What to do in New York?
 

I am 15 years old and going to new york in july with my mom, cousin (15) and aunt. We want to do things which are not the typical tourist things like the empire state, the satue of liberty, etc. For example, we prefer small and unique places to eat instead of chain restaurants, and renting bikes to ride in central park (even if that is kind of touristy). Any recommendations? Thank you!

There are many standard tourist sights that are well worth the visit like Met Museum and MoMA. Do not discount places simply they are well worn.

Once you are out of the Times Square area, you will only see just a few chain restaurants, even though more appearing every day.

I live downtown and here is a list for that area of the City.

Here is a list I have posted a few times before and are mainly East Village. Unless otherwise stated it is inexpensive to moderately expensive. I have fallen behind in trying new places.

For new and cheap and just great food. Patacon Pisao-Venezulean, unbelievable chacapas
http://pataconpisaonyc.com/

Au Za'atar which very reasonably priced French-Mideastern

Indian-Brick Lane, Saravanaa Bhavan (on Lex and about 26 St.)

Inexpensive Italian- La Marca (3rd Ave. and 22 Street, only opened noon-10 PM, Mon-Fri) Great Value

Taiwanese Bao-The Baohaus-The guy with the TV show and book

Burgers- Brindle Room, Black Iron (also have wonderful onion rings and veggie fries), Paul’s (local divy spot), Corner Bistro (on everyone’s list, zoo on weekends),

Hip American-Northern Spy, Brindle Room

Hip Filipino both owned by the same people Jeepney and Maharlikan (more expensive)

Pork sandwiches-Porchetta (that is all they offer and limited seating)

Medium priced Italian-Cacio e Pepe, Gnocco, Supper (cash only), Luzzos (Wood burning pizza oven), Le Zie (7th Ave and about 19th),

Eastern European- Veselka,

BBQ-Mighty Quinn

French Bistro- Lucien (more expensive), the cheaper ones have disappeared

Greek-Pylos (little more expensive), Taverna Kyuclaides for fish

Tapas- Tia Pol, Nai, La Boqueria, Café Mono (more expensive)

Dessert-Veniero's

Ice Cream-Davey’s, Sundaes and Cones on E 10, Cones on Bleecker, il Laboratorio del Gelato

Dim Sum in Chinatown-Jing Fong, Golden Unicron, Nom Wah.

Don't stay in a hotel in the Times Square area. That is the best advise I can give you. Find a hotel near a subway station and use the subway to get around.

Who scared you off doing tourist things? They are "touristy" because they are the best things for visitors to do. How sad to go to NYC, especially if it's your first time and avoid what makes NYC an attraction. Yes, riding a bike in Central Park is nice if you have nowhere to ride a bike at home. Do you have a Statue of Liberty or Empire State Building in your home town?

Do you have any special interests? We could make better suggestions if we knew what is interesting to you and your cousin since there are so many things to choose from in NYC. For example, do you like or dislike art, history, dance, comic books, watching or playing sports, shopping, books, theater, architecture, museums, dinosaurs, movies, anime, food, boating, walking . . .

Actually, riding bicycles in Central Park may be frustrating since you can ride on the roads only, NOT on the pathways, so you might not be able to see as much as you might like to see.

A couple of notes:

Agree that riding a bike in Central Park is not a great idea since you are limited to the only 2 roads in the park. Most of the paths are pedestrian only (except for small children) and you would end up walking the bikes a lot of the way and be limited in what you can see.

I understand the idea - we live about half a block from the Park and often bike there on weekends - but for exercise - people will be riding fast, not dawdling along - in the few places you can ride.

And definitely do NOT attempt to ride in city streets, many drivers do not watch out for bikes. if you do this walk the bikes to park on the sidewalk.

As for different things to do in the city - there is something for everyone. Tell us your interests and people can make suggestions. (And agree to not stay in Times Square and avoid trashy things like Mme Tussauds and similar.

