We recently spent a quick four days in New York City, one of my favorite cities in the world. There is such a plethora of things to do in this city. It’s not the New York of old. It is clean, efficient, colorful. In fact the trees and flowers were all in bloom and my allergies where in full spring mode. But I loved it nonetheless. New York City – The Hidden Gems Tour.
Last May, we spent twelve days in New York and really did the city thoroughly. Check out last year’s post My Favorite Things in New York City. Surprisingly though, we missed a few things of interest to us. So on this much shorter visit, we set out to explore some lesser visited places. We dubbed our visit New York City – The Hidden Gems Tour.
Lower East Side
Last year we really enjoyed visiting the historically working class Lower East Side area. We spent a good portion of our visit last year Exploring the Neighborhoods of New York City. Since I am such a history buff, the Lower East Side has such a variety of interesting things related to the founding of New Amsterdam! We returned for our second visit to the Tenement Museum, one of my favorite things to do in NYC. The Tenement Museum is one of the most unique museums I have ever enjoyed, giving visitors a window into the past of the working class, immigrant neighborhoods of the Lower East Side. I highly recommend this hidden gem when in New York City. One visit is not enough.
Libraries
On this fabulous New York City – The Hidden Gems Tour we took time to visit two libraries; the historic and iconic New York Public Library and the incomparable Morgan Library.
A few years ago I read the book The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis. The fictional story is based in and around the New York Public Library. I really enjoyed our short walk around this iconic structure.
The Morgan Library and Museum is not as crowded as some of the larger museums of New York and we really enjoyed the art here. But most of all we enjoyed the spectacular library and office rooms open to the public. JP Morgan (April 17, 1837 – March 31, 1913) was an American financier and investment banker who dominated corporate finance on Wall Street. The former home and offices are well worth a visit when in New York City.
Roosevelt Island
Taking the tram over to Roosevelt Island is truly one of the most underrated things to do in New York City. The tram (gondola) costs $3 and during your ride it gives you a wonderful view of the East River and the city. Roosevelt Island is a lovely place to stroll, cycle or run with shops and restaurants, as well as a state park. Definitely check out Roosevelt Island on your next visit to New York.
The New York Mets
Grab the subway to the neighborhood of Flushing in Queens for a New York Mets game at the beautiful Citi Field. The 1986 World Champion Mets play in this beautiful stadium opened in 2009. The subway drops you right at the stadium, but we recommend going a little early and heading into Flushing. We ate at the Michelin-recommended dumpling house in Flushing called Nan Xiang Xian Long Bao. The dumpling and the noodles are perfection…and it was the least expensive meal we had during our visit to New York. Don’t miss it.
Staten Island Ferry
We have been to the Statue of Liberty and to Ellis Island in the past, so this time we decided to hop the colorful and free Staten Island Ferry. The ferry that runs from lower Manhattan to Staten Island every thirty minutes offers a spectacular view of the Statue of Liberty, at no cost. It’s also a fun ride especially on a sunny day with views back to the Manhattan skyline. You can hop off and spend some time on Staten Island, or re-board and head right back. I highly recommend it.
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
As you know, I am always up for a garden and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens did not disappoint. We were lucky enough to visit on a beautiful sunny day when the Cherry Blossoms were just past peak but still fluffy and pink. We spent more than two hours enjoying the 52 acre site and the variety of gardens and exhibits both indoors and out. Don’t miss the fascinating Bonsai collection. Subway from Manhattan drops you right at the gardens. Consider also visiting the Brooklyn Museum next door. We did not because the museum is closed on Mondays but I understand it is also worth a visit.
New York City – The Hidden Gems Tour
Thanks for reading this week’s post New York City – The Hidden Gems Tour. I am not done with NYC! I absolutely love it and I will definitely be back. Whether you are planning your first visit or going for the tenth time, you will always discover something new, fun, interesting and amazing in this fascinating city.
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