Things to do in NY that arent 'touristy'

[Ninjahedge]

Brooklyn Bridge crossing is a good one. I also agree with the High Line over on the West Side (down below the 30's).

One touristy thing is the Top of the Rock. MUCH better pictures there. Time your visit for sunset.

Other places? The West Village. Great beer at The Blind Tiger (Bleeker and Jones) and the whole area is great to walk through (take some pictures of the library at 9th street and 6th avenue!)

Other parks are good. I think Grammercy has the Shake Shack, which MANY recommend (have not been there, waited in line yet).

The whole west side is good in that you start down at Battery Park, and then just keep walking north until you run out of Manhattan!! Plenty of nice pictures up along that way.

You can also cach the PATH train over to Hoboken , walk to the Light Rail stop (at 9th street, all the way in the back) and take the elevator up to the Promenade. Get some good views of the city from the cliffs. There are better views from Weehawken, but that is a longer walk and/or bus ride.

Hope this helps! Also, take a look at wirednewyork.com and look in the forums there. There are many photographers that can tell you more than a few good places to hunt for a good shot....

[MoItaly]

Go to central park and rent a bike or a canoe
Definitely take a trip to the boroughs. Free ferry to Staten Island, go to a few ethnic neighborhoods in Queens, go to the Bronx Zoo and Little Italy on Arthur Ave and go to Brooklyn downtonw, and walk Brooklyn around Prospect park/park Slope.

The Cloisters museum is nice and underestimated. Also it can make for a half day out in a nice and quiet area.

Take the subway to Union Square, walk around the market, stop at Barnes and Nobles.

Take the subway to Washington Square and walk west on Waverly to Christopher, stop in one of the many bars in basements and enjoy a cold one.

Walk around Chelsea, stop by at the Chelsea Market for lunch.

[BruceAdama]

When I was in the city in 2005, I wanted to kill a bit of time, and kind of see the "regular" parts of the city, so I literally just looked in a direction, and started walking, lol. By the time I had finished my trip, I had walked all the way from West 33rd and 8th Avenue, down to Hudson and Canal, and back, lol. When I looked at my watch, I found I had spent three hours walking, but it didn't seem like it, because I was having so much fun. I got to see some very beautiful brick apartments on tree-lined streets, and had a nice lunch in a small West Village cafe.

[hazeleyes86]

Originally Posted by Henna

Thanks for pointing this out. I meant to write "outer" (not other) when I mentioned boroughs, so I went back and added it.

But I did not mention Manhattan or Staten Island in my reference to boroughs because there are no above ground trains there (that I know of), and that's what I was talking about.

btw- great suggestions for this thread!

there are above ground trains in Manhattan uptown, my train is completely elevated in my nabe, a technicality i know just couldnt resist.

[ENFD240]

staten island has the SIRTOA system that runs above ground from st. george to tottenville


also, the staten island ferry is a great way to see the harbor for free

[Coney]

Have some cheesecake at Junior's in Brooklyn
Go Horseback riding at the stables off the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn
Gateway National Park
Visit Flushing Meadows Corona Park and see the Unisphere, the site of the 1964/65 World's Fair. And while you are there, vist the Queens Wildlife Center, the Hall of Science, the Queens Museum of Art which houses the NYC Panorama, go ice-skating, Citi Field, ride the carousel.
Take in a baseball, hockey, or basketball game
Take a tour of Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, NBC Studios, the Metropolitan Opera House.
Go to one of the beaches in Brooklyn or Rockaway
Visit Little Odessa in Brooklyn

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by hazeleyes86

there are above ground trains in Manhattan uptown, my train is completely elevated in my nabe, a technicality i know just couldnt resist.

The number 7 subway train runs above the ground in Queens. There is an even section of the 7 ride where you can see the skyline of Manhattan.
In Brooklyn several of the subway trains are above the ground and I believe the same in the case in the Bronx.

[nyc2va76]

Originally Posted by gichicago

> Eat in the "other" chinatown in Flushing, Queens (off the 7 line)
> Eat at some restaurants New Yorkers gush about: Ex. Spotted Pig, Momofuku
> See an unobstructed view of the skyline in Jersey (PATH to Hoboken)
> Cross the Brooklyn Bridge
> Go to a Sample Sale
> Buy used books at The Strand

The chinatown in Brooklyn have some decent places to eat especially along 8th avenue near the train station on the N line.

[nyc2va76]

The New York aquarium in Coney Island Brooklyn on West 8th Street

[Coolhand68]

Take a ride on the Tram car that goes from E 59th St. in Manhattan over to Roosevelt Island. Same cost as a subway ride. Nice views of Manhattan and you can pack a lunch and sit in the grass while getting nice pics of the skyline.