Traveling to the Big Apple? Here are six essential tips for visiting New York City to help ensure a smooth trip:
1. Look For Alternatives To Touristy Excursions
Sure, seeing The Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building are essential parts of a first time visit to New York City; however, you don’t need to pay a fortune to see the sites. Ride the free Staten Island for great views of Lady Liberty; know that many museums list “suggested donations”, for example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, meaning you can pay as little as $1 for entry; go to a TKTS booth for discounted Broadway Show tickets or see a show at a smaller theater like The Flea Theater in Manhattan or Bushwick Starr in Brooklyn; instead of paying to go up to the Top of the Rock take in aerial views from the $2.50 Roosevelt Island Tram. There are many alternatives to the tourist attractions if you just do some research or ask a local.
2. Take Advantage Of Sundays
Sundays are NYC’s best kept secret. Free parking, all-inclusive booze brunches, free films at the Brooklyn Public Library, 99 cent Off-Broadway shows at the SoHo Rep, free comedy shows at Upright Citizens Brigade and much more. Take advantage of Sunday specials as many NYC establishments offer them.
3. Don’t Be Afraid Of The Subway
Take advantage of NYC’s extremely cheap ($2.50 per ride) and (usually) efficient subway system. Even if you find it confusing, apps like HopStop and Embark make riding the subway easy by giving step-by-step instructions. Additionally, NYC is an extremely walkable city — especially as streets are typically numbered — and Google Maps can help you if you get lost.
4. Add Brooklyn Into Your Itinerary
I’ll admit it, I live in Brooklyn and may be a tiny bit biased; however, I grew up on Long Island and moved to the borough because I loved it. Brooklyn is a more laid-back, less expensive version of Manhattan, with much to do and see. Most first-timers to Brooklyn head to the hipster hood of Williamsburg, where you can enjoy industrial-feel restaurants, live music, wineries, rooftop bars, breweries, chocolate factories, beautiful graffiti, waterside parks and myriad events. For an active experience, rent a bike and ride from the Lower East Side over the Williamsburg Bridge to Williamsburg. Some of the many other Brooklyn neighborhoods worth checking out include Bushwick, Fort Greene, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens and, in the warmer months, Coney Island.
5. Get Lost
Even locals are constantly making new discoveries in NYC, as there are always interesting new venues and experiences popping up. Pick a random neighborhood and simply wander. Put away your phone and iPod and really pay attention to your surroundings, noticing every shop, restaurant, bar, studio, gallery, theater, park and attraction. You’re guaranteed to make some findings not found in your guidebook.
6. Be Aware Of Scams
Despite popular belief, there are many friendly, helpful locals in New York City. That being said, there are also some people who will want to take advantage of you. For this reason, it’s important to be aware of scams. Don’t purchase a MetroCard off of anyone besides for authorized MTA staff or ticket machines, or you might find yourself with an empty card with no subway credit. Always beware of street rappers trying to sell you CDs, as they can be uncomfortably aggressive. And if a stranger tries to exchange four quarters for a dollar, just say no, as you’ll typically wind up with only 50 cents for the exchange.
New York City. Photo courtesy of Loli.
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
