Choose from 159 Fun Things to Do in New York City
Legoland Discovery Center Westchester
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Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks’ flagship building occupies an entire city block and is decorated in the Art Deco style, inspired by the 1925 Paris Exposition. The store’s layout is divided into a series of high-end specialty shops, each highlighting individual designers of clothing, accessories and home wares. The 8th floor shoe department, 10022-SHOE, is a fantasy-inducing collection of the world’s greatest luxury shoe designers, and is named with the zip code of the surrounding neighborhood.
Though utilizing ground floor windows for elaborate product displays had become common practice by the 1920s, the flagship has since become especially famous for its window scenes, which feature entire room sets, costumes, mannequins, a wide variety of art and craft materials, video projection screens and more. Especially at Christmastime, the window displays here are a tourist attraction all on their own.
Strawberry Fields, John Lennon Memorial
To get to the memorial, visitors should enter at Central Park West at West 72nd Street. To get there using the subway, take the A,B,C,1,2,3 to 72nd Street.
Statue of Liberty
The Basics
Statue of Liberty tours start with a scenic ferry ride to the island, where you can explore the grounds or head to the famed, 10-story-high observation pedestal to see the original torch and gain great views and photo ops of the New York City skyline and neighboring New Jersey. It's also possible to secure tickets to the crown for an up-close at Lady Liberty, but be prepared to climb 354 steeply winding steps to the top.
- Choose between three levels of access: grounds only, pedestal access, or crown access. Pedestal and crown tickets should be booked well in advance.
- Opt for an exclusive early-access tour to beat the crowds.
- Access to the Statue of Liberty museum is included with pedestal tickets.
- While the observation deck is not wheelchair accessible, the information center, gift pavilion, bookstore, and exterior grounds are.
- All visitors to the monument are subject to security screening.
Liberty Island is southwest of the tip of Manhattan in Upper New York Bay. To visit, catch a Statue Cruises ferry from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan; the ferry continues to Ellis Island if you'd like to also visit there. The closest subway stations for Battery Park are South Ferry and Bowling Green.
When to Get There
Combine Your Statue of Liberty Visit with a Stop at Ellis Island
Lower East Side
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St. Patrick's Cathedral
- St. Patrick’s is a don’t-miss for fans of religious architecture, history buffs, and the faithful.
- A self-guided audio tour of St. Patrick’s is available via smartphone app, as well as handheld devices provided by the cathedral.
- The cathedral hosts Mass at different times throughout the day; during Mass, no talking or photography is permitted.
- The cathedral is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Lower Manhattan
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Long Island
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Verrazano Narrows Bridge
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Riverside Park
In addition to purely scenic paths landscaped with trees, flowers, terraces and bridges, the park includes a wide variety of recreational options, like baseball diamonds, basketball, tennis and handball courts, skate ramps, kayak and canoe launch sites, playgrounds, and fitness paths. As part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, the park contains car-free bike routes, and its 110-slip public marina at 79th Street is part of New York State’s Water Trail.
There are several graceful monuments within the park, including Grant’s Tomb, at West 122nd Street. This Grecian rotunda with ionic columns, visible from the Hudson River, contains the actual tombs of Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia Dent Grant.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
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Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
The World War II-era USS Intrepid aircraft carrier retired to Manhattan’s West Side, where it was transformed into a museum. The complex hosts noteworthy craft, including NASA’s Enterprise space shuttle, the USS Growler missile submarine, and a Concorde jet. While there, check out original artifacts, film, and photographs, plus simulators that recreate the flying experience.
The Basics
Standard admission generally includes access to the carrier flight deck, gallery deck, and mess deck, as well as the Space Shuttle Pavilion (where the Enterprise space shuttle is held), and the USS Growler submarine. While the British Airways Concorde can be seen from outside, the interior can only be accessed by private tour. Visitors can pre-purchase an admission ticket that allows quick access via a dedicated advanced sales entrance, and upgrade to include the simulator rides. Multi-stop package tours often combine skip-the-line access to the museum with early access to the Empire State Building observation deck, a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, guided bus tours, or hop-on hop-off boat tours along the Hudson River.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is a must-do for anyone with an interest in maritime, aviation, or military history.
- Many sightseeing passes, including New York CityPASS, New York City Explorer Pass, the New York Sightseeing Pass, and the New York Pass, grant holders free—and in some cases skip-the-line—entry to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
- Allow at least two to three hours to properly explore the complex.
- Most of the museum is wheelchair-accessible with the exception of the forecastle (the forward deck), combat information center, the interior of the Growler submarine, and the Concorde.
- In the hot summer months, bring a hat, sunscreen, and water.
How to Get There
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is located at Pier 86 (12th Avenue and 46th Street) in Hell’s Kitchen. Ride the A,C, or E subway line to 42nd Street and walk west toward the waterfront. Or, take the M34 (34th Street), M42 (42nd Street), or M50 (49th Street) crosstown buses to 12th Avenue and the Hudson River.
When to Get There
The museum is busiest during summer weekends and school holidays. Lines form but usually move pretty quickly. Mornings are the quietest time to visit. Book tickets in advance to save time.
Intrepid After Dark
For an even more immersive experience, opt for an overnight stay on the Intrepid. During sleepovers, visitors get to enjoy a buffet dinner, explore the exhibitions after hours, sleep on the hangar deck, and have breakfast onboard.
Rockefeller Center
- The center is wheelchair accessible and has free Wi-Fi available.
- Many miss the Rockefeller Center Channel Gardens, but it’s worth visiting the strip of fountains and plants, which change with the seasons.
- The NBC Studios tour is an interactive experience, as travelers can have their photo taken at the news desk or give an impromptu weather report.
- Stunning views of the Manhattan skyline can be seen from three observation platforms at the Top of the Rock. (Book timed tickets in advance.)
Imperial Theatre
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Upper West Side
There is also the American Museum of Natural History, American Folk Art Museum, The Cloisters Museum and Gardens, The Children’s Museum, Museum of Arts & Design, Nicholas Roerich Museum and New York’s oldest museum founded in 1804, the New-York Historical Society. Outdoor beauty also abounds in the Upper West Side between two parks, the iconic Central Park as well as the tranquil Riverside Park which runs along the Hudson River from 58th to 156th streets.
To get to the Upper West Side by subway, you can take the 1 to 66th Street-Lincoln Center; 1, 2, 3, B, C to 72nd Street or 96th Street; 1 to 79th Street; B, C to 81st Street; 1, B, C to 86th Street; 1, B, C to 103rd Street or 110th Street.
Rockaway Beach
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Stone Street Historic District
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Upper East Side
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Staten Island Ferry
- For the best views of Lady Liberty, sit on the right side of a Staten Island–bound ferry.
- Some, though not all, ferries in the fleet have large outdoor side decks, which afford the best views.
- The ferry is accessible to wheelchair users.
- Refreshments, including beer and hot dogs, are available on board.
- All passengers must disembark at St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island.
St. Paul's Chapel
Hours for St. Paul’s Chapel are 10am - 6pm Monday through Saturday and 7am to 6pm on Sundays. To get to the chapel by subway you can take the 4, 5, 2, 3, A, C to Broadway-Nassau Street; E to Chambers Street; 6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall.