I spent the majority of my life in NYC, Brooklyn to be exact and would make it my business to go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every year. As I got older we started watching it more and more on television. Now that I’m no longer living in NYC, I do miss our yearly tradition of going to see it in person. The majority of America watches The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from their television as the smell of amazing food wafts through the air. It’s a great family tradition that many of us share. None of us really think we will ever get the chance to attend this extravagant parade in person but it’s really not as hard as it seems! If you follow these 8 simple tips, you will find it’s a doable event to add to your bucket list.
1. Plan early! Planning at least two months in advance will not only save you money but it will give you a chance to choose from a wider variety of hotels. No one likes getting stuck with a lame hotel on their trips!
2. Try to get a hotel within a mile of where the parade will be marching through. I say this because everything will be blocked off…everything. Walking to where you’re watching the parade is your safest and quickest bet. It’s not as bad as it sounds.
3. Check the parade route at the same time you are booking your hotel. A lot of places such as Trip Advisor and Priceline, will have great deals and list how far the hotel is from the area you’re looking in.
4. It will most likely be cold. New York starts getting cold in October and only gets worse from there. Bring all of your winter gear and dress in layers. Scarves are very handy for the chilly wind.
5. Carry a small backpack that’s easily toted around but doesn’t weight a lot. Having a spare set of gloves or other winter items as well as a safe spot to stick your wallet is handy. Take only what you need. You will be happy that you didn’t bring too much.
6. Bring a camera or even a video camera. These are allowed and you will definitely want one or both. There are a lot of great photo opportunities.
7. Get started towards the parade at least two hours early. Getting there this early allows you to still get a spot upfront without having to wait too long in the cold. If you’re lucky, there are some spots that are even still available near the front with only an hour left until the parade.
8. If you have kids, make sure and bring something along the lines of a tablet for them to stay busy with. Bringing a blanket for them to sit on while waiting is also helpful.
Yes, you can do it and it’s really that easy to add the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to your list of accomplishments!
Let’s discuss: Have you ever visited the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in person?
