8 Things You Can Only Do In NYC

There's a reason our city broke its all-time record for tourists visiting last year for the sixth year running. Here's a look at some attractions unlike what you can find anywhere else, including some that are a bit off the beaten path.

See the Panarama of New York at the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Park

This thing has to be seen to be believed. The brainchild of firebrand urban planner Robert Moses, this complete scale model of every building in the city predates the era of 3D printing by over 40 years. It was built to be the centerpiece of the 1964 World’s Fair, and it's no less stunning today. It takes up over 9,300 SF and includes about 900,000 buildings at a scale of 1:1200, comprising all five boroughs in their entirety. Periodic updates have been made as the city’s skyline has grown, though a big update might be needed to give a sense of the city’s ongoing skyscraper boom.

Spend an Afternoon at MoMA PS1

Now let's head over to the other side of Queens. This former NYC public school in Long Island City helped solidify the era of adaptive reuse that’s now such a big feature of real estate development when it first opened in 1971. And it keeps innovating: The museum’s triangular courtyard will soon have a colorful woven canopy above it, and if you can wait until summer to make the trip, it could be worth it, because there’s going to be a wading pool, too.

If you don’t want to wait that long, right now, the featured show is called Greater New York, and includes the work of artists looking back at the city's not-so-distant past as a grittier, rougher place.

Ride The Staten Island Ferry

Not only is it free, and one of the best views of New York Harbor there is, but soon there will be a lot less reason to just hop back on and come straight back to Manhattan. BFC Partners is developing Empire Outlets, a 1M SF outdoor mall on the waterfront, and the world’s largest ferris wheel are just two attractions in the pipeline in the area near the St. George Ferry Terminal. Even if you come straight back, you'd be hard pressed to find a better view of the Statue of Liberty anywhere. 

Take a Stroll Across the Brooklyn Bridge

This thing is famous for a reason. Even if it wasn’t among the most majestic pieces of architecture in the entire city, it would be worth visiting just for its rich history. Its lead designer, John Augustus Roebling, died during its construction and his son, Washington Roebling, was charged with seeing the project to completion. It took a total of eight years to build. It was by far the longest and highest suspension bridge in the the world when it opened in 1876, connecting the twin cities of Brooklyn and Manhattan, which were still 22 years from unification.  

Walk Along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Once you get into Brooklyn from the bridge, make a right. Long a classic to those who know Brooklyn well, more folks than ever are checking out the promenade. Progress on Brooklyn Bridge Park as well as the borough’s increasing status as a tourist destination mean there’s more to do in the area than ever. Come for the harbor and skyline views, stay for a stroll around historic Brooklyn Heights.

Behold the Rapidly-Evolving WTC Complex

If you haven’t been to the area in a while, it’s time. The 104-story 1 WTC —officially the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere—opened last year, as did its observation deck. 4 WTC opened in 2013, and 3 WTC is rising with its concrete core on its way to 80 stories and the structural steel not far behind. Santiago Calatrava’s massive bird-like sculpture atop the soon-to-open transportation hub brings a stunning focal point. And of course the centerpiece of the site is the 9/11 Memorial museum and public plaza. There’s also 350k SF of new retail slated to open in the next few months.

Have a Beer at McSorley’s Ale House

Only one place gets the title of oldest Irish tavern in NYC, and this is it. It's been around since 1854, according to the owners (although city records say the site was vacant from 1860-61). Either way, the place lives up to its motto: "We were here before you were born." Famous patrons throughout the years have included Abe Lincoln (by the way, happy birthday, Abe!), Ulysses S. Grant, Boss Tweed and Hunter S. Thompson.

Check Out Roosevelt Island

Getting there is half the fun. A Metrocard swipe gets you on the Roosevelt Island Tram from 60th St & Second Ave. The views of Midtown and the Queensborough Bridge are some of the best there are. When you get there, it’s like nowhere else in NYC: a quiet island in the East River a few hundred feet wide and about two miles long, full of parks, residential buildings an retail to support them, almost no car traffic, and incredible views. Stroll past the Cornell Tech campus that's now being built, down to Four Freedoms Park (shown here), designed by Louis Kahn in the early ’70s but only built and opened in 2012.