5 Things to Do on a Cold Day in New York City

New York City is known for its hustle and bustle, its bright lights and its live shows, among other things. One thing that the Big Apple is lesser known for, however, is the dangerously low temperatures that winter can bring to the city. The proximity of blocks and buildings forms a series of perfect channels for a proper cold front to push icy winds through, resulting in conditions that are prime for frostbite. This having been said, if you’ve already booked a trip to Times Square in January or February, don’t cancel it! Although the outdoor ambience can be less than pleasant during these periods of ice, snow and below-freezing windchill, you can still have yourself a marvelous day in New York. Below are just a few of the activities that we enjoyed on a recent (freezing) day in the city!

An image of the griffin statue that guards Dumbledore's office in the Harry Potter New York store.

Visit Harry Potter New York

Wizards, witches and muggles of all ages are welcome at Harry Potter New York, which is located around the back of the Flatiron building - roughly twenty blocks from Times Square. As of January 2022, the establishment is still relatively new and extremely popular, so staff at HPNY are monitoring capacity by requiring guests to enter a virtual queue and report to the front entrance only after receiving notification that their turn to enter has arrived. Once inside, guests are greeted by life-size statues and renderings of fantastic beasts from the Wizarding World, two (2) VR Experiences (advance reservations required), themed shopping areas and experiences, walls and walls of wands and even a bustling Butterbeer bar! This is one experience that a true Potter fan cannot pass up. Although we weren’t able to secure a reservation for either of the VR experiences, we had so much fun exploring the two separate levels of magic that we were reluctant to depart for our next destination!

Grab Lunch in Times Square

There are so many sights and sounds in Times Square that it’s easy to forget one of the lesser senses - taste! From the Hard Rock Cafe to the fast food chains we all know and love, Manhattan’s central crossroads has something for every palette. After nearly being overwhelmed by the options, we decided that we had to try out the all-digital Taco Bell Cantina during our visit; but before you judge us, know that you can order pin sets through the robot hosts in the front entrance! Note: at the time of this writing, COVID-19 is still top of mind for many New Yorkers, even as the Omicron surge begins to subside in the United States. As such, proof of vaccination against the virus is required at all establishments and facilities that offer indoor dining and/or live entertainment.

The Hershey’s S’Mores Bar at Hershey’s Chocolate World NY remains open for business, but you have to take your food and drink to go!

Visit Hershey’s Chocolate World New York

You’ve heard of the Hershey’s Chocolate World adjacent Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, surely; but did you know that Hershey’s Chocolate World variants also exist in a few big cities across the country? New Yorkers don’t have to go far to find a little piece of the sweetest place on earth, because one such installment can be found right in Times Square! Although they do not have the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour dark ride that we know and love from the Pennsylvania location, they do have a unique S’Mores bar, a hot chocolate bar, a healthy collection of ‘worlds’ largest’ Hershey candies and wall-to-wall merchandise, much of it branded to be Times-Square-specific! This is another stop that is not to be missed if you have a sweet tooth and an adventurer’s spirit. For bonus points, make sure to pick up a cup of Reeses’ Hot Chocolate to offset some of the cold in your day.

Jay and Sam from ‘The Theme Park Foodies’ posing with Blue M&M.

Visit M&M’s Store Times Square

Are you sensing a theme yet? It’s indisputable that the city of New York offers a wide range of culinary delights, but Times Square is easily the center of sweetness for candy and treats of all kinds! Practically across the street from Hershey’s Chocolate World, you’ll find the three-level M&M Store of Times Square, which features an impressive array of branded merchandise and some really cool custom experiences! Stand in the simulator to match your personality to your M&M color, and customize M&M candies with a heartfelt message - or head upstairs to the top floor to bag yourself a personal selection of M&M’s from all eras of branding, promotion and coloring! If all else fails, you can pick yourselves up a pretty nifty shirt or hat in this shop, and wear your M&M’s pride from head to toe.

Miniature version of the Puppets used in off-broadway production ‘Winnie the Pooh: A New Musical Stage Adaptation’ in New York.

See a (Off) Broadway Show

Did you really even go to NYC if you didn’t see a show? Broadway is coming back to life in the city after a tumultuous 2020 that saw several freshman shows, series and performances permanently shuttered, and there is no better way to celebrate than by taking a chance on something new! During our visit, we were determined to see ‘Winnie the Pooh: A New Musical Stage Adaptation’ as performed by the Rockefeller Group on Theatre Row. Sadly, we caught one of its final performances, as the show is just now beginning to wind down. Even if this masterful production isn’t picked up or extended, you can count on New York to offer a cavalcade of other Broadway and Off-Broadway experiences, from Wicked to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The possibilities are endless!

Check Out Our Vlog for More!

Hopefully this list gives you a few ideas about how to make the most of your cold winter’s day in NYC. As residents of the Northeast - albeit a few hours South of the city limit - we have no trouble making it back to the Big Apple to mop up on experiences we missed. We still have more indoor and outdoor experiences on our bucket list, such as the VR attractions that we missed at HPNY, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Times Square, Touring Central Park, and even simple things like visiting the very popular Disney Store location in Times Square (which was temporarily closed during our recent visit). But we were still able to have a very full, very fun (if very cold) day with the grab bag of experiences that we enjoyed. To see more of what we did, including some brief insight into where we stayed and how we traveled, check out our vlog featuring The Theme Park Foodies below!