# A free day in New York. What to do?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-free-day-in-new-york-what-to-do/165361
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [March 31, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-free-day-in-new-york-what-to-do/165361 "2003-03-31T03:47:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MrWhy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrWhy)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-free-day-in-new-york-what-to-do/165361/1 "2003-03-31T03:47:32Z")
My SO will be in New York for a week or so next month, on business. She will have one day (Sunday 6 April, I think) free before beginning work.
Can any locals (or others) suggest a good way to pass the day? She will probably be a bit tired and jet-lagged, so nothing too strenuous, but she doesn’t want to sit around in her hotel all day wasting the opportunity to have a look around.
She expects to be staying in a hotel near Maddison Avenue, as that is where her company’s head office is.
Any thoughts appreciated.
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### Author:  [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-free-day-in-new-york-what-to-do/165361/2 "2003-03-31T04:14:06Z")
The Search for Life space show at the Rose Center Planetarium in the Natural History museum, followed by lunch at Serendpity.
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### Author:  [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-free-day-in-new-york-what-to-do/165361/3 "2003-03-31T04:26:30Z")
That is such a big question it is hard to know where to begin. It’s like saying “What would you do in Sydney in one day?” If it’s a nice day, the [Circle Line](http://www.circleline.com/) boat tour around Manhattan is relaxing. Ditto just hanging out in Central Park. Contrary to some impressions, the park is not full of dangerous people; mostly just folks hanging out, families with their children, etc. Of course, if she likes to shop, well, just bring money. Like Sydney or any other major city, it can be pricey. If the weather outside is not nice, there are a ton of museums. My favorite is the [American Museum of Natural History](http://www.amnh.org/). The [Official New York City Tourism Web Site](http://www.nycvisit.com/home/index.cfm) will have lots more info. Your local library or book store will surely have many suggestions, too.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-free-day-in-new-york-what-to-do/165361/4 "2003-03-31T07:57:06Z")
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is nice - impossible to see the whole thing in one day, but if she concentrates on a section, and takes it easy, it is a nice way to spend the day. It is where I went on my last day in NY before I moved west.
Check New York or the New Yorker for interesting exhibits at smaller museums, also.
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-free-day-in-new-york-what-to-do/165361/5 "2003-03-31T12:50:59Z")
There’s no such thing as a free day in New York. It’s a very expensive place. 😛
The [Metropolitan Museum of Art](http://www.metmuseum.org/) is on 5th Ave (close to Madison) and is fantabulous. It’s also right next to Central Park, so when you get tired of paintings you can hang out with the trees and stuff.