The 100 Best Free Things to Do in New York City
 

I solicited members on the Europe forum for their take on the best free but marvelous things to do in Paris based partly on being inspired by a trip report by quicksilver, a member traveling in Paris now who posted a list of great rainy day picnic spots in Paris.

So, the Europe forum has begun listing some activities:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35143882

Of course, I love to dream of Paris, but I live in New York. Over lunch, an editor and I argued/discussed whether there were more free things to do in Paris than there were in New York City.

So... in the spirit of a little friendly competition, I'm hoping to have a rival list here in the U.S. forum devoted to NYC. I'll then print it out and happily cross off each one I've done and then pursue the remainder.

Paris will have to wait...but hopefully not for long.

((I)) What is your favorite guilt-FREE pleasure in New York?

1. Window shopping at night in Soho when the stores are closed and the crowds are gone walking east to west and ending on 6th Ave. Turning right and walking up, the Empire State Building is staring back.

Central Park walking tours

http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/P...s_walkingtours

I'm with you on the Paris thoughts Katie. But here's my tow cents to your competition: people watching at Coney Island

Walking through the great neighborhoods: Battery, Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge, Chinatown, Little Italy, Lower Broadway, SoHo, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, etc.

The night lights on Broadway

The street musicians in Central Park (gave them a tip so technically not free, I guess)

Samples at Zabars

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge

My 16 & 24yr olds went to Long Island Beach on Saturday and enjoyed it. Not like the gulf, but fun.

Celebrity spotting

Market at Union Square

Walking the different neighborhoods

It's kind of hard to ignore seeing the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

But, travelbuff, people watching at Coney Island is never free for me. It always costs me the price of a Nathan's hot dog.

Browsing the hundreds of incredibly exotic spices, fruits, nuts, chutneys, hot sauces and wonderful things at Kalyustan's Market on Lexington and 28th Street .

But like a visit to Coney Island, it never turns out to be free . . . .

Shakespeare in the Park.

b_b

Grand Central Terminal tour.

Biking Central Park
Biking up the westside hwy & over the GW bridge
Bird watching in Central Park--especially Pale & Lola
Watching any dog park

The Halloween Parade up 6th Avenue. And just walking around the Village and Chelsea watching the locals kids (and Adults) trick or treating.

Walking or biking Central Park in the morning - spring, fall or winter (unless there's too much snow) early in the AM.

What and who you see is incredible - never mind the beauty of the Park itself.

(We live a block away - so do this a lot on weekends.)

And on warm summer evenings, after dinner we sometimes head downtown and take the Staten Island ferry back and forth at 11 or so - just to see the skyline all lit up.

The Olmstead designed Fort Tryon Park. You can walk up to the Cloisters. Incredible views as one walks up or down.

I noticed that the East Village wasn't mentioned yet in the neighborhoods. It is my favorite.

During school days, a walk on the UES at dismissal time is fascinating. Beautiful moms and dads walking home with variously uniformed and lovely children. If you haven't lived that life (I haven't) it is fascinating. And lots of famous parents are out walking their kids home from school.

Along nytraveler's thoughts, the Conservatory Garden on in Central Park on an early summer morning - the air and the colors just vibrate! (but bring allergy meds if you suffer from pollen . ..)

Movies on a midtown lawn in Bryant Park.

http://www.bryantpark.org/calendar/film-festival.php

Watching cricket and other sports in Flushing Meadow Park

Watching them bake bread through the window in Chelsea Market

Chinatown shopping on Sunday morning with various type of live and dead sea food and amphibians and produce

Art Galleries, especially the buildings in the West 20's where you start at the top and work your way down

Looking at the weekly Time Out NY which lists hundreds of free msuical, stage, and reading events

More in the future

The Staten Island ferry - free boat ride with great views of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Then hike up Broadway, detour over to the WTC site, then hike through the Wall street area to South Street Seaport, then back track to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and down the Fulton Mall to Juniors for lunch (OK this last part is not free, but THE CHEESECAKE!). Best done on a weekend morning when the area is quiet and you can stop and gawk at the buildings.

Just about anywhere in Central Park. If you have kids, let them climb on all the rocks. Union Square for people watching and the Union Square market. Browse ABC carpet and home on Broadway nearby.

The Brooklyn Botanical garden (free on Thursdays). Hike through Prospect park and observe all my fellow Brooklynites living in our big communal back yard.

The art shows in the Village and Lincoln Center. Street fairs all over the city. The MOMA museum stores are quite fun.

Great thread - saving for many of the tips. Thanks to all.

Sandy