New York has never been my favorite place – a dislike that is compounded by the fact that people who live there never shut up about how it’s the greatest city in the world. But even if you’re not a fan of the rats, the tourist crowds, the crazy people, and the overpriced attractions, you can still find something worthwhile to do when you visit New York. Here are some ideas for the best things to do in New York if you hate New York.
See something on Broadway
Although it’s right in the heart of the New York’s most obnoxious area, there’s no denying the fact that Broadway is something you simply can’t get anywhere else. Sorry to the people who only see Broadway on tour or who enjoy the theatre on the other side of the pond in London’s West End – there’s no production like a Broadway show in New York.
The venues provide an intimate setting to enjoy some of the world’s best stage performances including Hollywood heavyhitters like Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson. It’s even where screen icons like Meryl Streep got their start. Whether you prefer a classic musical or a boundary-pushing new production, Broadway is the best place in the world to catch a show. It’s the only reason to ever go near Times Square, to be honest.
Take a walk on the High Line
Since its inception in 2009, the High Line has become a darling for locals and tourists alike because its one of the only places in Manhattan where you can get three seconds of peace. The elevated park on the west side was built on an old unused rail and now provides almost 1.5 miles of greenway with some nice views over the neighborhoods it passes through. The High Line regularly hosts events like concerts, tours, and stargazing. The stretch of the park is also home to rotating art commissions, which are free to enjoy.
The Edge
If you roll your eyes at the idea of standing in line for an hour to go to the Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building, then have I got the perfect New York observation deck for you. I actually stumbled upon this gem via Instagram ad while browsing the clothing selection at the Shops at Hudson Yards. Itself a fairly deserted mall, the Edge is an easily accessible observation deck located 100 stories high which you can access at the top floor of the mall.
While the admission is pretty steep, starting at $40, it’s also an amazing attraction because there’s no wait to buy tickets, no wait for the elevator, and the giant observation deck is sparsely filled so you can get a great 360-degree view without having to elbow people out of the way. Unlike the more well-known observatories in the city, the view from the Edge includes all those other buildings like One World Trade Center and the Empire State. There’s also a champage bar and some small snacks so you can take a seat and soak up with view.
Pro tip: The corner toilet at the far end of the genderless restrooms has a glass with the same view overlooking the city.
Visit the New York Public Library
Not everyone wants to visit the Met and spend 7 hours looking at 1500 slightly different versions of a sarcophagus. The New York Public Library is an easy and underrated thing to do in New York because it’s free, and the stunning building houses small well-curated exhibitions. It’s perfect for anyone that likes a little bit of art and culture but not so much that you start to die inside. Though the library’s reading rooms are mostly restricted to students and researchers, they hold short daily free tours of the Rose Main Reading Room as well as one-hour building tours every day.
If you’re not a fan of tours, you can also wander around the Rose Main Reading Room during the visiting hour from 10 am to 11 am Monday through Saturday. You can even use a downloadable free self-guided audio tour.
Go to a sports game
For me, one of the best ways to see the local culture in one of its most natural forms is to enjoy a sporting event. Even as a casual sports fan (Super Bowl Halftime Show viewer), I love the atmosphere of sporting events. And New York, like it or not, has some of the country’s biggest teams in football, basketball, and baseball. So what better way to spend an afternoon than to get a little drunk, learn the local sports chants, and chow down on some hot dogs. You might even get to see your home team play against the Knicks or the Mets. Or you can experience one of the sporting world’s most long-standing rivalries like the Yankees versus the Red Sox. If you really hate New York, you can root for Boston.
Leave Manhattan
When people say they hate New York, they actually mean they hate Manhattan. As the most touristy of the five boroughs, Manhattan is the most densely packed, expensive, and the most tourist trappy of all of New York City. While it does have some architectural marvels, perhaps the iconic skyline is best enjoyed from afar like from the Brooklyn Bridge or Prospect Park. In addition to taking long walks along the many trails, Brooklyn’s Prospect Park also has a lake you can boat on and a zoo. The Bandshell also occasionally hosts concerts. It’s basically exactly like Central Park without the manure smell of the horse-drawn carriages and people loudly rolling their luggage to see the Strawberry Fields mosaic or whatever.
Yes, New York has many faults. But even if you hate New York, you can find good ways to enjoy it.
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To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours in New York https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/new-york-1915.html
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