Explore New York – North America

New York City is an amazing place to explore. It’s full of interesting and unusual destinations throughout the five boroughs that make up the city as a whole. And sometimes there are interesting destinations that aren’t found in the city itself but are still within its geographical confines. New York City is a great city for seeing the sights on foot, but make sure you pay attention to your surroundings and avoid getting injured by a car as you cross the street. You want to have great memories of the places you’ve seen and the things you’ve done, not have them marred by an accident. Here are some interesting places to check out during your trip to NYC.

The Elevated Acre

You’ve probably heard of The Highline trail, but have you heard of the Elevated Acre? The Elevated Acre is located in the Financial District and is only accessible by the escalator on 55 Water Street. The park rests between two high rises and features an amphitheater and views of the Brooklyn waterfront. Beautifully designed landscaping turns the park into a green oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. Benches and green grass invite you to slow down for a little while taking in the views.

The Met Cloisters

The Met Cloisters is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and offers a bit of Europe in New York City. It’s found in Fort Tyron Park in Upper Manhattan and there’s an admission fee for non-residents, but it’s worth seeing. The Cloisters was purposefully designed and incorporates architectural elements from French medieval monasteries. It’s home to medieval tapestries from the collections of George Grey Barnard and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Make sure to go outside to the actual cloisters and take in the beautiful gardens that are designed to draw your eye as you contemplate the serenity of the museum.

The Smallpox Hospital on Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island is located in the center of the East River between Long Island City and Manhattan that’s full of historic sites including the Smallpox Hospital. The hospital was built in the 1850s and intended to house people suffering from smallpox as a way to quarantine them from the general population. The property was abandoned in the 1950s and began to deteriorate not long after. Nowadays, the shell of the building is the only thing standing and a park surrounds the site. Take the Roosevelt Island tram to the island and experience being suspended above the East River by a cable car.

The Whispering Gallery

Found in Grand Central Station by the Oyster Bar & Restaurant in the lower level, the Whispering Gallery exists due to the perfect arches and tiling design that cover the walkway. Walk to one corner and have someone cross to another corner, then start talking to them. The sound waves of your voice follow the curve of the arches and travels to the person standing on the other side from you. The acoustic features of the gallery were most likely an unintended consequence of the design, but it’s a fascinating one nonetheless. 

Watch a Broadway Play for Less

One of the quintessential things to do in NYC is to see a Broadway play. If you don’t have a particular play in mind, check the theater listings to see what’s in town and go straight to the box office to score last-minute seats. Can’t reach the box office in time? Download the TKTS mobile app for your phone and get a same-day ticket at a discount. The app shows you what performances are happening that particular day and the TKTS booth that has tickets available for you to buy. 

New York Transit Museum

The Transit Museum occupies the Court Street subway station in Brooklyn. Head down two flights of stairs to the old subway station and step back in time. The museum features subway cars that date back to the early days of transit in NYC along with cars of more recent vintage. The interiors of the cars have been restored to look as they did when they were in service by and large. Step on and step off each subway car to see how people traveled once upon a time.

Ditmas Park

The Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn is home to a unique group of houses known as Ditmas Park. The area gets its name from the Ditmas family that farmed the area until the early 1900s. Homes in Ditmas Park were built between 1902 and 1914 and was eventually designated as the Ditmas Park Historic District. The homes are notable because they survived together for over 100 years and remain a suburban oasis in an urban environment. Take a walking tour or use a self-guided map to find the most interesting and unique homes in the district.

Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach is a neighborhood comprised of ex-pats from Eastern Europe, primarily Russia. Frequently called Little Odessa, it’s not a typical tourist destination, but if you’re into people watching and want to find authentic Russian cuisine and view how this culture has integrated itself into the fabric of New York City, this is where you want to be. Or maybe you were at Coney Island and kept walking until you noticed that there was a lot of Cyrillic lettering on the billboards and buildings. Either way, Brighton Beach offers plenty of interesting distractions and attractions.

There’s no denying the fact that New York City is full of interesting and fun things to do, both famous and infamous. Try making it a point to check out the less well-known areas of the city and see the real NYC instead of the tourist destinations.