While Rockefeller Center garners the most number of locals and tourists who come and make the annual journey to get a good photo with the world-famous Christmas tree, there are plenty of other sites that are just as beautiful and seasonally wonderful. Below are six other locations around Manhattan that also put on a winter display celebrating the Christmas spirit with their own trees.
1) Bryant Park Winter Village
Like Rockefeller Center, another Midtown location that has both a Christmas tree and an ice skating rink can be found at the Bryant Park Winter Village behind the main branch of the New York Public Library. Surrounding the tree and the considerably much larger skating rik are pop-up shops and eateries installed amonsgt the park's walkways and fountain.
2) New York Stock Exchange
Right outside the famous New York Stock Exchange along Broad Street is a large Christmas tree that towers over the pedestrianized streets and sidewalks. What makes the tree at this Lower Manhattan location unique is the ability for anyone to walk directly underneath and get a unique perspective of the branches and colorful lights, something not offered with any other site in the city.
3) South Street Seaport
To the east of the New York Stock Exchange along the East River is the South Street Seaport District with its own tree, called the Seaport Holiday Tree. It is located by the intersection of Fulton and Water Streets and is surrounded by local shops and places to eat amongst the charmingly preserved structures from the early years of New York. The South Street Seaport itself has been seeing a progressive rejuvenation over the past decade with places like Pier 17 and the recently opened Tin Building bringing more people along the revitalized waterfront.
4) Lotte New York Palace
Within the outdoor courtyard of the Lotte New York Palace is a Christmas tree facing Madison Avenue and standing opposite to the backside of St. Patrick's Cathedral. If and when you finish taking photos of the Rockefeller Center tree just one avenue to the west, you can quickly take a short walk here and make good use of the ornate metal gates to pose against, and be sure to check out the main lobby for more exquisitely displayed Christmas decorations.
5) 1221 Avenue of the Americas
This is the newest Christmas tree that now joins the annual trend of festive holiday displays across Manhattan. Located in a sunken public plaza along Sixth Avenue between West 48th and West 49th Streets, it is graced with a series of lighted strings that gently drape and radiate outward from the top, while an archway is built right at the base that allows visitors to walk through and take selfies and group shots with a stunning new backdrop. The rest of the plaza's garden beds are lined with large-scale Christmas presents, ornaments, and lights wrapped around the numerous trees.
6) Washington Square Park
Located directly underneath the Washington Square Arch in Greenwich VIllage is a decorated tree that aligns itself with Fifth Avenue to the north and the rest of Washington Square Park to the south. It is nicely framed by the tall white marble archway that makes it a pleasant backdrop when illuminated at nighttime.
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