<p>To those who have gone, please tell me about your experience.
As 1/2-3/4 of my four won’t be home on Thanksgiving, the rest of us are thinking of going.</p>
<p>I haven’t been, but I’d like to this year since my elder DS will be marching in it with the Georgia Tech band! I guess I’m stuck watching it on TV.</p>
<p>Crowds are 23 deep on the sidewalk, D reported when she went her freshman year. YOu’ll need to get there early.</p>
<p>I’ve gone many times.
Get there early.
We take the train to Grand Central and walk directly up 42nd Street to Times Square.
I’ve always gotten a great spot with no one in front of me.</p>
<p>How early? we will probably be driving into the city.</p>
<p>Since my son is a freshman on the East Coast and his finals start the first week of December he will not be coming home to the West Coast. He is very excited as he is taking a train down to New York City to meet with two high school friends. One of the friend’s mother lives just off Times Square and he cannot wait to see New York City for the first time and go to the Macy’s Day Parade. We have to wait until December 11 to see him for his Winter Break.</p>
<p>We went four years ago when our daughter’s high school band was marching. We stayed in times square at the Marriott Marquis. We really enjoyed the night before in central park watching them blow up the balloons. I think we were on the street by 6:30 or 7 am. All I know is that we were all pretty tired by the afternoon. It was a fairly warm day and the predicted rain ended before we hit the streets. It was well worth the effort.</p>
<p>JustaMom - if you are coming from PA, park at the Port Authority terminal. It is right there as you get out of Lincoln Tunnel. It’s $20-$25 for all day parking. You could also avoid a lot of traffice when you are leaving. I have been a couple of times because my husband used to work there. I wouldn’t go unless it’s a nice, warm, sunny day. I was there one time when it was around 10 degree with gusting wind, absolutely no fun and froze my butt off.</p>
<p>What fun!</p>
<p>Park on the upper west side - above the Museum. The sidewalks along CPW are the best viewing spots. I only went when the kids were little and commandoed themselves to the front - but my guess would be to get there by 7 for a 9 o’clock start.</p>
<p>[Macy’s</a> Thanksgiving Day Parade – View Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Live This Year](<a href=“http://manhattan.about.com/od/eventsandattractions/a/macysparadenyc.htm]Macy’s”>http://manhattan.about.com/od/eventsandattractions/a/macysparadenyc.htm)</p>
<p>Bring a thermos, wear layers and have a great time!</p>
<p>Hey - thanks!
I was thinking we would need to be there about 5-6 am.<br>
I was thinking of parking at the Port Authority. We could take the bus but the first bus of the day won’t get us there until 8 am. too late, I’m afraid.
About the weather - I don’t want to go in the rain, cold rain or sleet or wind. We will have a Plan B - LOL.</p>
<p>We went once with kids - they got cold, tired and cranky. The crowds weren’t impossible. We didn’t arrive that early, we came from Grand Central and I think were at 44th St.</p>
<p>I took my girls a few years ago. We took the train in to the City, got there about 7am and was right along the police barrier in front of Macy’s on 34th Street. I was planning on walking up 34th Street to 6th Avenue and taking a subway uptown but 34th and 6th was blocked off so we ended up staying right there. It was a good choice because that’s where the parade ends and you get to see all the action! Remember though that the parade starts at 9am UPTOWN so by the time it made it’s way down to Macys and the end it was 11am before we saw the first float.</p>
<p>Good luck. It was alot of fun and every year my daughters want to go back!</p>
<p>Of course, the Thanksgiving we went it was 70 degrees out. I would NOT go if it were raining or cold!!</p>
<p>I love going— go further north if you want to avoid some of the crowds. Up in the west 80s its not as crazy as it is down by times square, etc. I would park in the port authority and then take the subway up to 81st st. You might need to take the 1, since the C might be closed? You might miss some of the people on the floats by being near the start, but it was worth it to avoid some of the crowds.</p>
<p>I’ve been a couple of times. The kids love it! If it’s normal late November weather, wear really warm clothes … I would suggest long undies and parkas for all … with a go-bag of extra scarves, hats, mittens, socks etc. The crowds are exciting … it is a LOT of fun. </p>
<p>If you are going home for Thanksgiving dinner … best bet is probably to roast the turkey the night before and have everything ready for reheat. And I would have warm drinks waiting in the car in the parking lot. </p>
<p>I would not go if it was very rainy or windy.</p>
<p>back in 1989, when I was living on Staten Island, we planned to go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
I was pregnant with my now college freshman daughter,
Wouldn’t you know there was a freak cold spell and snowstorm that day…since our older daughter was only two, we opted out and stayed home.
I have always wanted to see it live, but the opportunity never came again</p>