Unusual places in New York

1. High Line Park

With images of monumental New York skyscrapers in mind, you may be surprised to learn that this city also has quite a few parks. Of course, the most famous one is Central Park. However, we want to tell you about a lesser-known but equally interesting park — High Line Park. It is located in western Manhattan and stretches from Hemsworth Street to West 34th Street. The park is unique in that it is built on the site of former railroad tracks 10 meters above the ground. So it's not only a great opportunity to "rise" above the hustle and bustle of New York streets, but also to enjoy an oasis of nature in the thick of the concrete jungle.

The park is open from December to March from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., from April to May from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and from June to September from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. In October and November, it is open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Admission is free.

You can enter the park through the entrances on Hemsworth Street, as well as on 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 26th, and 28th Streets. You can find a complete list on the official website.

2. Life Underground

New York is undoubtedly a city with a rich cultural life: one trip is definitely not enough to visit all its museums and galleries! But few people know that New York has a free sculpture gallery located... in the subway.

At the “14th Street — 8th Avenue” station of the New York City subway, the works of Brooklyn-based sculptor Tom Otterness, titled Life Underground, have found a permanent home. Amusing little figures with money bags instead of heads, crocodiles crawling out of sewer manholes, fantastical toads and crayfish lying in wait for the “moneyed” Lilliputians — these compositions leave no one indifferent.

3. Whitney Museum of American Art

Visiting New York and not stopping by at least some of its world-famous museums? You must be joking! If you are not among those who believe that contemporary American art is limited исключительно to pop art and would like to learn more about it, then the Whitney Museum should definitely be on your list.

His collection (which includes more than 21,000 works) features pieces exclusively by American artists from the 1920s to the present day. Paintings, sculptures, photographs, video installations, drawings, media works—there is something for everyone here.

The Whitney Museum is located at 99 Gansevoort Street. Opening hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Tickets cost $22 (adults) and $18 (students and seniors). Admission is free for children under 18.

4. American Museum of Natural History

Even if you're not a fan of the movie Night at the Museum and museums have bored you since childhood, don't pass up the opportunity to visit the American Museum of Natural History. Visitors of all ages will find something interesting here!

Dinosaur skeletons, exhibits dedicated to ocean life and North American forests, birds and reptiles, a planetarium — and that's not even the full list of the museum's permanent collection! And here's another nice touch: visitors can pay whatever they think is fair for admission (although the listed ticket price is $22).

The Museum of Natural History is located at 79th Street and Central Park West (Upper West Side).

5. Zoo

One of the most popular places for families (and others) to visit in New York is the Central Park Zoo. It features animals from the American continent (bears, wolves, lynxes) and tropical fauna (primates, reptiles, and birds), and you can see sea lions in the pool.

The zoo is located at the intersection of 64th Street and 5th Avenue.

Hours: Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from November 1 to March 24. Admission is $18 (adults), $13 (children, ages 3-12), and $15 (seniors over 65). Children under two are free.

6. Top of the Rock

See New York from a height, if not from a bird's eye view, then from the 70th floor of the Rockefeller Center for an impressive panorama of the city (especially in the morning and evening when the city is particularly beautiful). The Top of the Rock observation deck is the perfect place for this. It is a less famous counterpart to the Empire State Building, but it offers the same panorama — and even a little more.

The venue is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. Tickets cost $32 (adults), $26 (children aged 6-12), and $30 (seniors aged 60 and over). Admission is free for children under 6.

Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza (entrance on 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues).

7. The Cloisters Museum

While in New York, be sure to visit The Cloisters Museum. In addition to its fascinating collection dedicated to the art and architecture of medieval Europe, the building itself was constructed from fragments of medieval abbeys, brick by brick, transported from Europe to America.

After admiring the antique tapestries, sculptures, and paintings in the museum halls, take a stroll through the museum gardens and sit in the shady courtyards, enjoying the atmosphere of antiquity.

