The NYC Traveler in NYC: Travel & See Like A New Yorker
- Nov 9
- 7 min read
Hang Out in NYC Like a Local (Tourist spots we visit but we don't want to admit)
1. The Museums: New Yorkers might belong to museums as members or have free or discounted access with a NYC ID. Having a membership allows great flexibility, you don't have to feel rushed to see everything in one visit and you can attend special members only events. Take advantage of musical events, workshops, lectures and other events. It's like having a community center.
Most long time New Yorkers visit the Queens Museum as a student as well as the neighboring New York Hall of Science, both of which are practically in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which as even more amenities to make the trip worth the journey (a really full day might include a sporting event at either the USTA Tennis Center or Citi Field). For film buffs, head to the Museum of the Moving Image, which takes on great meaning when one realizes that New York is behind only Los Angeles as one of the most filmed cities in the world. Remember, the film industry actually started on this coast, with its ready supply of actors on Broadway and in vaudeville. Plan your other activities around this museum: its hours are limited. Jazz buffs will certainly want to visit the Louis Armstrong House Museum, located in his last residence. Visitors are often surprised to see it's just a regular house. Armstrong liked living among regular folks, and became a favorite with the neighborhood kids who often had no idea who he was. Check about traveling there, parking is often a bit difficult if you drive.
There is a charming little known museum within walking distance of Jamaica Station and the Long Island Railroad: King Manor was owned by one of the signers of the US Constitution and one of the first US Senators representing New York State. Perhaps the greatest surprise to visitors to New York is the Queens County Farm Museum, a working farm with activities and events all year long. Be prepared, its a popular field trip for schools in the are city and from Long Island. The Sculpture Center has revolving exhibits, and MoMa PS1, the sibling museum of the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan are great options.
Brooklyn packs a 1-2-3-4-5 punch with the Brooklyn Museum right in the heart of the neighborhood literally steps away from The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Grand Army Plaza, the magnificent Brooklyn Public Library and Prospect Park. The 2 or 3 trains will bring you right there from Atlantic Terminal, which is a station for the Long Island Railroad. While you're there in Brooklyn, check out the schedule for BAM, Brooklyn Academy of Music, another locale popular with schools. But the winner for kids is the Brooklyn Children's Museum, a parent's best friend on a rainy day, (as well as the Jewish Children's Museum). On a sunny day, it's even more fun: a park is right there to help burn off the rest of the energy.
Another popular museum is the Transit Museum, which not only has exhibits but a satellite location in Grand Central in Manhattan, and moving exhibits. Vintage trains and buses are sometimes put into service for a limited time on real routes so that people can experience days of old. Wyckoff House, the first building to be given historic landmark designation. The history of the house and land combined goes back to 1636, with the current house dating back to about 1641. The historical farmhouse's access is seasonal, so check the website. Also on the list is the Weeksville Heritage Center about the free African American community in Brooklyn.
In the Bronx, look for the opening of the Hip Hop Museum, documenting the genre that made sure music would never be the same again; over on City Island, there is a nautical museum preserving the seafaring history of the area; the flagship Bronx Museum of the Arts (currently in renovation), showcases modern and contemporary art along with events and educational workshops, this museum is worth the trip, currently it is free to all. You can't beat that. While you're at Yankee Stadium, you'll see not only the pride of the Yankees on exhibit (yes, the pun was intended) but through the team, much about the history of of baseball in general.
Over on Staten Island, Snug Harbor Cultural Center combines galleries with its. botanical garden (and it's near the water with fantastic views of Manhattan across the bay). Pay attention to the ticket prices and make sure you get the right combo for what you want to see. The case of a museum being a town is Historic Richmond Town, recreating the past with historic buildings, working small farms and events and activities. Not to be outdone by the other boroughs, Staten Island has its own Children's Museum (make the trip complete with a trip to the Staten Island Zoo). The National Lighthouse Museum wins the prize for the most convenient location with the best way to get there: take the Staten Island Ferry from downtown Manhattan, take a left and you're there.
Each borough has a historical society and large public libraries that sponsor exhibits, lectures, galleries and other events and activities. The Sandy Ground Historical Society is on Staten island, Queens Historical Society is in an 18th century house, the Center for Brooklyn History is located in the Brooklyn Public Library, an attraction of its own the Bronx County Historical Society operates the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and the Museum of Bronx History at the Valentine-Varian House. Finally, Manhattan has the New York Historical Society presided over by a fascinating sculpture of Frederick Douglass.
2. Each borough has its special park and you can start with Manhattan's The High Line: take an old elevated train track, make use of the spaces underneath with great restaurants, add the Whitney Museum at one end and the number 7 train hub at the other, mix well and you have a nice way to spend an afternoon in most weather. Check the website for visiting information. Over in Queens, tour many of the parks at once on the rail trail from Alley Pond to Cunningham to Kissena to Flushing. Needless to say this almost 6 mile journey is best done jogging or riding a bicycle. Go from one county to another the same way from Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx to Westchester County on part of the 14 miles South County Trailway. In Staten Island, get your GPS ready and hit the parks that connect similarly. In Brooklyn, Fort Greene Park will give you a sense of deja vu: it's featured in movies and TV shows, starting with Brooklyn native Spike Lee.
3. Other Parks: Tourists head to Central Park but locals hang out in their neighborhood parks which range from a one block square or triangle to acres and acres. Journey to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx; Cunningham Park, Alley Pond Park, Kissena Park or Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens; Prospect Park or Carnarsie Pier in Brooklyn (along with the entire Coney Island area) and Clove Lakes State Park or Latourette Park on Staten Island. Golf, swim, bicycle or just sit out under a tree.
4. Greenwich Village: Below 14th (East and West), Manhattan does not have the square grid design of streets and avenues. Resembling our European city cousins, streets angle in and out, seemingly follow no set pattern and reveal delightful little nooks and crannies such as church gardens, boutiques, small theaters and sidewalk cafes. Once solely the territory of hippies, radicals, artists, underground musicians, locally known basketball stars, they now share their land with unique boutiques, slick galleries, cozy eating spots and street vendors. But some of the old Village is still there. Head to West 4th Street Courts to see serious basketball; Washington Square Park, a combo local park and college quad; Joe's Pizza (go to this one, not the ones in Times Square) across from the Father Demo Square and two quiet spaces: Jefferson Market Garden and St. Luke in the Fields Garden. Get your groove on at Cafe Wha!, the Blue Note and the Village Underground, where there is not a single local musician that either hasn't played at one of these venues or knows someone who has.
5. Our Street Fairs: Although the most neutral source of information should be the NYC Tourism website, it may not always be up-to-date. Searching NYC street fairs on the internet will yield the websites for the companies that seem to sponsor the generic fairs. But, when the real festivals occur, they draw the locals. Watch the local news or go to their websites under the community events tab and you will find the authentic neighborhood street fairs, the ones with authentic food, great local bands and real New Yorkers. Even the famous annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy still retains its real, small town (albeit extremely crowded) charm. Go during the day in the middle of the week (although the nighttime is really great fun) and you can escape some of the crowds literally walking down Mulberry Street at the proverbial snail's pace.
The NYC Traveler Presents Tips for Your Trips
Subscribe to our blog!
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All photos and videos created and copyrighted by Marcia Crayton, unless otherwise noted.
Comments