Holiday windows in New York. Winter 2016

Starting in late November, many stores along New York City's Fifth Avenue  and other streets in midtown Manhattan create their magical annual holiday windows . The holiday window displays are a one of the best things to do in New York during the holidays for both locals and tourists.

This year's designs are some of the best , with Tiffany & Co depicting the ideal N.Y.C. Christmas  , Saks Fifth Avenue displaying   their iconic, animated holiday-themed "Land 1000 Delights"  windows, and  Lord &   featuring 34 hand-crafted woodland animals for their "Enchanted Forest" scenes.  Bergdorf Goodman too went all out with five window displays taking viewers to "Destination Extraordinary."

 I created  a map with  nine stops for a walking tour  to see the best  of the holiday windows in New York.

 This walking tour covers approximately  two  miles and should take an hour and a half or longer .  Of course shopping time is not included .
But be prepared -  you’re going to run into crowds.   It may even be lines to see some windows.  To  avoid it   try going  later in the afternoon after 9PM when the stores are closed. But in this case you will not be able to enter the stores and to see how wonderfully these stores are decorated inside. 

  If you are lucky to be an early bird and working in the city  as I was    you  have  an excellent chance to find you alone watching the windows  at 7:30 AM. 
Try  to avoid Christmas week  when  thousands of  kids are on vacation.  You can start the walking  tour either  from the northern point or from the south- it does not matter.  I prefer to start from the north and finish it at Macy's because there is  huge Subway hub  at 34th street and I can easily return home.

• Stop 1. Barneys,  660 Madison Avenue Theme: "Love Peace Joy Project"
• Stop 2. Bloomingdale’s    59th Street and Lexington Avenue Theme: "Light"
• Stop 3. Bergdorf Goodman  754 5th Ave at 58 street  Theme: "Destination Extraordinary"
• Stop 4.  Tiffany  727 5th Ave at  57 street Theme:  "Make the World Sparkle"
• Stop 5. Henri Bendel    712 Fifth Avenue.  Theme:   " From Bendel With Love"
• Stop 6.   Boutique Cartier Fifth Ave  653 Fifth Avenue   between 51 and 52
• Stop 7. Saks Fifth Avenue  611 5th Ave between 49th and 50th  Theme : "Land of 1000 Delights"
• Stop 8.  Lord & Taylor  424 5th Ave at 39th St "Enchanted Forest"
• Stop 9.  Macy’s  34th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue The Miracle on 34th Street and "Believing the Magic."