attraction will be the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Centre, as well as the amazing displays in most store windows. Major outlets like Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue go to great lengths to outdo each other, transforming the streets into a winter wonderland. On Christmas Day you could go ice-skating, take a carriage ride in Central Park or visit one of the zoos, which are open on December 25.

You can also attend a show at the Radio City Music Hall (book early for one of the three shows) and you may find that some of the theatres schedule special performances. The Empire State Building is open, as is the Jewish Museum and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. You won't have a problem finding a restaurant serving Christmas dinner or lunch. One of nicest places to dine is the Sea Grill, which overlooks the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center. It serves a Christmas Eve Dinner and a Christmas Day Lunch, with set menus. A budget option in the same complex is the Rock Center Cafe, which offers a three-course meal at a great price. For full listings of restaurants open on December 25 try Zagat's NYC restaurant guide or the New York Timeout.