![](3D"http://cdn1.matadornetwork.com/matadortrips.com/docs/wp-=)
All photos: Francisco=20 Collazo
1. Don=E2=80=99t=E2=80=A6 visit MOMA or The=20 Met
I don=E2=80=99t have anything against either of these museums. I used = to be a=20 card-carrying member of MOMA and I=E2=80=99m planning to check out their = new exhibit,= =20 =E2=80=9CRising Currents: Projects for New York=E2=80=99s = Waterfront.=E2=80=9D
It=E2=80=99s just that a visit to MOMA will set you back $20 (unless = you join the=20 budget seeking horde on Friday night from 4-8 PM, when admission=20 is free). The =E2=80=9Crecommended=E2=80=9D admission for The Met is the = same.
And besides, both of these museums are so huge that it=E2=80=99s hard = to feel you=E2=80=99ve=20 =E2=80=9Cdone=E2=80=9D them or squeezed the value out of that ticket = price in just a single=20 visit.
Do=E2=80=A6 visit MOCA, MOCADA, El Museo del Barrio, or The Jewish = Museum
Given New York=E2=80=99s immigrant history, it shouldn=E2=80=99t be =
surprising we have a=20
museum for almost every diaspora, including
Admission at all four of these museums is less than that = wallet-busting $20=20 you=E2=80=99ll drop at MOMA or The Met. ($7 at MOCA and free on = Thursdays; $4 suggested=20 donation at MOCADA; $6 suggested donation at El Museo del Barrio with = free=20 admission every third Saturday; $12 at The Jewish Museum and free on = Saturdays).=20
But the real reason to visit these museums is because they=E2=80=99re = smaller in size=20 and let you walk away feeling like you really saw everything and learned = something interesting in the process.
Plus, these museums aren=E2=80=99t overrun by crowds and the = facilities are=20 excellent. MOCA is brand new and El Museo=E2=80=99s paint has barely = dried after a=20 recent renovation.
2. Don=E2=80=99t=E2=80=A6 do the Statue of Liberty
There=E2=80=99s something that feels unpatriotic=20 about telling you to skip the Statue of Liberty, but I have my reasons. = First=20 of all, a visit to Liberty sucks up your whole day, what with long lines = and=20 strict security. Second, if you really just want to see the statue, = you=E2=80=99ll get a=20 much better view from the ferry or from Ellis Island than you will on = Liberty=20 Island itself.
Do=E2=80=A6 visit Ellis Island AND the African Burial Ground
The Statue of Liberty=E2=80=A6 skip it.
Ellis Island = =E2=80=94 the nation=E2=80=99s=20 =E2=80=9Cpremier federal immigration station,=E2=80=9D according to the = National Parks Service =E2=80=94=20 is far more interesting than the Statue of Liberty if you=E2=80=99re = really passionate=20 about American history.
The 30-minute film, =E2=80=9CIsland of Hope, Island of Tears=E2=80=9D = is a Ken Burns-esque=20 documentary that tells the history of Ellis Island. If you=E2=80=99d = rather walk than=20 sit, guided tours convey the same information. And if you=E2=80=99re = interested in=20 genealogy, you can look up your ancestry here.
Another alternative is visiting the recently opened African=20 Burial Ground, which, like Ellis Island is run by the National Parks = Service. There=E2=80=99s no admission fee to enter the visitors=E2=80=99 = center, explore the=20 exhibits, or to visit the actual burial ground itself. You can read more = about=20 the African Burial Ground on my=20 blog.
3. Don=E2=80=99t=E2=80=A6 go to Central Park
Yes, it=E2=80=99s enormous. Yes, it=E2=80=99s beautiful. Yes, it even = has wildlife.
But New York City has more than 29,000 acres of OTHER=20 parks, and many of them are just as beautiful =E2=80=94 if not more = so =E2=80=94 than=20 Central Park.
My favorites are Ft.=20 Tryon (at the northern tip of Manhattan, with elevated views of the = Hudson=20 River, it was built by the son of the architect responsible for Central = Park);=20 The Hudson River = Park (a=20 long, narrow park that runs almost the entire length of = Manhattan=E2=80=99s West Side=20 and offers areas for picnicking, watching movies and live performances, = bike=20 riding, skate boarding, rollerblading, and kayaking,=20 among other activities); and The = High=20 Line (an elevated urban park built on an old freight line).
