When In New York, Do As The NYers Do- Tourism Guide

There are so many wonderful things to see and places to visit in New York City, how do you choose what to tour? Here is a list of a few great CHEAP things to see. Things actual New Yorkers do.
 

1. The Bronx Zoo - truly a gem, this is a HUGE zoo, with animals in their 'natural' environments. There is a petting zoo area for children (more like a petting farm, this features goats, chickens, cows and the like.), and most of the zoo exhibits are stroller and wheelchair accessable. The Bronx Zoo is about 30 minutes away from Midtown Manhattan. On Wednesdays, you pay what you wish- a far cry from the $10 Adult admission the rest of the week. While you're there, stop at the nearby park to see The Bronx River winding through grassy areas. The Bronx Zoo is open all year, in the winter they produce a light show that is breathtaking.
2. Take the Subway- for $2, you can travel nearly anywhere in all five boroughs quickly. For example, a taxi from Times Square to Greenwich Village is aproximatly 25 minutes (without traffic, or 40 minutes with traffic.) and will cost you at least $10. The same exact trip on the 'A' Train will take you 5-10 minutes. Plus there are 'Weekly' and 'Daily' fare discounts.  This is the largest 'underground' in the world, and just recently celebrated it's 100th anniversary. Many stations feature art, performing actors, mosaics or musicians. Some even have little shops located in them. And at Grand Central Station, there is a little 'Transit Museum' which is free to visit. You can pick up free maps at every station, which are quite helpful to get around- but also a nice little souveneir.
    
3. The American Museum of Natural History- located next to Central Park, this is a 'Pay What You Wish' admission. The kids will love the Dinosaur Fossils and the 'Giant Whale' (Keep your eyes up to find him), and there are permanent exhibits of Native American arts, Asian art, and Taxidermied animals from around the world. Travelling exhibits include gems and fashion (usually period pieces, although they did feature Chanel as a designer once). There is a subway station right downstairs, so it's easy to get to.
4. The Staten Island Ferry- for FREE, you can see the skylines of  Brooklyn, Manhattan, Governer's Island, and New Jersey. You will also float past The Statue of Liberty. Warning, if you go in the winter, dress warmly.
    
5. The Main Post Office, The Main Library, The Empire State Building, and Weber's. These are all within basic walking distance (10 blocks, or a half mile) of each other. The Post Office and Library offer beautiful architecture. The Empire State building has an observation deck (weather permitting), which costs a bit but offers a lovely birds-eye view of most of the five boroughs (and New Jersey, Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty). Weber's is just a fantastic 'junk store' that has all your 'I LOVE NY' T shirts and bumper stickers, as well as just about every other thing you could need  for a few pennies on the dollar of what other stores in the area charge.
6. Bridges- Every one of the NYC bridges has a footpath. I enjoy walking over the Manhattan Bridge, because I can see the Brooklyn Bridge in the background as well as South Street Seaport and lower Manhattan. These bridges are free to walk across, but they get cold in the winter. Why not walk over to Brooklyn, and ask where Junior's Restaurant is (on the corner of DeKalb). Junior's Restaurant is a Brooklyn staple and has the MOST delicious cheesecake! They also make huge ice cream sundaes.

These are just a few ideas. Don't forget to walk- it's a nice way to see the city. And if you ask New Yorkers how to get somewhere, we're pretty helpful. You can also dial '311' from any phone or cell phone in New York for free information about... well, everything. There are hundreds of languages spoken, different foods and cultures abound! So relax, enjoy your triple-mocha-latte, and take in the city as New Yorkers do- CHEAPLY