I’m setting up my schedule for next week and it looks like I’ll be in Manhattan and I have a full day on Monday and a full day on Wednesday, but nothing planned for Tuesday daytime. Normally, I can find something to do that’s work related. But I’m thinking of taking the day off. Any ideas on what to do?
Some additional information. It’s possible that my wife might join me for the day. I hate museums, with the exception of the ones that are interactive, like science museums which have activities mostly for kids. But otherwise my tastes are pretty eclectic. It could be something in the suburbs. And money isn’t an issue.
So, you don’t enjoy museums, which makes my advice much more limited since that’s usually the first thing I hit upon visiting a new city with any notable museums… But it would help if you specified what you do enjoy, and to some degree, where you’re coming from.
For example, if you like browsing books, you might like to visit a place like the Strand bookstore near Union Square. It’s like a three-floor hedge maze made of shelves with books on all topics and in many different languages, new and used and rare/out of print.
If you like food, well, New York is one of the epicurean centers of the world. You can indulge yourself from fancy haute cuisine to cheap and authentic ethnic foods from just about anywhere. For starters, Zabar’s on the Upper West Side is worth visiting just to smell the air as you walk in, of fresh bread, cheeses, sausages, coffee beans, etc.
And while going to the observation deck on the Empire State Building is a “typical tourist thing”, it’s typical for a reason: it’s a grand and impressive view.
Good point. Food is fine. So is most everything. Except museums. As I’m thinking about it I think ideally it would be something learning oriented this time. Maybe I’ll check with The Learning Annex or The Open Center to see to see if they have a one day beginner’s course (on almost anything). I checked with The Manhattan Institute and unfortunately they don’t have a speaker that day.
You might go the the TKTS booth in Duffy Square to see what plays you can see for half price if you don’t want to splurge for full price tickets.
If you want to be very touristy you can a Circle Line tour.
For an interactive museum, try the Paley Museum (formerly museum of television and radio, formerly museum of broadcasting.) While there are some exhibits, the best thing is that you can order old programs to watch. When I last went, over 10 years ago, they queued up tapes for you, I suspect they’ve digitized everything now so it’s more efficient.
I highly recommend the Circle Line, the boat that goes all the way around Manhattan. Yeah, it’s touristy, but after all you’re a tourist.
Same with the Empire State Building.
Also the Staten Island Ferry. It leaves from Battery Park (the southern tip of Manhattan, and goes past the Statue of Liberty, to Staten Island, then you catch the next Ferry back. If you want to see the classic Lower Manhattan skyline, this can’t be beat.
How about a walk through part of Central Park? There’s always something going on there, and they have a neat little zoo.
You can also visit Ground Zero.
And of course, check out the Broadway (and off-Broadway) shows.