I visited New York City's most famous holiday windows and now I understand why people travel far and wide to see them

Out of all the windows I saw, Saks Fifth Avenue's were some of my favorites. You could spot them from a mile away, thanks to the bright lights and wreaths adorning the store's windows.

The department store built their displays around the 80th anniversary of the Disney classic "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

One side of the store told the complete fairy tale. Nothing was left out — from the dwarfs...

... to the evil queen...

... to the prince. Most of the windows had animation too. In this one, for example, the prince bent down to kiss Snow White.

The windows on the other sides of the store featured stunning looks inspired by "Snow White" and made by top fashion designers like Monique Lhuillier.

Some, like this blue and red cape and dress, were a more literal interpretation than others...

... like this colorful Naeem Khan gown.

Bergdorf Goodman's windows were equally impressive and eye-catching.

Geared more towards the fashion fanatic than the windows at Macy's and Lord and Taylor's, these displays prominently featured mannequins decked out in high-fashion clothing.

Each window was sponsored by a different New York City institution, like the New York Philharmonic. The mannequin in the below window looked as if she were conducting an orchestra of instruments that lit up every few seconds.

The American Museum of Natural History's display was spectacular. Everything in it sparkled, from the mannequin's gown and mask to the dinosaurs that surrounded her.

Lord and Taylor's holiday windows were meant to make visitors feel as if they were looking at scenes through snow globes.

Although I didn't pick up on the theme until after doing some research on the windows, I enjoyed the fun, whimsical displays.

All the displays were animated and seemed to have mini displays within them, which made it fun to get up-close and really look inside.

Bloomingdale's windows were the result of a collaboration with "The Greatest Showman," an upcoming musical about circus magnate P.T. Barnum.

I loved that many of the mannequins were acrobats, hanging in the windows decked out in colorful, glittering costumes.

Other mannequins wore attire meant to promote certain brands and products, like the dresses actress Zendaya designed for the store.

Macy's is particularly known for its holiday attractions: kids can drop letters to Santa in red mailboxes throughout the store, or meet Santa in "Santaland."

It's no surprise then that most of the store's window seemed to be designed for children, though their details and interactivity appeal to adults too.

One window even featured a recreation of the Macy's store, which started off closed but opened to reveal detailed floors filled with festive holiday decorations and merchandise.

Another set of windows told the story of a girl named Virginia and her quest to find out whether or not Santa is real.

By the end of my exploration, it was clear to me just how much time and effort goes into creating these holiday masterpieces.

Even though I spent a chunk of time looking at the windows, I probably could have spent double that; there's so much detail to look at.

It's obvious to me why the windows are such a draw for both locals and tourists — it's an experience I would highly recommend to anyone.