A direct flight from GSP puts you in the center of Big Apple excitement
I boarded a flight at GSP at 8:00p.m., and by 10:00p.m., I was stepping off the plane in Newark, New Jersey. By 10:30, a shuttle had dropped me at my hotel near Times Square in New York City—early enough for a night on the town (or a good night’s sleep).
With American, Delta, and United flying direct to Newark or LaGuardia from GSP, it’s a great time for a long weekend in the Big Apple. And with the holidays approaching, the city—always bursting with cultural events and spectacular sights—puts on a glittering, festive air. Whether you are seeking iconic traditions or off-the-beaten path stops, you’ll find it in the City That Never Sleeps. And, if you’re planning ahead for 2027, we have a few New York ideas with a distinctly Greenville twist.
Holiday favorites
100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The city is gearing up for the 100th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, set for Nov. 26 in Manhattan. This traditional event viewed by millions on television is even larger than life in person, with floats, performances, massive balloons, and celebrity sightings. It starts at Central Park West before heading to Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square.
Hint: If you stay at JW Marriott Essex House or New York Hilton Midtown, you can ask for a room with parade views. And don’t miss the balloon inflation event on Nov. 25 outside the Museum of Natural History.
Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes
Fans have been flocking to Radio City Music Hall for this show since 1933. With precise dancing, dazzling costumes, and the mind-blowing kick line, this is a favorite holiday tradition for people who love the sights and sounds of the holidays. Arrive early to explore the hall’s Art Deco details.
Hint: Unleash your inner dancer with a dance workshop featuring the Rockettes, who host classes teaching choreography from the show. High-kick skills are not required.
Holidays at Rockefeller Center
At this Midtown hotspot, crowds gather to check out the 80-foot Christmas tree, and many wait in line to ice skate at the Rink at Rockefeller Center. But if you want to soar above it all, head up to Top of The Rock, where a timed ticket whisks you up to the 67th floor. Three levels, rising to 850 feet, offer 360-degree panoramic views of the glistening skyline.
Hint: I personally recommend the Skylift, which extends 30 additional feet on top of Top of the Rock, for an unforgettable bird’s-eye view.
Something different
The Met Cloisters
The Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper East Side is always a good idea, but for a more low-key visit, try The Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park. Overlooking the Hudson River, this unique spot offers art, architecture, and gardens inspired by medieval Europe. For the holidays, they create a Medieval Christmastide display full of fresh holly arches, fruits, plants, and iron candelabras.
Hint: Don’t miss the original Vincent van Gogh painting Self Portrait with Straw Hat (the Potato Peeler).
High Bridge
If the bustle of the Brooklyn Bridge is overwhelming, try High Bridge, NYC’s oldest standing bridge, spanning from Manhattan to the Bronx over the Harlem River. Closed for 40 years, the bridge reopened in 2015 as a greenway with bike and pedestrian access. You’ll be treated to sprawling views of the Manhattan skyline and the George Washington Bridge.
Hint: Bridge Park north of High Bridge offers a lovely greenway walk along the river.
Luminaries at Brookfield Place
If you’re seeking holiday glitz without the masses, try Brookfield Place in Lower Manhattan. The Winter Garden here is a soaring glass atrium featuring 2,000 panes of glass, marble floors, and 40-foot palm trees. The atrium is home to 640 color-changing lanterns that put on a hypnotic light show every holiday.
Hint: Three Wishing Stations invite guests to interact with the display, sending wishes into the canopy of light.
GVL in NYC
If you’re heading for New York City in 2027, explore these cultural opportunities with Greenville connections.
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is presenting artist William H. Johnson’s first monographic exhibition in New York City since 1957. To showcase the artist’s development in the 1930s, the MoMA team borrowed five paintings and drawings from the renowned collection at our own Greenville County Museum of Art. The five works were selected to showcase the artist’s Scandinavian years, a significant period in the career of Johnson, who was born in Florence, South Carolina. The exhibit will be on display at MoMA Sept. 19, 2027-January 22, 2028.
Fridman Gallery
Artist Brooke Schneider, who grew up in Greenville and attended the Fine Arts Center, now divides her time between Greenville and Brooklyn, New York. She works primarily in ceramic sculpture, and in 2027, she’ll be showing her work at the Fridman Gallery on the Lower East Side as part of a group show called Agency Within Identity. Dates will be announced at Fridmangallery.com.
Melba’s Harlem
An Apple+ television show in development has several local ties and New York City connections. First, visit Melba’s Harlem for a taste of the South in New York, including legendary fried chicken, catfish strips, Lowcountry collards, and yes, sweet tea. Melba learned to cook during summers in South Carolina visiting her grandmother. Now, Oprah Winfrey is producing a new show called American Comfort, based on Melba Wilson’s life. Starring as Melba? Greenville’s own Danielle Brooks, who attended Hillcrest High and graduated from the SC Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities.
