Less obvious things to do in New York City for a few days

[Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot]

Due to the war in the Middle East we have had to scramble to rearrange travel plans and will be travelling through NYC. We have decided to spend a few days there.

I have been many times before (I lived nearby in my early 20s for a couple of years) and done all the typical touristy things so am looking for some recommendations of things to do that are a bit less obvious. We don’t particularly want to leave the city.

So, if you had a few days in NYC and didn’t want to go to the ESB and ellen’s stardust diner (although that is v fun!) where would you go?

This time of year Brooklyn Botanical Gardens will have the cherry blossom out, which is spectacular.

One time i went to NYC I just went North one day and wandered around, if I passed a museum or gallery I'd go in, ate in whichever place looked good. The next day I did South and the next, I went West and walked along the River. I did have my SLR camera with me and still have the photos I took that week on the wall. I was experimenting with different techniques and had the time to really stop and test them out.

We worked out way through the Time Out guide for cheap eats and also went to an improvision comedy show. I’d recommend both!

Day trip to Liberty Island and tickets to climb all the way to the top of the crown were a very memorable day out.

We saw at movie at the Met which was fun . Radio city music hall rockettes is really gunning you’ve never done it the theatre is amazing . The New York library tour is great and free . Download the national parks app for interesting and free places to see - anywhere in the US but a few good ones NYC
Take a look at African Burial
National Monument https://www.nps.gov/afbg/index.htm

I was coming on this thread to suggest Tenement Museum but you've already been. Union Sq Green market. Cable car to Roosevelt Island. Staten Island Ferry is a good cheap way t ok get views of the city. Forget the name but there's a former World Fair site in Queens where they have an amazing scale model of the whole city. It probably doesn't still exist but when I lived there (and was skint) in the late 00s we used to get the free IKEA ferry to RedHook which is a really nice neighborhood for pottering. And the cafe in IKEA has floor to ceiling windows with amazing views across the river to lower Manhattan! Upper West Side Sunday flea markets. My knowledge is probably very out of date, though! Cloisters. Also: touristy but lovely: circle line boat tour.

I came on the thread to say this. Absolutely brilliant.