The 100 Best Free Things to Do in New York City
Jul 15th, 2008, 12:53 PM
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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...2&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.
What is your favorite guilt-FREE pleasure in New York?
So, the Europe forum has begun listing some activities:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&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.
What is your favorite guilt-FREE pleasure in New York?
Jul 15th, 2008, 12:54 PM
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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.
Jul 15th, 2008, 01:04 PM
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Jul 15th, 2008, 01:17 PM
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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.
Jul 15th, 2008, 01:24 PM
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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
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
Jul 15th, 2008, 01:53 PM
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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.
But, travelbuff, people watching at Coney Island is never free for me. It always costs me the price of a Nathan's hot dog.
Jul 15th, 2008, 03:13 PM
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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 . . . .
But like a visit to Coney Island, it never turns out to be free . . . .
Jul 15th, 2008, 04:20 PM
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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.
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.
Jul 15th, 2008, 05:37 PM
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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.
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.
Jul 15th, 2008, 05:49 PM
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Jul 15th, 2008, 07:44 PM
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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
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
Jul 15th, 2008, 07:51 PM
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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.
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.