Note: The Cloisters Museum is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum, so the admission fee, as in the Metropolitan, is determined by the visitor (it can be as little as $1).

8. Unusual free tours

New York is great because, if you want, you can find cheap (or even free) entertainment for almost any taste. For example, every Friday at 12:30 p.m., there are free tours of interesting places such as the Whispering Gallery in Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler Building. The address is 120 Park Ave, at 42nd St, Midtown East. At events like these, you can not only see the secret places of New York, but also learn many interesting stories related to them.

9. Socrates Sculpture Park

If you want to see New York from an unusual angle, welcome to Socrates Sculpture Park on the East River in Queens. Formerly a landfill, this place is now popular because artists and other creative individuals can create sculptures and multimedia compositions (in short, create art) in an open space. In the summer, film screenings and light shows are also held here.

The park is open to everyone, with free admission from 10:00 a.m. until sunset, seven days a week. Address: Broadway at Vernon Blvd, Astoria, Queens.

10. New York City Piers

If you have a romantic streak and are physically fit, you can stray from the beaten tourist path and take to the water. At New York City's public piers (Boathouse Center in Downtown and Long Island Community in Queens), you can rent kayaks for free to take a trip on the Hudson River. And if you've never held an oar in your life, don't despair. They also offer free 3-hour tours.

Boat rentals are available every weekend at piers 40 and 96, and on 72nd Street.

11. Museo del Barrio

Spice up your stay in the "heart of America" with a taste of Latin American flavor! The Museo del Barrio is the best place to do this. It has over 8,000 works by artists from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as many exhibits of various genres and even crafts made by the indigenous peoples of pre-Columbian America!

The museum is located at 1230 5th Avenue at 104th Street. Admission is $9 (adults) and $5 (students and seniors). Admission is free on the third Saturday of every month.

12. Wave Hill Botanical Garden

For those who have had their fill of New York's charms and frenetic pace and are longing for peace and quiet, we recommend a visit to Wave Hill Botanical Garden. It is located on the grounds of the estate of the same name, a former country house from the beginning of the century. Today, it is one of New Yorkers' favorite places to relax.

Stroll along the lush green paths of the landscape park, wander through the woods, or relax in the shade of an oak tree by the pond. And if you get tired, there are folding garden chairs in the shady gazebos at your disposal. What better place to commune with nature?

You can get to Wave Hill by train from Grand Central Station (take the one going in the direction of Poughkeepsie). Get off at Riverdale Station, and the garden is just a stone's throw away. For the particularly lazy, there is a park bus that runs from the station to the garden.

A ticket to Wave Hill costs $8 (adults), $4 (students and seniors), and $2 (children over 6). Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday. From November 1 to March 14, the park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. From March 15 to October 31, it is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The greenhouses are open year-round from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

13. Harlem Museum Studio

New York is not only a city of contrasts, it is a veritable Babylon, where it seems that all the nations of the world have come together. To learn more about them, it is worth visiting cultural centers and museums organized by local diasporas, such as the Studio Museum in Harlem.

The museum is dedicated to the cultural and artistic heritage of immigrants from the African continent. It exhibits the works of artists and craftsmen and hosts creative evenings, master classes, and tours for everyone. Don't miss your chance to experience the mysterious and vibrant art of Africa!

The museum is located in Harlem at 144 West 125th Street. Opening hours are Thursday-Friday from 12:00 to 21:00, Saturday (10:00-18:00), and Sunday (12:00-18:00). Admission is free on Saturdays and $7 on other days.

14. Museum of the American Indian in New York

Perhaps not everyone is aware that Native Americans are actually the indigenous people of the United States. To fill this gap and learn a lot of interesting things about the culture and art of the real Americans, you should visit the Museum of the American Indian in New York. The collection of Native American art gathered here is one of the best in the country. The variety of paintings, ceramics, and jewelry is simply dazzling!

The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Thursdays until 8:00 p.m. Admission is free.