"Inexpensnive" (read cheap) things to do in NYC

[Freyja]

Looks like 3 days in NYC will cost us as much as a week in Orlando (if not more) so I´m looking for cheap things to do in NY for a family of 6 (2 adults, 4 kids).

I´ve been told there´s a big FAO Schwartz toy store there. Is it worth a visit?

Is there anything to do in Central Park? What´s China town like?

Any more ideas?

 

[DJR]

The FAO Schwartz store is fun if you just want to look around. Not very cheap however.

You can walk around in Central Park or go ice skating (not sure what the cost is) or take a carriage ride. We ahven't done this in a few years so I'm not certain what it costs.

Chinatown is a mass of store fronts and street vendors selling everything under the sun. Hard to more around since there are so many people.

 

[ducklite]

Take the Staten Island Ferry across to Staen Island and then back. It's free! And the view of the statue is better than the Circle Line Tour.

The Circle Line Tour is fun and knowing the people I was with when I took it half a dozen years ago, inexpensive.

Although it's not free, a trip to the top of the Empire State Building is a must do. Try to time it just before dusk, so you can see teh view and then also stay to see the city lights come alive!

The Canal Street shops are fun to look through.

Anne

 

[pennst8r]

The Toys R Us has a ferris wheel inside it!

 

[Freyja]

Take the Staten Island Ferry across to Staen Island and then back. It's free! And the view of the statue is better than the Circle Line Tour.

The Circle Line Tour is fun and knowing the people I was with when I took it half a dozen years ago, inexpensive.

Although it's not free, a trip to the top of the Empire State Building is a must do. Try to time it just before dusk, so you can see teh view and then also stay to see the city lights come alive!The Canal Street shops are fun to look through.

Anne

I hadn´t thought about that. What a great idea. Empire State Building certinaly isn´t free ($72 for our family), but as you said it´s a definate must-do. I was 12 when I went to NYC with my parents and the E.S.B is one of the things I remember the most.

 

[Freyja]

The Toys R Us has a ferris wheel inside it!

Is it somewhere "central" or would we need a car to get there?

 

[ziggystardust]

Is it somewhere "central" or would we need a car to get there?

Toys R Us is in TImes square. You def. don't want to take a car there. You could also visit world of disney. Depending on when you go, ice skating in bryant park is free. I think all you have to do is pay for the skate rentals.

Walk around little italy. There are some restaurants there that have price fix menus, or pasta for $7.95 (something like that). The central park zoo is a great stop - check to see what they're free day is (bronx zoo - which is too far for you to travel - has theirs on Wednesday).

Go to the Metropolitan Museum of ARt. There is a entrance fee but its called a donation - so you can give whatever you want. DOn't feel scared to do so - I once did it for an entire month straight ( I was taking a class that visited there daily)

 

[ducklite]

Buy an MTA fun pass for $4 each day. It's good on as many rides as you want on all the MTA buses and subways for the whole day.

Anne

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Fun, free things to do in NYC! A great list.

http://gonyc.about.com/od/freestuff/Free_Activities_Amusements_and_Events.htm

http://nyc.babyzone.com/parentresources.asp?prid=647

A list of things to do in NYC for under $10.00

http://www.allny.com/tourism/under10.html

 

[ckay87]

Okey dokey, I'm gonna steal a tip I just read here a few weeks ago, but haven't tried myself. My favorite museum anywhere is the Museum of Natural History on the upper west side. The admission is listed as "suggested admission" which means that ANY donation is acceptable. Like, $2 will get you in. I'll be trying this out in a week or 2. I've always paid the "suggested" admission that they list.

 

[Steffi]

I'm not the OP, but this thread is awesome; I hope the advice keeps coming! DH & I are planning a trip to NYC this summer with DD and we're so clueless. We've never been to NYC, or any other really big city for that matter, so any information we can get is great.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Looks like 3 days in NYC will cost us as much as a week in Orlando (if not more) so I´m looking for cheap things to do in NY for a family of 6 (2 adults, 4 kids).

I´ve been told there´s a big FAO Schwartz toy store there. Is it worth a visit?

Is there anything to do in Central Park? What´s China town like?

Any more ideas?

