Let friends in your social network know what you are reading aboutTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterestPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Last SlideNext SlideNew York City is unquestionably one of the world's top spots for enjoying the holiday season. From famous landmarks swarmed with crowds to intimate, little-known hideaways, festivities and illuminated decorations of all stripes can be found throughout the city.ARE YOUR HOLIDAY LIGHTS WORTH $5,000?:Enter USA TODAY's Holiday Lights contest here.Here are 10 of NYC's most festive options for lighting up your holiday season.Rockefeller Center, ManhattanThe foot traffic around NYC's most iconic holiday attraction grinds to a halt as soon as 30 Rock's famous Christmas tree is unveiled. The holiday tree first appeared at Rockefeller Center during its construction in 1931, when the city was mired in the Great Depression. If you're visiting NYC for the holidays, snapping a postcard-worthy picture of the massive spruce, dressed in tens of thousands of environmentally friendly LED lights, is a must-do for tourists., The BronxFamilies looking to enjoy the holiday spirit minus the Manhattan crowds can escape to the Bronx, where the New York Botanical Garden puts on its impressive Holiday Train Show.

Visitors are surrounded by illuminated trees as they take in the gardens' seasonal offerings, the highlight of which can be found in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. There, handsome model trains zoom past 150 replicas of famous NYC landmarks along a quarter-mile track. For an inviting cold-weather holiday experience, bundle up and explore the gardens' 250 acres of attractive landscapes, stopping to watch ice sculpture demonstrations and illuminated "Light Up the Night" performances., BrooklynTo catch the best NYC neighborhood for home decorations, follow the crowds and tour buses out to southwestern Brooklyn, where the residents of this largely Italian-American enclave pull out all the stops. living room decor no couchKnown to some as "Dyker Lights," the largest concentration of eye-popping displays can be found from 83rd to 86th Streets, between 11th and 13th Avenues. vintage christmas tree decorations uk

Roughly 250 homes participate; yards are filled with every decoration and nativity scene imaginable, and miles of lights are draped over every surface in sight.Fifth Avenue, ManhattanA stroll down world-famous Fifth Avenue is a rite of passage for anyone visiting NYC during the holiday season. Iconic stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, Tiffany and Co., and Lord and Taylor try to outdo one another with eye-popping window displays, many of which feature multimedia collaborations with well-known artists. easiest way to paint exterior windowsTo truly appreciate the spectacle while avoiding some of the daytime crowds, visit in the evening when the illuminated displays truly come to life., Bryant ParkPerhaps the city's best spot for a comprehensive one-stop holiday experience, the Bank of America Winter Village takes over Bryant Park every holiday season. baby bed buy online india

Visitors in search of unique, local holiday gifts stroll through the 100-plus shops and vendors housed in brightly-lit, custom-designed kiosks. Families take a spin on the admission-free skating rink (skate rentals are available for a fee), then refuel at one of the numerous eateries and snack bars in the shadow of a giant Norway spruce., Grand Army Plaza, BrooklynFor eight nights every holiday season, Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza welcomes thousands of visitors who gather around a 32-foot (the maximum allowed by Jewish law)room decor diy with paper, 4,000-pound menorah widely considered to be the world's largest. pre decorated christmas treesIt takes a cherry-picker to reach the top of this massive symbol of the annual Jewish Festival of Lights. The holiday begins this year on December 16, when community leaders and special guests will gather for a public celebration featuring live music, special gifts for children and hot latkes for all., The Shops at Columbus CircleOne of NYC's bastions of high-end shopping, Time Warner Center's Shops at Columbus Circle houses one of the largest specialty-crafted displays of illuminated color-mixing in the world.

Shoppers look on in amazement as a dozen 14-foot stars, hung from the ceiling of the 150-foot Great Room, are choreographed to flash and flicker in time with festive tunes. After perusing the world-class shops, visitors can cross the street to purchase gifts from local designers and artisans at the .Macy's, ManhattanThe world's biggest department store packs in the crowds throughout the year, never more so than during the holidays, when it transforms into a winter wonderland. Wrapped in lights and filled with magical window displays, the building itself is a huge draw. Inside, shoppers from around the globe fill baskets with gifts, then stop in one of the numerous eateries for a snack. Macy's Santaland provides little ones with an immersive, interactive fantasy-land filled with fake snow, giant toy soldiers, and more. Engaging elves keep the lines moving as kids wait patiently for the opportunity to meet the star of the show, Santa Claus., Staten IslandFor an intimate holiday experience providing a fun, educational look back in time, head to Staten Island's Historic Richmond Town.