New York City Things to Do

New York City’s cultural and historical museums are countless; and, one that is often overlooked is the National Museum of the American Indian. Located in the Financial District in the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, this museum fosters an understanding and appreciation of Native American history and culture through artifacts, exhibitions, public programs, tours, film screenings and art.

New York City is known for having world-class museums, and the Museum of Jewish Heritage is one of its best. Although the museum’s full title includes “A Living Memorial to the Holocaust,” the museum’s content is not limited to that event alone; it addresses Jewish history and culture throughout the twentieth and twenty first centuries – before and after the Holocaust.

The East Village neighborhood of Manhattan is artsy, trendy, and lively (especially at night). It’s common for students and young professionals to reside here, as it encompasses the blocks between 14th and Houston, east of Bowery (on the East River). Most people by now have heard of the musical Rent—the East Village was the (rather unfortunate) setting of the Broadway award-winner. To get there, take the F/V or N/R trains to Second Avenue or 8th Street, respectively.

However when I discovered the Viator VIP: Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and 9/11 Memorial I decided it was time to really see my city’s landmarks. After all, New York City is all about who you know and what special access they can get you – so why shouldn’t it be the same for the main tourists sites too? The tour included the big attractions – Empire State Building, an open top bus ride through midtown, the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum, and the 9/11 Memorial. This would be my first time to do all of these things in NYC!

A ‘free museum’ can come in a variety of forms in New York City – after all, there’s a big difference between museums that are always free and museums that have occasional free nights or special admission (like the MOMA‘s Target Free Fridays). Also, some museums are technically free but still suggest a contribution. For now, we’ll start with the first category: museums that are unique, accessible, and best of all – always free!

New York City, while glitzy and exciting, can also do some hardcore financial wear-and-tear on visitors – especially when you factor in necessities like food, hotels, sightseeing and fun. So here are a few suggestions for how to give your bank account the day off.