What week are you going? Depending on when you plan on visiting, there are free concerts in Central Park or movies in Bryant Park. Up near our apartment, there is a little cafe in Riverside Park (at about 107th street) where you can look out onto the Hudson River and have burgers, fries, etc. Also, cocktails at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park is always fun. You can also rent a boat and paddle around the lake. During the winter you can skate at the Wolman rink at Central Park. It's less crowded and, I believe, less expensive than the one at Rockefeller Center.

 

[imsorry]

here is a link to the MTA: http://www.mta.info/index.html The one day funpass is $7.

St. Patrick's Cathedral is beautiful - and free. Next door is the Trump Tower - it's fun to look thru the shops.

here is a link to the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center - similar to going to the Empire State Building: https://www.topoftherocknyc.com/ODTStatic/site.htm?/ODTInternet/Web/BuyTicket/CaptureTicket.aspx

If you like Broadway, go to TKTS (46th Street & Broadway at the Marriott Marquis ) and you can get 1/2 price tickets to shows the same day.

There are lots of fun places to eat in Times Square: Bubba Gump Shrip, Hard Rock Cafe, ESPN, Mars 2012, Carmine's, Ruby Foo.

 

[LakeAriel]

You can go to the Central Park Zoo but even better the Bronx Zoo. It is free on Wednesday's but you may be better off going on a day it's not. Less crowd's. Also St Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue is worth a trip regardless of your religious affiliation. Have fun!

 

[Jennasis]

The Museum of Natural history (my favorite museum EVER!!) has a "suggested admission price", however they will let you in regardless of what you donate (and I believe they will let you in even if you give nothing. When I went with my college sociology class the Prof handed us each a dollar for the admission.).

Walking around Times Square is free as is window shopping at the stores like WOD and Toys R US.

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT patronize the carriage rides! Those horses are kept under deplorable circumstances and live horrendous lives (8 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year rain shine, snow or extreme heat.)

Go ice skating in Central park or at Rockefeller Center, or go watch a taping of the Today Show!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Okey dokey, I'm gonna steal a tip I just read here a few weeks ago, but haven't tried myself. My favorite museum anywhere is the Museum of Natural History on the upper west side. The admission is listed as "suggested admission" which means that ANY donation is acceptable. Like, $2 will get you in. I'll be trying this out in a week or 2. I've always paid the "suggested" admission that they list.

Nothing personal, but as a long time member of the AMNH, I hate, hate, hate this idea. If you're going to check out the museum as a tourist, I would hope that you would provide your fair share to continue to allow the museum to provide some of the most wonderful displays of natural artifacts in America. Nobody's getting rich off of the proceeds and every dollar of the suggested price helps keep our beloved museum great.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

There's a lot to see in Central Park for free. Walk up (or down) 5th Ave between about 42nd street and Central Park. Staten Island Ferry suggestion should be top of the list--it is the BEST way to see Stautue of Liberty and is cheap cheap cheap!

As for paying the suggested entry for museums, the intent is that all can afford to enjoy them. If you can afford the suggested fee, then pay it. If you can't afford it, pay what you can afford, and don't feel guilty about it!

 

[Freyja]

There's a lot to see in Central Park for free. Walk up (or down) 5th Ave between about 42nd street and Central Park. Staten Island Ferry suggestion should be top of the list--it is the BEST way to see Stautue of Liberty and is cheap cheap cheap!

As for paying the suggested entry for museums, the intent is that all can afford to enjoy them. If you can afford the suggested fee, then pay it. If you can't afford it, pay what you can afford, and don't feel guilty about it!

This is exactly how I took it. I would never feel comfortable not paying the suggested fee, knowing that this trip will cost me $10 000+ anyway. However I think it´s great that they have this option for those who otherwise would not be able to enjoy what the museum has to offer.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

This is exactly how I took it. I would never feel comfortable not paying the suggested fee, knowing that this trip will cost me $10 000+ anyway. However I think it´s great that they have this option for those who otherwise would not be able to enjoy what the museum has to offer.

Cool, and that's what keeping within the spirit of the suggested admission price is all about. The city of New York, or at least this New Yorker, thanks you in advance. Enjoy!!

 

[rkrivas]

If you're thinking of ice-skating, it's cheaper at Wollman's Rink or Bryant Park than at Rockefeller Center.