NYC Visitor Ideas
 

My wife and I are headed to NYC tomorrow. We are staying at the NY Hilton across from Radio City Music Hall on Ave of the Americas. We've been in NYC a few times, but would like to see and visit some "other" sights. We've done the "typical" NYC scene, like Times Square, Rockefeller Plaza, Central Park, Battery Park, Chinatown, Little Italy, etc....

Anyone have some ideas that are "outside" of the "typical" NYC sights? We are not HUGE art buffs, but do enjoy some museums (we've been to the MET, Whitney, Natural History, MOMA).

Any suggestions are welcomed! Thanks.

Arrive on Sunday afternoon and leave on Wednesday afternoon.

Thanks very much.

RRT

The Museum of Arts and Design at Columbus Circle has a really cool exhibition of paper art called "Slash" that I thought was wonderful--and you don't have to be a serious art buff to enjoy it. The restaurant there is supposed to be very good and has a great view: http://robertnyc.com/ Do you have tickets to anything on (or off) Broadway. Check out www.broadwaybox.com Among others, "Hair" is good, and so is "In the Heights." Have you been to the Tenement Museum? www.tenement.org It's very interesting.

Take a walk on the High Line. Take a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry for an outstanding view of the Statue of Liberty and the lower NYC skyline. Take trip to Ellis Island. Go to Top of the Rock.

Other possibilities:

The Cloisters
Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
Morgan Library
New York Public Library at 42nd Street and Fifth Ave
Grand Central Station
Tenement Museum
Conservatory Garden and Harlem Meer in Central Park
Museum of the City of New York
Wander Greenwich Village, East Village, Lower East Side, and/or Soho

One more: The Orchid Show at the NY Botanical Gardens.

Frick Museum

I can't say enough about the Tenement Museum, but that may be because my family came in through Ellis Island, lived in the neighborhood, and my grandfathers were tailors (one of the highlighted "professions" of the families living in the building). It's a short tour, about an hour, and has the added advantage of being in the LES, so you get to see that neighborhood, and a couple of blocks from Katz' Deli - perfect for lunch.

Ellis Island is fantastic, but a much much longer time commitment (at least half a day).

By the way, your hotel is not across the street from the Radio City Music Hall. It's actually 3 04 4 blocks north of the theater.

Many museums are closed on Monday, so check.

more votes for the Frick, an excellent small museum in a beautiful setting, and for Ellis Island and/or the Lower East Side Tenement museum.

Have had enough of Manhattan? Head to Queens or Brooklyn.
In Brooklyn, check out Coney Island before it gets shut down for good. The tower no longer works, but it's still there. Walk down to ex-Child's restaurant. It's the structure with the Neptune terra cota, which is now a skating ring. Jump off the pier, buy fresh fish or crabs there. If you are bored, start off from Brighton Beach where the Russians live and walk down to W37st. to check out Sea Gate from the end of the boardwalk, you'll have to go on the rocks.
BTW, taste a drink called KVAS at the Russian pubs there.

Everyone seems to recommend the Tenement Museum. However, I got the impression that you can visit the museum by a tour only. I have people in my group who do not speak English, so I am afraid the Tenement Museum will not please them.

It is true you can only visit the Tenement Museum by tour.

By the way there is little doing in Coney Island. The Cyclone doesn't open until March 28.

The City has just bought back the land that was Astroland from Joe Sitt, even though it is unclear what they will do with it.