I'm a lot older than 15… (and don't know if you are male or female….)
and I live in NYC but I hope I can get to see the new dinosaur at the Museum of Natural History. It's so large I think it's called a titanosaures.. or something like that.

Whatever you do don't get in one of those pedicabs…will cost you a fortune.
Are you interested in the theater? There's lots of interesting stuff besides Broadway.

Also those who don't want to trek to the Statue of Liberty prefer a sail-by while riding the Staten Island Ferry. (A fun thing even New Yawkers sometimes do.)

No one who has not visited the Grolier Club can say they have been to New York.

http://www.grolierclub.org

I have been to the Growler Club.

I'll keep my eye on this posting too as our family will be there this summer. The Grolier Club looks very interesting. I wonder if my teens would enjoy it?

I can now check bicycle riding off of our list of possible Central Park activities. : ) we'll have to burn all of those New York food calories another way.

Some suggestions:
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Explore those neighborhoods, Dumbo, Park Slope, etc.
Walk on the HighLine, and explore galleries below and eat at the market
Visit the Tenement Museum and eat at a kosher deli nearby
Take the Staten Island ferry. Stay on the starboard rail going, to take photos of the Statue of Liberty
Go up to the Cloisters, far from the madding crowds of downtown
See a Broadway or off-Broadway show.
Explore some more of the neighborhoods, walking, eating, window shopping.
Visit more museums ( MOMA, main Met buildings, Frick, Guggenheim, etc)
Take a long walk in Central Park
Go up the Top of the Rock (shorter lines than Empire State, view of the city and harbor is well worth what line there is IMO)
Maybe take the subway out to Brighton Beach/Coney Island and walk on the boardwalk. Eat Russian food.

Are we taking bets yet that the OP won't be back, and probably never even checked back to see if anyone offered suggestions?

New York has a host of unique places to see and things to do.

Since you apparently are not going to tell us about yourselves here are soe different things.

Lincoln center has backstage tours and also there are low cost tickets to the rehearsals of many of the offerings - go to the lincoln center website

Check out some of the "other" museums in NYC - apart from the top 5 that people usually reco:
Museo del Barrio
Museum of Sex
Asia Society

Look at the web site of TimeOut New York- which lists everything happening including restaurants that have music and comedy clubs that have early shows teens can go to

Look at the web site of New York Magazine which has a searchable listing of special events - you can check by date or topic

nyt… Museum of Sex for a 15 y.o.? -:)

It's definitely off the beaten path. Are 15 year olds unaware of sex?

Señora Reco, I assume you were being snarky about reco'ing the Museum of Sex to a 15 YO girl but, per the website, admittance is for 18 and older.

<i>Are 15 year olds unaware of sex?</I>

They're more likely to be engaging in it than seeking out a museum experience. Sweet Jesus.

<i>Since you apparently are not going to tell us about yourselves here are soe different things.</I>

Not everyone spends 24/7 trolling Fodor's travel forums. The OP thanked people in advance for their recommendations. That is plenty. You're usually the first to crap on adults for planning kids' trips and those who want to check the typical tourist boxes including chain restaurants. So Cruella, how about cutting this young person some slack b/c she's made a pretty articulate request for input?

<No one who has not visited the Grolier Club can say they have been to New York. http://www.grolierclub.org>
Feeling the need to leap on a plane to NYC!

I like the Museum of the City of New York, if you go to the Met Museum you could try the Director's audio tour. How about a walking tour that jives with your interests there are LOTS of them.

If you want smaller shops/boutiques head down to the West Village where you'll find smaller street, lots of history etc

NeoPatrick- Even if she never comes back , I still appreciate all of the suggestions. Everyone's thoughtfulness won't go to waste minus the Museum of Sex, haha.

Well, coming to NYC as a tourist is kind of "touristy".

If you dont care for tall buildings, an old statue, or "Les Nudas" in Times Square, may I suggest the Bronx in all its drug and gang infested glory, Coney Island in Brooklyn,
or the "Guidos" of Staten Island:
http://s107.photobucket.com/user/dub...os/gd.jpg.html