Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody

24 Things To Do at Rockefeller Center Beyond the Christmas Tree this Season

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 11/26/2025 - 9:59am

No matter which direction you look, Rockefeller Center sparkles during the holiday season.

Rockefeller Center is usually the most crowded place in New York City during the holidays. While the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is the pièce de résistance, there is actually quite a bit for families to do in the area. Rockefeller Center is a great holiday destination with plenty of shopping, dining, and culture for kids of all ages. Include it as part of a holiday windows walk, and grab a bite at one of the family-friendly restaurants within its footprint.

Read on for our picks for the best things to do at Rockefeller Center with kids this season and find more holiday fun in our NYC Kids' Guide to Christmas and the Holidays.

Top Tips for Visiting Macy's Santaland in 2025

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/24/2025 - 12:24pm

Santa is a busy man, so reservations are required to visit Santland at Macy's Herald Square in New York City in 2025. Photo by Marisa Iallonardo

There are few places to take pictures with Santa in New York City that compare with Macy's Santaland. It's a magical experience for tourists and natives alike during the Christmas season.

Macy's opens its 13,000-square-foot winter wonderland on Friday, November 28, 2025. Overflowing with holiday cheer from its live elves to an enchanted forest, animatronic toys, and a train display, Macy's Santaland 2025 is open daily through Christmas Eve: Wednesday, December 24, 2025.

As in previous years, visitors must book a FREE reservation to take pictures with Santa at Macy's Santaland, which requires some planning. Read on for everything you need to know about visiting Macy's Santaland 2025, and find more top picks for holiday fun in our NYC Kids' Guide Christmas and the Holidays, including the season's can't-miss Christmas activities for families.

See the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/17/2025 - 4:04pm

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is an event unto itself. See the larger-than-life balloons come to life the night before the parade. Photo by Anthony Quintano/CC BY 2.0

Thanksgiving in New York City wouldn’t be what it is without the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you're eager to take your kids to glimpse those giant balloons and don’t want to rise before dawn, visit the area near the American Museum of Natural History on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, to watch the giants come to life during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation.

While the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is far from crowd-free, it’s an only-in-New York event all its own—and one of our must-do holiday events for families. Read on for tips on when to go and where to eat. In need of more holiday inspiration? Visit our NYC Kids Thanksgiving Fun Guide.

Midtown Manhattan Is Getting a Magical Double-Decker Carousel this Christmas Season

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/13/2025 - 12:35pm

The double-decker Christmas Carousel is now spinning at Greeley Square through the holidays. Photo by author

A double-decker Christmas Carousel is set to start spinning in Midtown Manhattan this Christmas season, and we can't wait to give it a whirl! Located in Greeley Square, between 32nd and 33rd Streets, it's right outside Macy's Herald Square, and guaranteed to add more seasonal magic to one of NYC's most famous addresses.

Located just steps from Macy's Santaland, and surrounded by the enchanting Macy's Holiday Square Market that debuted last season, it's a magical addition to a holiday outing. Find all of our top picks for seasonal fun on our NYC Kids Guide to Christmas and the Holidays.

Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in New York City for Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 11/09/2025 - 8:56am

The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden is a must-see holiday destination in NYC. Photo courtesy of the New York Botanical Gardens

When it comes to holiday activities in NYC, locals know that even though there's a week of Kwanzaa, eight nights of Hanukkah, and 12 days of Christmas, the holiday season in NYC really lasts from early November through New Year's Eve. That's almost two months of only-in-NY holiday activities and special Christmas events.

Of course, not all Christmas events and holiday activities are created equal. That's why we've rounded up the absolute best ways to get into the spirit of the season. Here is our curated list of must-do holiday activities and Christmas events in NYC in 2025. Consider this seasonal bucket list our gift to you. Below, we're detailing a dozen NYC Christmas events and holiday activities sure to give your family a season of happy memories.

Our picks for New York City's top holiday activities are a mix of classic favorites, like the star-studded Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and new classics, like the return of the beloved Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show. You'll find plenty more family-friendly seasonal celebrations in our NYC Kids' Ultimate Guide to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Holiday Fun, which includes picks for everything from Christmas towns near NYC to the best Nutcracker ballets for kids, and more sweet seasonal treats.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025: Where to Watch, What's New

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/03/2025 - 12:56pm

Classics, like Tom Turkey, and newbies alike take flight in the 99th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade celebrates its 99th anniversary this November, taking over the streets of Manhattan on Thursday, November 27, 2025, exhilarating the city with its boisterous marching bands, extravagant floats, and giant balloon characters.

If you're planning to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with kids (and millions of others!), read on for the most up-to-date information on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route, best viewing locations, and other highlights. Looking for where to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 on TV instead? Read on for that, too. You'll find more holiday inspiration in our Thanksgiving Fun Guide for NYC Families.

Enthusiastic paradegoers know the family fun actually begins the day before as the trademark giant balloons receive their annual helium injections—in fact, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation is even included in our list of 100 things to do with your kids in NYC before they grow up. Check out our in-depth Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade inflation post for an overview of the Wednesday night festivities.

Sweet Dreams Await at Pillsbury's Let It Dough Hotel Suite in Midtown Manhattan

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 10/27/2025 - 11:25am

Every morning feels like Christmas at Pillsbury's Let It Dough Suite at the Club Wyndham Midtown 45.

Guests planning a NYC holiday vacation—or even a Christmastime staycation—are in for a sweet surprise: Club Wyndham and Pillsbury have joined forces to offer the sweetest escape south of the North Pole!

Think a fireplace glowing with holiday cheer, cookie-scented decor, and icing-dripped window trimmings, plus a fully stocked refrigerator for all your holiday baking needs and the Doughboy himself on speed dial offering holiday cheer and baking tips.

We got a sneak peek and can report that this hotel suite takes the cake for the most festive NYC hotel this holiday season. Read on for all the sprinkle-dusted details on how to score your own stay here.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2025: A Local Parent's Inside Tips

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 10/24/2025 - 12:23pm

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is an iconic NYC holiday destination. Photo courtesy of Rockefeller Center

It’s nearly that time of year again: The Rockefeller Center tree is getting spruced up and ready to welcome visitors as one of the most popular attractions of the holiday season in New York City. With its dazzling lights, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree towers over the ice skating rink, producing a postcard-perfect sight worth seeing at least once. So, don your gloves and catch the holiday spirit because we've done the legwork to provide you with everything you need to know about visiting the Rockefeller Center tree in 2025, from best times to visit to avoid the crowds to the best restaurants near Rockefeller Center.

Find all the seasonal highlights in our NYC Kids' Guide to Christmas, including our picks for must-do holiday activities.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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