I’m sorry to interrupt the usual college discussions, but this is the only forum I’m on that has many people from the NE, so hoping someone can help…
Our family (H, S21, S19, and myself) will be in NYC from Dec 27-Jan 3. We’ve been before, but not over New Year’s. Looking forward to shows (including Hamilton!) We have no interest in standing for hours with a crowd of a million to watch the ball drop, so I booked a hotel that wasn’t near Times Square. Being naive, I didn’t know that a hotel around 8th and 48th would still be in the thick of it…the side streets on either side will be closed off as they fill the Broadway queues.
Again, no interest in the mob. We were thinking the Brooklyn Bridge or Central Park to watch fireworks, but are those also so crowded you need to arrive hours early? And will it difficult to even get away from the area of our hotel unless we leave early in the day? (Picturing salmon swimming upstream…) Any other New Year’s Eve options, other than sitting in our room to watch the ball drop a few blocks away? The sons think we could go roam the edges of the crowd to get a bit of the experience, they don’t care if they can see the ball. Is that even a good idea?
I just happened to be in NYC the night of the Rockefeller Center tree lighting, which is a much smaller event. Traffic to and from the airport was horrendous and even finding restaurants that would take me was difficult. I’d just plan on everything taking longer. Best of luck.
Have to admit, as a former New Yorker, it’s not a favorite night.
You may find that being in a restaurant (make reservations now!) or a concert is an effective way of avoiding the worst of the crowds.
I think I would go to the concert for peace at St john the Divine. Amazing venue, always good performances, and more locals than tourists. Buy tickets, though!
There is also a run (maybe bike too?) in central park at midnight. Fun celebration before and after. Certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but you could walk from your hotel.
Check with your hotel as to access. You would likely need some kind of hotel ID to get through the barricades or may need to either be back by a certain time or out by a certain time.
My D loved the fireworks from the Brooklyn Bridge, and she hates(!) crowds. Just plan on moving slowly (unusual in NYC) and you should do ok. Good idea to check with the hotel about access later in the evening/night.
I was in NYC last year for NYE and stayed near Herald Square. We heard that hotels in the Times Square area were telling guests that if they left on NYE that they would not be able to get back—not sure until when.
We enjoyed a NYE party at Eataly in the Flatiron District which was walking distance to our hotel.