No matter how you feel about travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s a given that a lot of us are stuck with it. One of the most popular Thanksgiving travel destinations is New York City. This makes sense; it’s finally not disgustingly hot and not yet miserably cold (hello, New Year’s Eve, I’m talking to you) — and, of course, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is a remarkable event. As with many other iconic aspects of our country, seeing the parade in person is remarkable, and memorable, and just different than half watching it on the TV while tryptophan threatens you with complete organ shut-down. I love the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you’re lucky enough to be in or near NYC for Thanksgiving, here are some tips for making the most out of it.
Tips for Best Viewing Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City
- First of all, the parade starts at 77th St., and heads south along Central Park West. When the parade reaches Columbus Circle, it follows the circle to Broadway, then continues south. The parade ends at 34th St and 7th Ave, just after passing Macy’s at Herald Square.
- Get there early. I mean it, people really start lining up at the crack of dawn. Bring a coat or blanket to stay warm, or wait in shifts. (I’ve tried the “waiting in shifts” approach, and while it works, you might temporarily annoy some other people when your family and friends crowd in.) The actual Thanksgiving Day Parade starts at 9:00 AM.
- If this Thanksgiving vacation includes young children, and you don’t get a front view viewing spot, you’ll probably have to carry them on your shoulders to see the parade. Either that, or they’ll have to be content with mostly just seeing the big balloons. Another tip: People are usually in pretty festive moods once the parade starts, and won’t necessarily mind if your little kid scoots in front of them. Then, the trick for you is to keep an eye on them during the parade. I never did this; we preferred the “shoulder ride” approach.
- My favorite viewing area is along Central Park West, between 66th and 77th Streets. Yes, it’s completely crowded, but it’ll be crowded everywhere along the route. At least here – at the beginning of the route – the members of the parade (balloon handlers, marchers, etc) are at the height of their excitement and energy level. Since Central Park is right there, once the parade has passed, you and your family can enjoy an Autumn stroll. Another tip: If you’re traveling with young children, there is a fun playground right across the park entrance from Tavern on the Green.
- If you move, you lose your spot! New Yorkers aren’t THAT forgiving. So, try not to drink too much coffee or tea – while they warm you up, they also work their way through your system quickly. Last I saw, there are no public toilets along the Thanksgiving Parade route, and restaurant managers get irritated with the constant flow (excuse the pun) or parade-viewers needing to use the facilities.
- One final tip for the best viewing of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is to, at least in my opinion, avoid the terminus of the parade at all costs. As I mentioned earlier, the Thanksgiving Day Parade ends at 34th and 7th. It’s beyond crowded here: This part of NYC has a Penn Station train hub and a PATH (New Jersey transit) hub, as well as one of the city’s most busy subway stops. The latecomers to the parade in from Jersey are here, people trying to get around the city are here, the tired balloon handlers are happy to be done here…it’s just too much. Anchovies have more personal space.
With the proper planning and motivation, you can really get a great spot to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live. Sure, it’s hard for some of us – and by some of us I mean me – to get up early enough to ensure a spot along Central Park West. But it’s worth it. The chilly air and excitement of the parade also get you good and hungry, believe me. The good news is, there’s probably a big meal, replete with turkey, stuffing and all that great stuff waiting for you. Happy Thanksgiving! It’s my favorite long weekend vacation of the year. We hope you enjoy your American holiday.
UPDATE: The parade route has been changed (first time in years!) from 2008 to 2009. Here is the new parade route for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:
The parade starts at 77th Street and Central Park West
Heads South down Central Park West until it reaches Columbus Circle at 59th Street
Turns East at Columbus Circle along Central Park South
Turns South at 7th Avenue, continues along 7th Avenue through Times Square until 42nd Street
At 42nd Street the route turns East on 42nd street for 1 block until 6th Ave.
Turns South onto 6th Avenue
Continues south on 6th Avenue to finish in front of Macy’s in Herald Square at 34th Street. (hat tip nytix.com)
