Sarah’s 10 Picks for Things to Do in NYC

Whether it’s your first visit or your 50th, here are some of my top picks for fun, unique things to do in NYC — nearly half of which are free.

1. Take in a stunning view of a twinkling Manhattan Bridge from a riverfront swing.

Possibly my favorite spot in NYC: Pier 35 on the East River waterfront on the Lower East Side. This park with swings facing the Manhattan Bridge was my second home after dark this summer. This was also where I spent my last night in NYC.

2. Order the Triple Pork Triple Garlic Mazemen from Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop inside Gotham Market.

One reviewer called this west-side ramen “so good it’ll make your eyeballs explode.” Can confirm this is (almost!) true.

3. Ride the glow-in-the-dark Seaglass Carousel in Battery Park at night.

(Or do something that makes you as happy as this spontaneous carousel ride made me.)

4. Gaze at a glowing grid from atop the Empire State Building.

Fun fact: There’s no line if you visit the Empire State Building Observation Deck at midnight! I prefer the night view to the day one — it’s so much fun to see the city grid lit up like a miles-long string of pulsating Christmas lights.

5. Take a free ferry ride to Staten Island at sunset.

Check the minute-by-minute forecast for your evening’s sunset to choose the appropriate departure time and score a view like this. My heart might've stopped a bit when I pulled up this photo on the ferry back to Manhattan, it was so gorgeous!

6. Take a cable-car ride over the Queensboro Bridge to Roosevelt Island.

This cable-car station at 59th Street and 2nd Avenue is tucked away on the East side of Midtown, but it’s worth a trip for the gorgeous views. Also a quality sunset activity (the fare is equivalent to one MetroCard swipe each way). Bonus: You can be extra like me and blast The Fray's "Over my Head (Cable Car)" for the duration of your four-minute tram ride.

7. Test-paddle free kayaking on the Hudson River at Pier 26.

Whether it’s your first time kayaking or your 50th, the skyline views and gentle breezes are not to be missed. Well, assuming you don't visit in winter -- free rentals run from mid-May to mid-October.

8. See a Broadway show — or just hang out at a stage door and meet your favorite actor.

You didn’t think I could make a list like this and leave off an NYC theater date, did you? Here’s the most comprehensive guide that lists lottery and rush-ticket policies for all current (and some upcoming) Broadway shows to help you score cheap seats.

Alternately (or in addition), you can score a meeting with your favorite Broadway star for free by showing up at the stage door after his or her show (or even meet an actor in a show you didn’t see -- just look at what time their show starts and how long it runs to figure out when they might make their exit).

Most of them are happy to stop and chat, answer questions, sign programs, and/or take selfies. Just remember that it’s not their obligation to do so — you paid for the show, and anything extra is just bonus!

9. Visit the Morgan Library — a.k.a. NYC’s Hogwarts.

The Morgan Library, which is free to visit on Friday evenings, is basically the Hogwarts library, plus a Gutenberg bible and Mozart scores. We're talking floor-to-ceiling bookcases with secret staircases. I thought this kind of thing only existed in movies.

10. Trek to the Transit Museum in Brooklyn.

This gem of a museum, located underground in a former subway station, is extraordinarily underrated. Old subway cars and buses you can walk through, plus vintage, modern, and just plain artsy NYC subway maps (did you know they used to all be horizontal rather than vertical?).