Outside Manhattan, my favorites are Gantry Plaza State Park (a = waterfront=20 park in Long Island City with multiple piers =E2=80=94 has THE best = views of Manhattan;=20 great for photos; also has hammocks in the summer, a kayak launch point, = and a=20 nearby =E2=80=9Cbeach=E2=80=9D bar), DUMBO=E2=80=99s Brooklyn Bridge = Park (a work in progress, also=20 waterfront), and Governor=E2=80=99s Island (open=20 June through October).
4. Don=E2=80=99t=E2=80=A6 assume a hotel is beyond your budget
=E2=80=9CBut New York hotels are so expensive=E2=80=A6.=E2=80=9D
True, but your doctor bill may be more expensive after you spend a = few nights=20 on a bedbug infested hostel mattress or a few mornings in a sketchy = hostel=20 shower.
Do=E2=80=A6 check out hotels beyond Manhattan
Check out the Ravel in = Long Island=20 City (waterfront views =E2=80=94 and no, it=E2=80=99s not on Long = Island; it=E2=80=99s five minutes from=20 midtown Manhattan), which currently has rates as low as $99/night.
Sunset in Long Island City
Hotels are popping up all over LIC, with a Holiday=20 Inn being the closest to a subway line (39th Avenue stop on the N = and soon=20 to be defunct W train).
5. Don=E2=80=99t=E2=80=A6 go to Serendipity or Magnolia
Do you really want to spend an hour in line for a frozen hot =
chocolate or a=20
cupcake?
Serendipity and =
Magnolia=20
are popular because they were featured in =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99ve Got =
Mail=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9CSex and the=20
City,=E2=80=9D respectively. Do you think that makes their desserts any =
better than=20
anywhere else?
Do=E2=80=A6 chase down the Van Leeuwen ice cream truck and eat some = Wafel and=20 Dinges
Van Leeuwen serves = artisanal=20 ice cream out of a roving truck =E2=80=94 red currant, giandujia, = hazelnut, and ginger,=20 to name a few flavors. They have a storefront in Brooklyn if you = can=E2=80=99t catch up=20 with the truck.
If ice cream=E2=80=99s not your thing, look up the Wafel=20 and Dinges truck, which serves Belgian waffles with all manner of = dinges =E2=80=94=20 toppings =E2=80=94 or find a truck to suit any craving you might = possibly have. Check=20 the City=20 Room Blog=E2=80=99s Twitter list for a full roster of food trucks = (many offer=20 special deals to Twitter followers).
6. Don=E2=80=99t=E2=80=A6 go see a movie
New York is a great place to see a movie because we have so = many=20 specialty theatres, like the ImaginAsian, an arthouse cinema featuring = Asian=20 films.
But did you really come to New York to see a movie?
Do=E2=80=A6 go see a movie being filmed
The =
Mayor=E2=80=99s=20
Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting lists films and TV shows =
currently=20
being filmed in the city, and if you follow
7. Don=E2=80=99t=E2=80=A6 shop for knock-offs on Canal Street
=E2=80=9CPsst. Want a Coach bag? Prada? Prada?=E2=80=9D
You don=E2=80=99t believe that $20 Coach bag on Canal Street is real, = do you?
Besides being cheap, your purchases on Canal Street support an = underground=20 economy, the consequences of which are largely hidden from view (and = involve=20 immigrants living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in stairways = and=20 closet-sized rooms in the buildings where you=E2=80=99ll be taken to = view the=20 merchandise).
Keep your conscience clean and get something real by browsing Union = Square.=20 Local artists sell paintings, photos, jewelry, homemade t-shirts, indy = films,=20 and lots of other wares at tables arrayed around the southern end of the = park.=20 You=E2=80=99ll get something that=E2=80=99s really original=E2=80=A6and = you don=E2=80=99t have to feel bad about=20 it.
8. Don=E2=80=99t=E2=80=A6 visit Little Italy or Chinatown
Again =E2=80=94 nothing =E2=80=9Cwrong=E2=80=9D with Little Italy or = Chinatown (visit the former=20 during the San Gennaro festivities, the latter during Chinese New Year=20 celebrations). Both of these neighborhoods remain cultural enclaves that = have=20 somehow managed to resist encroaching gentrification.
Do=E2=80=A6 visit lesser-known immigrant districts
But why not explore one of the lesser known neighborhoods like Koreatown,= =20 Little=20 Brazil, Polish Greenpoint, and predominantly Greek=20 Astoria? These immigrant neighborhoods are just as lively =E2=80=94 = and less=20 touristed =E2=80=94 than Little Italy and Chinatown.
