OT: Has anyone done Macy's T-giving Parade?

[schuh]

I'm sure everyone has a list of "Things I'd Like to do in my Lifetime." Mine has been to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Seeing my kids' excited reaction to our town's 5-minute Memorial Day parade yesterday made me think that this year or next year should probably be our year to do this. I'm just wondering -- has anyone done it? Is it fun? Any tips for advantageous ways of seeing it and also for places to eat Thanksgiving Dinner afterwards? How about places to stay in NYC, near the parade route if possible? Thanks very much in advance...

[SQ]

This past year we were in NYC for the few days prior to Thanksgiving. If you do go, I can recommend watching them blow-up the huge balloons in preparation for the parade the following day. This was lots of fun for the kids - and for us! The streets on either side of the planetarium are closed off and they have the balloons on both streets. I believe this setting up starts Wed. afternoon. Unfortunatly, we left Wed. nt., so I can't answer your other questions about the parade, etc.

[daner94]

As a native New Yorker I am embarassed to say that I never went to the parade, but we always watched it on tv.

I always remember people saying how crowded and cold and damp it is, so.... it never really appealed to me.

But I bet that the kids would just love it!

Dana

[AdGirl]

i also live in new york now. most people i know who take their kids to see the parade rent a hotel room that overlooks the path of the parade so they can still see it but don't have to freeze in the rain!

have fun!

[Angela]

I was to the parade about 6 years ago. It is nice, but I (and my parents who were with me) think it's nicer to watch at home. It is very short live--Santa was there before we knew it! It only lasted little more than 1 hour. We got to the parade route about an hour and a half before it started and we had front row.

As for Thanksgiving dinner I was upset because I couldn't get turkey dinner, but we had an excellent meal anyway. We were wondering around SoHo after the parade and came across a lovely restaurant (I don't remember the name unfortunalty)that was open and had an excellent meal.

As for a place to stay, Skyline Hotel is a nice place with free parking below the hotel for guest. (Free parking is hard to find in NYC). The hotel is on 10th Ave. about 5 blocks west of Broadway in a nice area of town. They have a web page www.skylinehotel.com (http://www.skylinehotel.com) If you are planning on going this year, I'd make reservations now.

It's worth the experience and people always think it's neat when I tell them I was at the parade.

[BosunsWife]

When we lived in NYC we never went and saw it either - too COLD! We did venture out and watch them blow up all the balloons. IMO that was much more fun.

[kathleen415]

I just thought of the Thanksgiving Day Parade yesterday, anticipating taking our 4 year old in to the City to see it. I grew up in Staten Island, one of the boroughs of NYC, and the only time I went to the parade was when I was 5 - even though my Grandmother worked at Macy's for 35 years!
The balloons are blown up on Central Park West in the 70s and 80s and then the whole parade winds downtown to Macy's at 34th St. There is stadium-type seating erected for the parade near Macy's where the bands and acts perform but I'm not sure how to get tickets for those seats. You could probably call Macy's and they'll refer you.
For restaurant suggestions check out arthurschwartz.com. Closer to Thanksgiving I'm sure he'll have recommendations, and you might be able to email him to find out when to make reservations. Most of the hotels and more and more of the better restaurants are doing Thanksgiving Dinner. Also, if you want to stay thru the tree-lighting at Rockefeller Center, it used to be on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

[Kristine]

I went to the Macy's Thanksgiving parade maybe 6 or 7 years ago. It was pretty fun, but somewhat cold (though if you wear enough clothes it is fine). We stayed at the Le Parker Meridien....it was really nice--we had a room on like the 36th floor with a fabulous view. I just love NYC so much, so I would definitely recommend going. There is soooo much to do there after/before the parade.

Also, being from Southern CA and having attented the Rose Bowl parade the same year, it was nice to be able to get to the Macy's parade route only about 1-1.5 hours early and get a front row seat--must be the cold weather. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif (for the Rose Bowl, people camp out at their spots days in advance)

[ellielk]

I grew up just outside NYC and remember going to the parade when I was about 5 (this was a long, long, long time ago). It was cold. My sister who now lives in the Boston area has, in more recent years, gotten hotel reservations along the route so they can watch the parade from the window. That sounds like a better idea than standing out in the crowds and cold and sometimes rainy weather.

[schuh]

Thanks to all who responded. Can anyone tell me which hotels are on the parade route so that I can look into reservations? Thanks again.

[mcraig13]

We went to the Macy's parade many years ago, before kids. We thought it was cold and crowded and the balloons are much prettier on tv (They look dirty in person.) We went back to NYC the next year at Thanksgiving but skipped the parade.

[LGBurns]

I just wanted to ditto the vote for going to see the balloons blown up. I used to live only a few blocks from there and it's really fun (I'm sure the kids would love it). The balloons are blown up on 81st Street and 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue (these are the four streets that border the Natural History Museum).

Oops, almost forgot. I know this is a long shot but if you or anyone in your family went to Yale, the Yale Club has a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner, with traditional dishes from all different regions of the U.S.

[This message has been edited by LGBurns (edited 05-30-2001).]

[ReneeV]

My husband and I went about 5 years ago when we moved to Jersey. We ended up standing in the "no play" zone. It wasn't very fun. None of the bands were allowed to play. It was the area right before Herold Square. They have to be quiet because right ahead is where the TV cameras are and they don't want the cacophany of all the sounds from the bands and floats behind mixing in. The balloons were fun, though.

I haven't been back since. Even though we still live here, we watch it on TV.

Renée