New York City is the greatest resource for outings big and small. Here are a few places I’ve been and enjoyed:
New York Historical Society. This is a moderate-sized museum across the street from the Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. It typically runs a few in-depth exhibits on a variety of historical and cultural topics (ex. Madeline, the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Vietnam War…). It’s a good idea to check their site before you go to see what’s on. I’ve spent about two hours here. Cost: $21 for adults, $13 for students
Gulliver’s Gate. This is a fairly new attraction in Midtown. It’s an exhibit of models of many famous (and not-so-famous) locations around the world. I especially liked the mini NYC, complete with a tiny subway platform and graffiti 🙂 We spent about 90 minutes here. Cost: ~$35 for adults (occasionally you can find coupon codes or sales)
Grand Central Terminal audio tour. This is more interesting than it sounds! I did this one day over the summer and it was so relaxing :-). The tour is an hour long. Cost: $5 for the app or $9 for the audio rental.
9/11 Museum. This is obviously intense, but we didn’t find it overwhelming. I went with a friend during the 9 days shortly after it opened. Lines were really long at the time; I don’t know what it’s like these days but buying in advance is probably a good idea. Cost: $24 for adults, $20 for students
Hamilton Grange. This is Alexander Hamilton’s house in upper Manhattan! Check the site for tour times because they’re not super frequent but it’s free and really a pleasant way to spend an hour. We learned a lot about the history of New York City as well as A.H.’s life. Cost: free
Tenement Museum. I haven’t been here since high school but it’s totally worth a trip back! I keep meaning to go on a day off. Cost varies depending on the tour package but is in the $20-30 range.
As previously mentioned here, I’ve enjoyed the Neue Galerie (which is small), and the Met (which is enormous). MoMA and the Whitney were not really my thing.
“Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge” has been on my bucket list for the longest time. I guess that should wait until the weather warms up.
Do you have any recommendations for fun or interesting things to do in the city? Would love to hear your suggestions!
