Hello everyone, I am new here and this is my first post. I am taking a road trip up the east coast in a couple of months and, of course, New York will be one of the stops. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for things I might do there that aren't touristy. I hate the tourist traps and crowds of people with cameras and novelty t-shirts. Now I realize that it is one of the most touristy cities in the world, so that will be inevitable of course. But, if anybody knows of any little hole in the wall restaurants or clubs or spots with cool views or anything like that, it would be helpful. I don't really have a plan, I'm just gonna walk around and see what I can get into.
I will only be there a couple of days, so I can't see much I'm sure. I would also be willing to meet up with someone who might live there or be going through there to see the city with. I'm pretty much open to any suggestions. Thanks.
Reply to this NY has so much to offer... There are so many tourits, but most of them are in mid-town. I would recommend going to the brooklyn bridge. It is a little touristy, but nothing like Times square and the rest of mid-town. You can walk across and get a really nice view of the Manhattan skyline. There are a lot of Thai resturants in manhattan that are not expensive and when a lot of local NYers eat.
Will you only be in the Manhattan area? What time of year will you be in NY?
Reply to this There is something that I love to do and can fit in a day...or an afternoon.
You start at the Metropolitan museum...I know...this is touristy...but than you take a bus all the way up to the top of Manhattan..this will be cheap...and take you nearly an hour going all accross the different areas of Harlem. At the end of the ride...right on top of Manhattan, you have the Cloisters. This is an amazing "museum" specially if you have sun and blue sky.
To come back I just take an express metro to downtown.
Hope this help,
Peter
Reply to this I don't really have it planned out I will go a little bit of everywhere if I can. Planning on being there about the third week of July.
Reply to this You will have good weather in July. It might be very hot, the weather heats up around the 4th of July and stays hot until the end of August. The brooklyn bridge will be a very enjoyable walk and will be very seanic. Also Central Park is beautiful.
There are a lot of roof top bars that are open in the summer. But drinks in Manhattan are very expensive. A great way to see Manhattan is by ferry. The Ferry to the Statue of Liberty is cheap and goes around lower Manhattan. You gat a great view for a good price. You can;t go in the statue of liberty without a reservation and even with one you can only go up into the pedistal. But the ferry ride will get you very close to it, and let you have a good view of the city at the same time.
Reply to this Laura and Eric are right that most of the tourists flock to midtown Manhattan. The East Village Visitors Center is a great place to go if you want to get to know some of the most interesting areas of the city while avoiding those huge commercial tours. The EVVC tours are small and the guides are genuine, native New Yorkers. I'm a New Yorker myself and I found their tours really interesting and not "touristy" at all - my personal favorite was "Gangsters, Murderers, and Weirdos," but you can check out the other ones they have at their website: www.east-village.com. Plus they're suggested donation so you just pay what you can. I also highly recommend the NY Historical Society and Municipal Arts Society. You'll learn a lot at both of those places.
Reply to this Thanks guys for the discussion. I'm planning to go to New York at the beginning of next year so I found this information interesting for me.
Reply to this Hello Scott 😊
You could try hanging out at university bars. That always gives another view of city life in any city. Maybe some of the students will have more suggestions about where to hang out in the city too.
Mel
Reply to this Are there any off beaten paths in new york? I've travelled there a couple of times but I've never found any..
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