Close and personalize with balloons
Want to get up close to some of the balloons from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade but don't want to brave the Thanksgiving Day crowds? On Thanksgiving night, you can watch as the balloons come to life while they are inflated outside the American Museum of Natural History.
Plan your time well
The Thanksgiving Parade staff actually started inflating the balloons around 1pm the day before Thanksgiving, so at 3pm when the viewing area opened, there were some balloons in the process of inflating . If you show up later in the evening, there will be more balloons to see, but the crowds will also be much larger. The real magic of balloon inflation is watching a balloon come to life, which you can actually do at any time during an inflationary period.
Choose the right subway to go
The B/C trains at the 81st Street exit below the American Museum of Natural History, have both advantages and disadvantages for shadow viewing. One of the advantages is that you can get out of the subway directly into the bubble inflation path. The disadvantage is that you basically miss the first half of the way, so if you want to see the whole thing, you'll need to face a crowd at the entrance anyway.
If you want to see all the balloons inflated, take a train to 79th Street and walk to the viewing area entrance at 79th Street and Columbus Avenue. If you just want a taste of balloon inflation, see the balls on the north side of the museum and head back to the subway to avoid the crowds.
Go by public transport
The bubble inflation itself required some streets in the area to be blocked off, so parking and driving in the area were the hardest. After attending balloon inflation, getting a taxi can be challenging, so if you want to avoid disappointment, bag that idea and opt for the subway.
Follow your kids
Kids really love to watch the amazing sight of the balloons being blown up, and they love trying to figure out which balloons come up next. Keep in mind if you are visiting with young children that this scene is very crowded and by 5 pm it is quite dark. It will be difficult for children to see many words within the confines of a stroller but a shoulder ride is ideal. You must keep them within reach. If you are separated from your children, there is a large police presence, and the people who do the balloon inflation are very friendly and helpful, so let someone know as soon as possible. It's helpful if you know exactly what they're wearing, so it might be a good idea to take pictures before you get there.
Bring snacks or drinks
It will likely take one to two hours to make your way through the entire viewing area, depending on how many you want to check out for balloons and how dense the crowds are. There isn't anything for sale in the viewing area and you don't want to have to watch halfway (not easy to do), so make it a priority and bring a drink or snack if you think you or your kids will be hungry or thirsty.
>> Read more: Interesting facts about the American "Thanksgiving Day"
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