Christmas Around the Region: New York, Cape May, Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens and Bethlehem, in Pictures

Many consider the tree in Rockefeller Center to be America’s Christmas tree.

Dec. 24, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The Christmas season is peaking with the big day tomorrow. Most attractions will remain through early in the New Year.

There is nothing like Christmas in New York City. We spend at least one weekend there each winter and this year, the crowds were as big as ever. Luckily, most of the top attractions are within walking distance of midtown, or a couple subway stops away.

Here’s the Rockfeller Center tree and rink, already getting crowded at 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday.

The city gets crowded, there’s no way around it. This year, Bryant Park (40th Street and Fifth Avenue) was packed. I think they’ve added more kiosks.

This year’s Saks music-and-light shows features Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having, a Wonderful Christmas Time” and tosses in a line from Ace Frehley of KISS at the end: “Back, Back in the New York Groove.”

For relative calm, walk uptown to the Museum Mile. We stopped in at the Frick Collection, which reopened this year, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art tree is subdued but beautiful. The Welsh lullaby suo gan was playing. Check out the link, it’s safe for work. The song was played in the Christian Bale film “Empire of the Sun.”

For a busy Christmas season but without the huge crowds, try Cape May, New Jersey. It’s another regular stop for us. This year, we stayed at The Montreal Beach Resort, which has ocean views and is a few blocks away from the Washington Street Mall. The price was excellent and the hotel is always maintained well.

Downtown Cape May is decorated well but subtly. The Congress Hall hotel at the southern end of the Washington Mall (a street, not an enclosed shopping center) is a big draw.

We also stopped in Philadelphia. I was curious to see what’s happening with the Wanamaker’s building on Market Street. Macy’s took it over years ago and finally closed the huge store this year. The huge pipe organ and the Wanamaker Eagle remain, and parts of the first and third floors were open.

Obstructed view of the light show at the Wanamaker building. Parts of the organ are visible. There were several Christmas kiosks and pop-up bars inside.

The old Wanamaker’s / Macy’s may become residences.

“Meet me at the Eagle,” Philadelphians used to say. The eagle abides but the garland detracts from its dignity.

There is no final plan yet for the huge space. Also nearby are Love Park, Dilworth Park, and the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, all near City Hall and the old Macy’s.

Here’s the first floor of the old Wanamaker’s / Macy’s building, Chestnut Street side. This used to be full of apparel and goods.

Longwood Gardens, decorated inside and outside.

Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Chester County, is a place we see at least once each holiday season. I’ve posted about it recently, here’s a link to that piece, with photographs.

And then, there’s no place like home. Downtown Bethlehem, that is. We stop in many times during the season and will be there briefly this evening.

Here’s a link to an earlier item about some of the best spots in Bethlehem, just some of them. There are many. I also note a couple that are gone.

Places not to miss: Central Moravian Church, the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, the Moravian area, Donegal Square and the Bethlehem Brew Works. There are others.

Happy Holidays!

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