Lower Manhattan: Carousel, shopping, French food, light show

On a dark December night, a canopy of lights glitters across Lower Manhattan, and not just from One World Trade and the other downtown skyscrapers. The neighborhood sparkles with new attractions, from the otherworldly glow of the SeaGlass carousel in Battery Park to a colorful, choreographed light show called Luminaries at the Winter Garden.

You'll also find upscale shopping, outdoor art, 22 hotels and many dining options. Here are some details.

1 SeaGlass Carousel: The SeaGlass Carousel is unlike any merry-go-round you've ever ridden. No toothy wooden horses and vintage organ music here. Instead, the glowing, pastel seats are shaped like seashells that spin and weave while a soaring, dreamlike soundtrack plays. The attraction is located in Battery Park at the tip of Lower Manhattan, a short walk from the boats to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The Staten Island Ferry terminal is nearby as well, with free trips across New York Harbor 24 hours a day. The carousel is open Sunday-Thursday, 10 am-8 pm; Friday, Saturday and holidays until 10 pm, $5 a ride, http://www.seaglasscarousel.nyc/.