In December 2024, I took a mother-daughter trip with my nearly four-year-old to New York City (NYC) for a special trip, just the two of us. New York City in December is magical for kids, with iconic holiday displays like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and festive window displays along Fifth Avenue. The city’s ice skating rinks, such as at Bryant Park and Central Park, provide a perfect winter adventure, making it a holiday wonderland for families.

Additionally, taking one kid on a solo trip creates a unique bonding experience, allowing for deep, uninterrupted connection and meaningful conversations. It also fosters their independence, confidence, and sense of adventure, all while creating memories just between the two of you. I thoroughly enjoyed a NYC December trip for our solo trip – I list below our favorite activities, based on this trip, as well as another previous NYC trip.

During this trip, we stayed in Brooklyn with a friend, but we previously stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton New York/Midtown Manhattan Times Square and were happy with it!

Take a short subway ride to Brooklyn and visit the DUMBO neighborhood. The area offers great views of the Brooklyn Bridge, and there’s a lovely park where you can take family photos with the bridge in the background. The cobblestone streets and parks offer space for your child to run around.

Afterwards, you could enjoy an early brunch at Malibu Farms. It was a very family-friendly restaurant, and has large size tables and high chairs upon request. My daughter LOVED her pancakes!

The Nutcracker ballet is a magical holiday tradition that offers a timeless experience, combining beautiful music, stunning choreography, and a festive atmosphere perfect for the season. The ballet is performed at the Lincoln Center Plaza. Tickets can be purchased online in advance here.

If your child normally sleeps earlier, I highly recommend the daytime show so they can fully enjoy! I made the error of booking an evening show, and although my daughter was SO excited and happy during the first half, she fell asleep during intermission. Next time, we will definitely book the daytime show! The show itself, was very kid friendly and engaging.

TIP: My other lesson learned is that throughout the show, my daughter whispered “what is happening” a dozen times. I wish I had read her the Nutcracker book, before we went! Rookie mistake, but before a show, or really any landmark or travel sight see, it’s nice to prep the kids by reading to them beforehand. They will appreciate it more when they see it in person!

This iconic toy store is a wonderland for kids, and it’s a great place for your daughter to explore. From giant stuffed animals to interactive toys, she will have a blast here. Don’t miss the giant piano on the floor that she can play on! They have a variety of sections of different types of toys throughout the store, including a “design your own purse” section. I considered letting her do it, but decided for $65, she probably wouldn’t appreciate it enough at four. Maybe in a couple of years :).

TIP: Come prepared for crowds during the winter season. There was a long line to enter the store, and a lot of people are cold and very eager to get inside. It did feel overwhelming the amount of people that were in there on a Saturday afternoon. I wish we had gone during a weekday, to more leisurely enjoy. Additionally, next time I want to stop by the American Girl Factory!

Right next to the toy store, take a walk to Rockefeller Center, where the famous Christmas tree is beautifully decorated. You can also stop by the skating rink, where the twinkling lights and festive vibe are sure to captivate your daughter. Near here, there is La Maison du Chocolate to grab some chocolate and cookies. Keep in mind, Rockefeller Center in December is crazy packed!

Additionally, I have heard great things about the Rockettes, and would love to take the kids to see them next time while they perform in this area.

Jacob & Pickles is a tasty restaurant, which child-friendly foods! Not a lot of space inside, so best to not bring the stroller here. I had wanted to take my daughter to Serendipity for a fun dessert, but it ended up getting too late. Next time!

Times Square

Yes, Times Square can be touristy – but with so much to do, it is definitely worth a visit with kiddies! The M&M Factory and the Disney Store are two fun spots to visit. Perusing the streets, big buildings, and lights is fun too!

TIP: Be careful of getting scammed by costume characters on the street. They will tell you one price, take a picture enthusiastically, another character jumps in without your permission, and demands you pay more. True story. I don’t even want to share the cute pictures with the scam artist Disney characters we took pictures of because of the negative memory!

High tea was on my list of priority items for me and my girl! We ended up going with Alice’s Tea Cup, which is a good spot for high tea in New York for kids because it offers a whimsical, fairytale-inspired setting with a kid-friendly menu and interactive tea party experience. It was not super formal, so it wasn’t a lot of pressure to keep the kids properly behaved. Next time, I would love to go to the Plaza or American Girl for High Tea!

There are a few locations of my favorite cookie place, but these cookies (a bit $$) make a great souvenir to take back for the rest of the family!

Every visit, we go to Byrant Park. In December, there is a small winter market around there. Additionally, there are several easy places to grab food. My favorites are wraps from Kati Roll and hot chocolate from Angelina’s. There is a small carasouel as well that the kids love.

All in all, it was a very special weekend with my little girl. I can’t wait to do something like this again! There is always so much to do in New York.

Tips for Traveling with a Four-Year-Old to NYC:

For more ideas on fun child-friendly activities in NYC, visit my post here from our September trip with our then 3-year-old and 1-year-old.