New York City - What You Can Do on a Shoestring Budget
So, you're planning to visit New York City.
Depending on the season, there are a variety of activities that are either free or relatively cheap.
New York City is comprised of five boroughs, each very different from the others, but all connected via an integrated transportation system.
The five boroughs are: Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island.
Of course, if your hotel accommodations are located on Manhattan Island (better known as New York City), you have various options or getting around the various neighborhoods (i.
e.
Times Square/Theater District, SoHo, Chinatown, Battery Park, etc.
).
The easiest means of getting around town is the underground rail system or better known as "subway".
Because located underground, travelers avoid the busy streets, thus saving an exorbitant amount of time.
Because there is much to see in New York City, depending on how long the visit, most will opt to take the subway.
A ride on the subway currently costs $2.
00, but a MetroCard can be purchased with discounts, depending on the length of stay and how much usage one needs.
Another means for getting around town is by bus.
For purposes of getting cross-town (East to West), bus is my preferable means of transportation, other than by foot.
If by foot, I suggest the appropriate walking gear (sneaker/shoe).
I wouldn't suggest the latter if the weather is inclement.
Of course there are books that provide self-guided walking tours and I would strongly suggest that a traveler, weather permitting, try one of the walking tours as there's no better way to get a "feel" for the City.
Now because accommodations can be quite costly if "in season", it would be advisable to look to the other, outer boroughs, such as Brooklyn and/or Staten Island.
Staten Island offers "free" ferry passage to/from Manhattan.
Depending on hotel accommodations, some do offer free transportation to and from the ferry terminal, thus providing free passage to Manhattan Island! It is not the most convenient means of passage, but nonetheless there are places to go and things to see in Staten Island that also provide an inexpensive means for daily activity.
Brooklyn is connected to Manhattan by a short train ride.
You will recall I spoke about the subway, but there are parts of train travel that offer "el" service (meaning, it is above ground).
When traveling by train from Brooklyn to Manhattan, depending on which line/train you took, one would travel across the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge is over 100 years old and offers stunning views of both Manhattan and Brooklyn while traveling across it.
Too, if one had a rental car (which is really not advisable if not familiar with the City), you would be able to drive across the Brooklyn and/or Manhattan Bridge(s) for free! There are a host of museum offerings, located on Manhattan Island as well as the other four boroughs.
Some, such as the Staten Island Museum are free all the time, others ask for donations on a particular day of the week, such as the Bronx Zoo asks for "what you can afford" donations on Wednesday.
Rockefeller Center located around 50th Street and the Avenue of Americas is another place one would definitely want to go.
This is where St.
Patrick's Cathedral is located and during the Christmas Holiday season a great place to visit.
Window dressings at Sak's Fifth Avenue is a must see as well.
Which leads me to window shopping.
If you're the type that can handle window shopping as opposed to spending, then this may or may not be for you.
Besides Saks, taking a walk down Fifth Avenue can be a real treat.
Just past 42nd Street is Grand Army Plaza which houses a public library and during the Summer there are concerts and/or plays in the park.
What would be a visit to New York City, if one didn't take a walk in Central Park.
Yes, it's safe.
But of course, I advise that you "travel safe" and be aware of your surroundings.
For theater goers, there's TKTS.
An organization that sells discounted theater tickets, both on- and off- Broadway.
TKTS is located both at South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan and near the Theater District at 47th Street and Broadway.
In Brooklyn, there's a location for TKTS at One Metro Tech Center which is reachable by train.
To summarize, there are many modes of transportation for getting around town to either visit a museum, take a walk in the park, or enjoy a concert, whether it be right on Manhattan island or the outer boroughs.
For more information about getting around town, go to www.
mta.
info/nyct
Depending on the season, there are a variety of activities that are either free or relatively cheap.
New York City is comprised of five boroughs, each very different from the others, but all connected via an integrated transportation system.
The five boroughs are: Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island.
Of course, if your hotel accommodations are located on Manhattan Island (better known as New York City), you have various options or getting around the various neighborhoods (i.
e.
Times Square/Theater District, SoHo, Chinatown, Battery Park, etc.
).
The easiest means of getting around town is the underground rail system or better known as "subway".
Because located underground, travelers avoid the busy streets, thus saving an exorbitant amount of time.
Because there is much to see in New York City, depending on how long the visit, most will opt to take the subway.
A ride on the subway currently costs $2.
00, but a MetroCard can be purchased with discounts, depending on the length of stay and how much usage one needs.
Another means for getting around town is by bus.
For purposes of getting cross-town (East to West), bus is my preferable means of transportation, other than by foot.
If by foot, I suggest the appropriate walking gear (sneaker/shoe).
I wouldn't suggest the latter if the weather is inclement.
Of course there are books that provide self-guided walking tours and I would strongly suggest that a traveler, weather permitting, try one of the walking tours as there's no better way to get a "feel" for the City.
Now because accommodations can be quite costly if "in season", it would be advisable to look to the other, outer boroughs, such as Brooklyn and/or Staten Island.
Staten Island offers "free" ferry passage to/from Manhattan.
Depending on hotel accommodations, some do offer free transportation to and from the ferry terminal, thus providing free passage to Manhattan Island! It is not the most convenient means of passage, but nonetheless there are places to go and things to see in Staten Island that also provide an inexpensive means for daily activity.
Brooklyn is connected to Manhattan by a short train ride.
You will recall I spoke about the subway, but there are parts of train travel that offer "el" service (meaning, it is above ground).
When traveling by train from Brooklyn to Manhattan, depending on which line/train you took, one would travel across the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge is over 100 years old and offers stunning views of both Manhattan and Brooklyn while traveling across it.
Too, if one had a rental car (which is really not advisable if not familiar with the City), you would be able to drive across the Brooklyn and/or Manhattan Bridge(s) for free! There are a host of museum offerings, located on Manhattan Island as well as the other four boroughs.
Some, such as the Staten Island Museum are free all the time, others ask for donations on a particular day of the week, such as the Bronx Zoo asks for "what you can afford" donations on Wednesday.
Rockefeller Center located around 50th Street and the Avenue of Americas is another place one would definitely want to go.
This is where St.
Patrick's Cathedral is located and during the Christmas Holiday season a great place to visit.
Window dressings at Sak's Fifth Avenue is a must see as well.
Which leads me to window shopping.
If you're the type that can handle window shopping as opposed to spending, then this may or may not be for you.
Besides Saks, taking a walk down Fifth Avenue can be a real treat.
Just past 42nd Street is Grand Army Plaza which houses a public library and during the Summer there are concerts and/or plays in the park.
What would be a visit to New York City, if one didn't take a walk in Central Park.
Yes, it's safe.
But of course, I advise that you "travel safe" and be aware of your surroundings.
For theater goers, there's TKTS.
An organization that sells discounted theater tickets, both on- and off- Broadway.
TKTS is located both at South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan and near the Theater District at 47th Street and Broadway.
In Brooklyn, there's a location for TKTS at One Metro Tech Center which is reachable by train.
To summarize, there are many modes of transportation for getting around town to either visit a museum, take a walk in the park, or enjoy a concert, whether it be right on Manhattan island or the outer boroughs.
For more information about getting around town, go to www.
mta.
info/nyct
Source...