Visitors often overlook many hidden gems of NYC; ride the Staten Island Ferry, stroll along the High Line or visit Washington Heights’ graffiti tunnel for some unique experiences.
If you love cats, visit Meow Parlour or indulge in pizza at Ferrara; for sports fans looking for some action head to Madison Square Garden for an NY Yankees or Knicks game!
1. The Museum of the Moving Image
As you explore New York more often or live here full-time, there may be attractions you have crossed off as too touristy – but that’s OK; the city has so much more to offer!
If you want to gain more insight into how movies are made, the Museum of the Moving Image is an ideal destination. This family friendly attraction explores film’s art, technology and social impact; props and costumes from well-known movies/TV shows as well as learning more about filmmaking from an insider perspective are just some of the exhibits on display here.
The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens is just a quick subway ride from Manhattan. Open Friday afternoons from 4:00pm to 8:00pm free-of-charge, the museum also hosts special film screenings and discussions throughout the year.
Are you in search of laughter? Check out one of New York City’s many comedy clubs; some popular options include Comedy Cellar and The Stand; however, lesser-known gems await discovery as well. Cellar Dog offers jazz-and-shuffleboard entertainment if you need an escape from New York City life!
2. The New York Transit Museum
New York City offers many off-the-beaten-path activities for visitors of all kinds to experience and discover, from haunted hospitals to adult playgrounds – here are the best non-touristy experiences you should take advantage of in NYC!
At Brooklyn’s Court Street Station is an underground museum showcasing the history of NYC subway service. Exhibits highlight buses and trains from times gone by while Steel, Stone, and Backbone displays historic tools used for building subway lines.
Visits to the Morgan Library and Museum are among the more sophisticated, non-touristy activities available in New York City. Visitors will delight in marveling at its ornate decor and rare manuscripts adorning its walls from floor-to-ceiling, not to mention an exquisite reading room and impressive book collection including one printed by Johannes Gutenberg himself in 1455!
Chelsea offers an easy and economical way to explore some of NYC’s most fascinating spots – packed with art galleries that are free to enter, you can spend an enjoyable and fulfilling day exploring some of its most captivating spots. There’s sure to be an exhibition or two here that meets your interests perfectly!
3. The Merchant’s House Museum
In New York City there are world-renowned museums filled with breathtaking displays. However, many of these institutions can become overwhelmed with tourists taking photos with selfie sticks; this may ruin your experience of these timeless institutions. If you prefer something off-the-beaten-path then consider visiting Merchant’s House Museum instead.
This historic house at 29 East Fourth Street stands out as it is one of only three family homes in all of Manhattan that have been preserved intact, inside and out, from its construction during the 19th century. This gives us an amazing insight into life for a wealthy merchant class family in Manhattan at that time.
At your arrival, be sure to take a photo of the beautiful courtyard before entering the museum. After entering, take either a self-guided tour or one of the guided tours offered by staff; don’t miss seeing their collection of subway cars from 1916 as well as wooden elevated trains dating all the way back to 19th century! Don’t miss their interesting exhibits such as “On the Street: Trolleys and Buses”, featuring trolley cars dating back from 1916 as well as wooden elevated trains dating back even further than that!
Check out the amazing upstairs parlor with its ceiling that recalls Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting; definitely one of the coolest and most unusual things to do in NYC!
4. The New York City Carousel
New York City may be best known for its skyscrapers and pigeons, but it also holds another less obvious distinction: It has more carousels than any other place worldwide!
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Jane’s Carousel is one of the city’s most stunning merry-go-rounds, dating back to 1922 when it was created by Philadelphia Toboggan Company and named in honor of Jane Walentas, a DUMBO patron who spearheaded its restoration. Aside from its stunning beauty, Jane’s Carousel is also eco-friendly: powered by solar panels and shaded by a living green roof for maximum shade!
Prospect Park’s Carousel is an exciting attraction, boasting 57 hand-carved horses and two chariots for children to ride. Recently added is SeaGlass Carousel which uses LED color-changing lights to mimic underwater ocean scenes.
Staten Island Zoo boasts a spectacular carousel perfect for animal enthusiasts of all ages, with small children loving to ride upon clown fish, komodo dragons, seahorses or seahorses while larger kids may prefer riding a bald eagle!
The New York City Carousel is an excellent way to take your children outside and experience real-life fun, while getting closer to iconic statues such as Lady Liberty. After you ride, why not explore nearby attractions like the criminally underrated National Museum of the American Indian or Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
5. The New York State Museum
The New York State Museum is an expansive research institution that houses numerous programs and centers dedicated to understanding geological, biological and archaeological phenomena in New York State. Additionally, this museum contains some unique exhibits which make visiting something worth doing during any stay in NYC.
History buff or not, this museum provides plenty of attractions that will engage all visitors. A large portion of it focuses on New York and its inhabitants – you can walk through areas like Harlem slums or take in dioramas depicting life on city streets. There’s even an immigration section and one featuring a scaled down version of Grand Central Terminal!
In addition, the museum boasts an impressive mineral gallery where visitors can touch and feel rocks on display, an area dedicated to natural world, including plants and animals found locally, rooms dedicated to native people dwellings such as wigwams or dwellings as well as a tribute for victims of 9/11, featuring vintage fire engines as well as free carousels on the fourth floor that visitors can ride while touring through.
6. The National Museum of the American Indian
Located on Washington, DC’s National Mall, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) features two main attractions – its museum itself and an additional facility – the George Gustav Heye Center — in New York City. With one of the finest collections of Native art anywhere in the world and exhibits and cultural arts programs that trace Native peoples throughout Western Hemisphere history, NMAI provides two distinct experiences for visitors to discover.
The museum, established as part of the Smithsonian Institution by an act of Congress in 1989, initially housed objects collected by George Gustav Heye (1874-1957), who traveled throughout North and South America collecting Native artifacts.
Beginning a tour of the NMAI begins with admiring its exquisite exterior, designed by indigenous architects. Once inside, visitors are presented with interconnected galleries organized by region – starting on the first level with “Our Universes”, exploring beliefs and creation stories before proceeding upstairs for “Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire”, an exhibition showcasing an early engineering feat.
NMAI also provides family programming such as storytelling and percussion workshops, lectures, craft demonstrations and an imagiNATIONS Activity Center geared toward kids. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except December 25th with free admission NMAI can be reached by Metrorail Blue/Orange/Silver/Green lines as well as bus routes 30, 32/34/36.
