Cheap New York Vacation

Start spreading the news; New York may be one of the hottest tourist destinations in the United States but it’s also one of the most expensive. For example, you can search high and low but you’ll never see the words “affordable” and “hotel” side-by-side there. A drink in a fashionable bar can cost more than you’d pay for a dinner entrée back in your home town. And speaking of eating, a meal for two and a Broadway show can easily bring your tab for a single evening’s entertainment up above $200. The bottom line? On your New York Vacation, make sure you bring along a big wallet.

The good news, though, is that buried beneath all that glitter and glamour are dozens of free entertainment opportunities. They may not be well-advertised but they do exist, and taking advantage of one or two on your New York vacation can give your tired, aching credit cards a well-deserved rest. These lesser-known attractions also reveal a more down-to-earth side of New York which is sometimes hidden by the shadow of the Statue of Liberty or lost in the glare of all those bright city lights.

Big Apple Greeter – This non-profit organization arranges free guided tours of the city for individuals, small groups or families. The tours last from 2-4 hours and can include popular tourist spots or favorite local hangouts. Guides can also give helpful hints such as how to navigate the subway system and how to find the best restaurants and most affordable shops.

Contact: 1 Centre St. Suite 2035, New York, 212-669-8159, www.bigapplegreeter.org

Central Park – Everybody knows the name, but until you’ve visited in person few people realize just how large and multi-faceted New York’s

grande dame of parks truly is. Covering 843 acres of prime Manhattan real estate, Central Park contains 21 playgrounds, 52 assorted fountains, monuments and sculptures, and enough flowers, ponds and shady walking paths to occupy an entire afternoon of relaxed meandering. Concerts, fairs, exhibits and other special events take place throughout the year, so check the current schedule before you visit.

Contact: Central Park Conservancy, 14 E. 60th St, New York, 212-310-6600, www.centralparknyc.org

Downtown Boathouse – Run by volunteers and offering all of its services completely free, the Downtown Boathouse gives visitors the chance to kayak in a protected bay or take a three-hour guided trip down the Hudson River. Kayaking lessons are also available for first-timers. All equipment is provided, so no one has to worry about being up a creek without a paddle.

Contact: 241 West Broadway, New York, 646-613-0375, www.downtownboathouse.org

Hispanic Society of America – A free museum and reference library dedicated to the arts and cultures of Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Thousands of paintings and sculptures, including works by masters such as Goya and El Greco, share space with pottery, textiles and 175,000 photographs dating back to 1850. As an added incentive, the surrounding neighborhood contains a superb assortment of Spanish and Latin American restaurants to keep the theme alive after your visit to the museum is over.

Contact: 613 West 155th Street, New York, 212-926-2234, www.hispanicsociety.org

National Museum of the American Indian – Arts, crafts, and music and dance performances are only a few of the attractions at this New York branch of the famous Washington DC museum. Special exhibitions and a film and video center add even more reasons to visit, while the resource center contains over 5,000 books, 250 videos and a computer system linked to other branches of the museum in neighboring states.

Contact: One Bowling Green, New York, 212-514-3700, www.nmai.si.edu

Queens Botanical Garden – This free 39-acre attraction contains a diverse assortment of flora including an herb garden, a rose garden and a Victorian-style wedding garden complete with gazebo and swing. Relax your mind with a stroll among the greenery or come early in the morning to watch locals performing Tai Chi. Spend enough time tucked among the trees and flowers and you just might forget that you’re still in New York City.

Contact: 43-50 Mian St., Flushing, 718-886-3800, www.queensbotanical.org

Socrates Sculpture Park – An internationally renowned outdoor museum giving artists all the space they need to display large-scale creations. Don’t worry about stern-faced guards leaping out at you if you get too close to the displays; interaction with the artwork is actually encouraged here. Nice riverside views make this a perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon.

Contact: Broadway at Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, 718-956-1819, www.socratessculpturepark.org

Sony Wonder Technology Lab – This mind-boggling collection of interactive exhibits provides hours of fun for the entire family. Is it a museum disguised as an electronic playground, or vice versa? Four stories of hands-on exhibitions give visitors the chance to paint digital pictures, program a robot, mix music and sound effects in the audio lab or just sit back and relax in the high-definition theater.

Contact: 56th St and Madison Ave, New York, 212-833-8100, www.sonywondertechlab.com

St. Patrick’s Cathedral – If you thought Europe held the monopoly on grandiose churches, one visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral will change your mind forever. The largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States immediately catches the eye from a distance with its twin spires soaring 330 feet in the air. Many of the decorations inside the white marble building are considered to be fine works of art, including the Stations of the Cross and the beautiful stained glass windows. A great place to enjoy a few moments of quiet reflection while escaping the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city.

Contact: 14 E 51st St, New York, 212-753-2261, www.ny-archdiocese.org

Staten Island Ferry – A unique and relaxing way to see the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty and the world’s largest harbor all at once. The one-hour round-trip journey treats visitors to an unobstructed view of some of New York’s most famous landmarks, with the ferry’s open-air decks offering the best seats. Since local business commuters tend to stay inside, finding a choice deck seat normally isn’t too difficult.

Contact: St. George Ferry Terminal, 1 Bay Street, Staten Island, 718-815-BOAT, www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dot/html/masstran/ferries/statfery.html

Or you can take a helicopter tour of New York City

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