And if you=E2=80=99re headed to Astoria, let me know. I=E2=80=99ll =
meet up with you at
Explore a less familiar venue.
9. Don=E2=80=99t=E2=80=A6 go to a show at Madison Square Garden, = Radio City Music Hall, or=20 Broadway
Like MOMA and The Met, these are all world-class venues, but there = are dozens=20 of other event spaces where incredible concerts, lectures, and = performances are=20 given by well-known and totally fresh talent.
Do=E2=80=A6 get your culture fix at a venue you=E2=80=99ve never = heard of
Some places worth checking out include BAM=20
(the Brooklyn Academy of Music),
=20
Julie Schwietert
Julie = Schwietert=20 Collazo is a writer, editor, researcher, and translator currently in = New=20 York, formerly of Mexico City and San Juan.
-
http://ramblelust.wordpress.com
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20=20
=20
-
-
http://t3mujin.tumblr.com
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20
=20
-
-
http://www.evaholland.com
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com=20 = =20 =
=20
-
-
http://www.rebeccakinsella.wordpress.com =20
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20 =20
-
http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/vagabonderz =
=20
-
-
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20
=20
=20
-
-
http://valeriewng.wordpress.com
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20 =
=20
-
-
http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/vagabonderz = =20
-
-
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20
-
=20
-
-
http://itchyfoot.tumblr.com
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20=20
=20
-
-
http://itchyfoot.tumblr.com
-
http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/vagabonder= z=20 = =20
=20 I=E2=80=99m not crazy after all=E2=80=A6
=20
-
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com=20 = =20
-
http://itchyfoot.tumblr.com
-
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20=20
-
=20
-
-
http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/vagabonderz ==20
=20
-
http://www.parisianspring.blogspot.com =20
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20 =
=20
-
-
http://travelerahoy.wordpress.com =20
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20
Alouise- That=E2=80=99s the spirit!
If =E2=80=9CFela=E2=80=9D is still on Broadway when you visit, I = recommend it! And if you=20 need Queens recommendations, let me know!-
http://travelerahoy.wordpress.com =20=20
-
=20
-
-
http://girlunstoppable.com
Julie, this article has got me itching to visit NYC again. My two = visits to=20 the city have barely scratched the tourist surface. I=E2=80=99m = slightly afraid that=20 if I decide to dig deep into all NYC has to offer, I might get stuck = there and=20 never leave
=20
=20
-
http://amandasfulbright.blogspot.com =20
-
http://itchyfoot.tumblr.com =
=20
-
-
http://www.travelmuse.com =20
-
http://www.deliciouschaos.com=20
=20
-
-
-
http://www.hostelvideoguide.com=20 =20 =20
-
http://www.sophiesworld.net =
=20
-
http://www.etstudio.net =20
-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsp100677/ =20=20
=20
-
I agree with what you are saying but after traveling all that way = sometimes=20 you just want to say that you=E2=80=99ve been there. Who is going to = care if you saw=20 a show on at a little theatre no one has ever heard? But Broadway? = That=E2=80=99s=20 impressive. Right or wrong, that=E2=80=99s the way it is.
-
http://travelerahoy.wordpress.com =20
=20
-
-
http://www.wildflowerhikesmontana.com
Interesting suggestions =E2=80=93 some I missed when I lived in CT = and visited NYC=20 often and some I missed when I lived in NYC for 4 years -
I would = suggest=20 that visitors go to the Met and make a donation of what they can = =E2=80=93 then=20 splurge on a coffee in the sculpture gallery, take time for quiet = reflection=20 in the Asian wing and then pick one section to really focus on.Another museum I always enjoyed was The Asia Society Museum at Park = Ave and=20 70th.
Or perusing the galleries on the upper east side =E2=80=93 = Knoedler is one.=20 They are free, they always have innovative art.
Visit the Cloisters = =E2=80=93 the=20 Tapestries are worth the trip as well as views of the Hudson River. = The=20 garden is lovely when in bloom.
The Museum of the City of New York = is worth=20 the trip =E2=80=93 exhibits always changing -
suggested entry = $10.00While Serendipity can be crowded =E2=80=93 isn=E2=80=99t New York = for at least part of the=20 trip about people watching. Order a coffee and watch = people.
Pretend like=20 you are someone to be watchedAnother great people watching place is down town at the Seaport. =
Definitely treat yourself to a hot dog. Or in the winter a pretzel = from a=20 street vendor.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is lovely
If it=E2=80=99s still open =E2=80=93 Angler=E2=80=99s and = Writer=E2=80=99s for tea on 420 Hudson St.
