Valentine's
Day in New York
It's here again. Valentine's Day in New York, the day to officially recognize, spoil, and pamper the special people we love most dearly in our lives. Lest we forget, Valentine's Day isn't just for lovers anymore, especially for those of you who now have children, after all your children are the very embodiment of your love for each other. If Valentine's Day is for recognizing those special loves in your life, then New York is a special place to celebrate that love. New York offers literally thousands of options; from the performing arts and restaurants to museums and other family friendly activities.
Whether you're seeking a romantic night out on the town or just a special way to show those you love how much they mean to you, New York is the perfect destination. Boasting some of the most romantic restaurants in the country, NYC also has dozens of other less expensive ways of telling those special little people in your life how much you love them, often at affordable prices. One of the most wonderful aspects of celebrating Valentine's Day in New York is its accessibility via public transportation. Many of the attractions are a short walk from train, subway or bus station.
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Although Valentine's Day in New York is almost certain to be chilly, thanks to world famous artists
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
it will
also be colorful! Don't miss out on taking the whole family to Central Park
starting on February 12th, for the debut of what will surely be one of the most
beautiful art displays ever seen in Central Park;
The Gates. The 16-day
display is free, and will encompass 23 miles of
Central Park walkways; these
gates spaced at 12-foot intervals will hang seven feet above the pathways in
brilliant saffron. In all, the display will be made up of 7,500 gates which
will disperse warm showers of light; seen from any of New York's surrounding
high rises they will appear as a golden flowing river winding it's way
throughout the park. What could be more romantic and fun than ice-skating? Whether you're celebrating with your Valentine, or with the kids, ice-skating is a fun and healthy way to spend the day and Central Park offers quite a backdrop. New York has several rinks from which to skate, most notably and probably most well known, is the Rink at Rockefeller Center located in the heart of Manhattan. |
If planning a
visit here it's advisable to skate at off-peak hours, with Valentine's Day in
New York falling on a Monday this year it might even be a good idea to
celebrate a day early on Sunday. There are many other fun options for enjoying
your Valentine's Day with your family including the famous
Bronx Zoo,
located on over 265 acres; this is America's largest zoo. Highlights include
the Children's Zoo, specifically geared to preschoolers.
Recognizing that Valentine's Day in New York is often quite
chilly in February, it's possible your Valentines won't want anything to do with
outdoor activities. Luckily New York has so much to offer that this shouldn't
be a problem. New York boasts some of the east coasts' most interesting
galleries,
museums, and other fun places to visit-- all of them indoors. One
particular place of interest for Valentines of all ages would be the
New York
Aquarium located on famous
Coney Island, again accessible by public
transportation. This aquarium is fun for the whole family, featuring activities
for children, teen-agers and adults. Other indoor activities of note would
include the
New York Hall of Science; a wonderful mixture of both fun and
learning that caters to children of all ages, featuring more than 400 "hands on"
experiments. Consistently ranked as one of the best museums in New York, this
museum offers yet another warm alternative to skating and the zoo. If staying
warm is a priority, then where better to go than the theatre district to see one
of dozens of
Broadway attractions.
To recommend the perfect restaurant in a city with thousands is no small task,
still several come to mind based on their family friendly atmospheres. The
Hard Rock Café is sure to entertain both you and the kids with delicious
burgers and light fare surrounded by rock n roll nostalgia and friendly wait
staff. One of New York’s most family friendly meals can always be found at
Carmines with two locations, the upper west side and theatre district.
Considering the Chinese New Year
that gets under way on February 9thh
it would be a fun idea to take the family to Chinatown to sample some of New
York’s best Chinese food. New York is home to the largest Chinese community in
the U.S., and Joe’s Shanghai is the perfect place to experience its
delicious offerings, while enjoying the excitement of the
2005 Chinese New
Year, the year of the Rooster. The official parade takes place on
Sunday the 13th in Chinatown.
So often we find ourselves caught up in the
commercial hype of any holiday, certainly Valentine's Day is no exception; still
the most important thing to remember is the love. If there were one holiday we
could use a few more of it would be Valentines Day, one where we extend our love
to those who care for us, love us, teach us, and make up the fabric of our
lives. The point being, these are all just options, and Valentine's Day in
New York has a thousand of them; some cost a little and some cost a lot,
telling someone you love them costs nothing. Enjoy this special day and carve
out your own slice of romantic family fun whether it's with your soul-mate, or a
whole family of little ones. Valentines is a day that you can really teach your
children the importance of the love we so freely take and often times forget to
give in return, the important thing is to enjoy.
Use New York City kids and make New York City fun for the kids...and you!