Be sure to pack a camera =E2=80=93 fun pictures every where = =E2=80=93 gives you a=20 different =E2=80=9Ceye=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=93reflections, shadows = =E2=80=A6ride the Staten Island Ferry =E2=80=93 - It used to be pretty = reasonable =E2=80=93 may=20 still be.
Coffee shops in NYC =E2=80=93 there was a great one over on the = East River near=20 the
tramway that took people to Roosevelt Island =E2=80=93 split = pea soup and corn=20 bread.Some luxuries are inexpensive =E2=80=93 flowers =E2=80=93 for = instance =E2=80=93
Visit the MOMA gift shop =E2=80=93
Window shop on Madison Ave.
And in Central Park =E2=80=93 If you do go to the Met =E2=80=93 = walk back down town=20 through the Park =E2=80=93
If you go at Christmas time =E2=80=93 the definitely go to the Met = to see the=20 Christmas Tree. Then pick one part to focus on . I never miss Rosa = Bonheur=E2=80=99s=20 painting =E2=80=9CThe Horse Fair=E2=80=9D
It=E2=80=99s all rather like visiting the Grand Canyon or Arches = National Park =E2=80=93 =20 you can find ways to get things down to your size -
do some = scouting on the=20 internet =E2=80=93 would you like to gawk in a pricey gourmet
food = store? Have=20 tea? good soup?
Broadway? =E2=80=93 if you want to stand in line = you can get some=20 good deals on =E2=80=9Ctwo-fers=E2=80=9D
Or check out off off = Broadway.Another museum =E2=80=93 The Hispanic Society =E2=80=93 Built by = Archer Huntington in 1908=20 =E2=80=93 it=E2=80=99s first exhibit and main exhibition today is = Joaquin Sorollas paintings=20 of the provinces of Spain. They have been on display abroad while the = Sorolla=20 Room has been refurbished. I see that it reopens May 10.
At the = time the=20 exhibit opened in January of 1909 people lined the streets for hours = to get=20 in.
This exhibit is a gem.
There are small neighborhood places = to eat.=20 It helps if you speak Spanish , but it is not necessary. Just be an = adventurer=20 and have fun.
My favorite =E2=80=9Cprovince=E2=80=9D is Seville = =E2=80=93 Sorolla , a Spanish=20 Impressionist painter captures oranges so beautifully you feel like = reaching=20 out and touching them. =20
-
http://www.wildflowerhikesmontana.com
-
http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/vagabonderz = =
=20
-
-
http://www.collazoprojects.com =20
=20
-
http://www.wildflowerhikesmontana.com =20
=20
-
http://www.wildflowerhikesmontana.com =20
-
-
-
for AndyQ =E2=80=93 May in NYC =E2=80=93 perfect timing or should = be =E2=80=93 bring a raincoat and=20 umbrella =E2=80=93 Walk the Mall =E2=80=93 =E2=80=9CLiterary = Walk=E2=80=9D in Central Park, give what you wish=20 to make a donation to the Met Museum and have coffee in the sculpture = area=20 =E2=80=93
Take in the Frick Collection and Garden at 1 E. 70th = St.
Catch public=20 transportation and visit the Cloisters =E2=80=93 tapestries, gardens = and wondful views=20 of the Hudson River
If you don=E2=80=99t want to visit some of the = more high priced=20 museums, visit their gift shops =E2=80=93 great and fun = buys
There=E2=80=99s an exhibit at=20 the N.Y. Botanical Garden =E2=80=93 Emily Dickenson=E2=80=99s Garden = =E2=80=93 the Poetry of=20 Flowers.
I hope you have comfortable walking shoes =20
-
-
=20 =20
-
http://www.facebook.com/rachael.crawley=20
Related=20
Articles
Matador=E2=80=99s destination expert on =
Uruguay lays out=20
the country=E2=80=99s avoidable...
Matador=E2=80=99s destination expert on =
Tibet lays out the=20
country=E2=80=99s avoidable attractions...
Matador's destination expert on Chile =
lays out the=20
country's avoidable attractions...and...
Matador=E2=80=99s destination expert on =
Paris lays out=20
avoidable attractions in the City of...
Stephen Lioy advises on some of the =
country's=20
avoidable attractions...and what you should...
Melbourne native Rebecca Kinsella shares =
her tips=20
on how best to experience her home city.
Matador's destination expert on Istanbul =
lays out=20
the city's avoidable attractions...and...
Two summers on the Greek island qualifies =
Liv=20
Hambrett to tell you where to go...and...
Matador's destination expert on Japan =
lays out the=20
country's avoidable attractions...and...
Matador=E2=80=99s destination expert on =
Oslo, Norway, lays=20
out the country=E2=80=99s avoidable...
Mary Richardson breaks down the island's =
avoidable=20
attractions...and what you should do...
Matador's expert on New Zealand lays out =
the=20
avoidable attractions in the country's...
The city=E2=80=99s avoidable =
attractions=E2=80=A6and what you=20
should do instead.
=
","
"]),p.fn.extend({text:function(a){return =
p.access(this,function(a){return =
a=3D=3D=3Db?p.text(this):this.empty().append((this[0]&&this[0].ownerDocum=
ent||e).createTextNode(a))},null,a,arguments.length)},wrapAll:function(a)=
{if(p.isFunction(a))return =
this.each(function(b){p(this).wrapAll(a.call(this,b))});if(this[0]){var =
b=3Dp(a,this[0].ownerDocument).eq(0).clone(!0);this[0].parentNode&&b.inse=
rtBefore(this[0]),b.map(function(){var =
a=3Dthis;while(a.firstChild&&a.firstChild.nodeType=3D=3D=3D1)a=3Da.firstC=
hild;return a}).append(this)}return this},wrapInner:function(a){return =
p.isFunction(a)?this.each(function(b){p(this).wrapInner(a.call(this,b))})=
:this.each(function(){var =
b=3Dp(this),c=3Db.contents();c.length?c.wrapAll(a):b.append(a)})},wrap:fu=
nction(a){var b=3Dp.isFunction(a);return =
this.each(function(c){p(this).wrapAll(b?a.call(this,c):a)})},unwrap:funct=
ion(){return =
this.parent().each(function(){p.nodeName(this,"body")||p(this).replaceWit=
h(this.childNodes)}).end()},append:function(){return =
this.domManip(arguments,!0,function(a){(this.nodeType=3D=3D=3D1||this.nod=
eType=3D=3D=3D11)&&this.appendChild(a)})},prepend:function(){return =
this.domManip(arguments,!0,function(a){(this.nodeType=3D=3D=3D1||this.nod=
eType=3D=3D=3D11)&&this.insertBefore(a,this.firstChild)})},before:functio=
n(){if(!bh(this[0]))return =
this.domManip(arguments,!1,function(a){this.parentNode.insertBefore(a,thi=
s)});if(arguments.length){var a=3Dp.clean(arguments);return =
this.pushStack(p.merge(a,this),"before",this.selector)}},after:function()=
{if(!bh(this[0]))return =
this.domManip(arguments,!1,function(a){this.parentNode.insertBefore(a,thi=
s.nextSibling)});if(arguments.length){var a=3Dp.clean(arguments);return =
this.pushStack(p.merge(this,a),"after",this.selector)}},remove:function(a=
,b){var =
c,d=3D0;for(;(c=3Dthis[d])!=3Dnull;d++)if(!a||p.filter(a,[c]).length)!b&&=
c.nodeType=3D=3D=3D1&&(p.cleanData(c.getElementsByTagName("*")),p.cleanDa=
ta([c])),c.parentNode&&c.parentNode.removeChild(c);return =
this},empty:function(){var =
a,b=3D0;for(;(a=3Dthis[b])!=3Dnull;b++){a.nodeType=3D=3D=3D1&&p.cleanData=
(a.getElementsByTagName("*"));while(a.firstChild)a.removeChild(a.firstChi=
ld)}return this},clone:function(a,b){return =
a=3Da=3D=3Dnull?!1:a,b=3Db=3D=3Dnull?a:b,this.map(function(){return =
p.clone(this,a,b)})},html:function(a){return =
p.access(this,function(a){var =
c=3Dthis[0]||{},d=3D0,e=3Dthis.length;if(a=3D=3D=3Db)return =
c.nodeType=3D=3D=3D1?c.innerHTML.replace(bm,""):b;if(typeof =
a=3D=3D"string"&&!bs.test(a)&&(p.support.htmlSerialize||!bu.test(a))&&(p.=
support.leadingWhitespace||!bn.test(a))&&!bz[(bp.exec(a)||["",""])[1].toL=
owerCase()]){a=3Da.replace(bo,"<$1>");try{for(;d