[Updated April 7, 2024] Whether you live here or are just visiting, finding unique NYC experiences is always fun! New York is a city like no other and while here, you should have adventures that you wouldn’t likely have anywhere else. Read on for 24 experiences that are unique to New York City!
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1. View Large-Scale Art on the Met Museum Rooftop
There are certain works you must see when you visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art: the ancient Egyptian Temple of Dendur, the centuries of fashion at the Costume Institute, and world-famous paintings by the likes of Monet, van Gogh, and O’Keeffe.
But the exhibit that many visitors miss is the Roof Garden Commission, which features a new artist every year and is on seasonal display on the outdoor Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden.
The annual exhibits are always large-scale, site-specific, and often immersive, inviting visitors to touch, walk through, or even climb around. What makes this a unique New York City experience is that these installations typically complement the dramatic New York City scenery that surrounds them, interacting with the surrounding Manhattan skyline and the nature within Central Park, where the Met is located.
The most recent exhibit (2023) was by American artist Lauren Halsey and is titled the eastside of south central los angeles hieroglyph prototype architecture (I). The installation draws inspiration from Halsey’s community in Los Angeles as well as influences from ancient Egypt, 1960s utopian architecture, and tagging as it is used by graffiti artists.
The rooftop installation is included with your Met ticket and no special reservations are required. For the absolute best, only-in-New-York experience, plan to have a cocktail at the Cantor Roof Garden Bar as you enjoy the rooftop art, the Manhattan skyline, and Central Park. Even better, go on a Friday or Saturday, when The Met has extended hours and you can catch the sunset.
- Address: 1000 Fifth Ave., New York, NY
- See museum admission and hours
2. Dine at a Retro Luncheonette
Go retro at Lexington Candy Shop, a diner that’s been a New York City fixture for almost 100 years. The vintage sign on the corner of Lexington and E. 83rd is easily recognizable and the milkshakes, whipped up with an old-fashioned mixer, are legendary. Oh and make sure at least one person in your party orders an egg cream, a staple NYC beverage that contains neither egg nor cream but is always delicious.
Opened in 1925, Lexington Candy Shop has the vibe of a neighborhood diner even though it escalated to global fame after appearing in films like Three Days of The Condor (1975) and The Nanny Diaries (2007). The diner is just three blocks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, making it the perfect place to fuel up before or after your museum visit. Lexington Candy Shop serves breakfast and lunch.
The diner is still owned and run by a member of the founding family, and many of the staff have worked there for decades.
- Address: 1226 Lexington Ave., New York, NY
- See business hours
3. Enjoy the Ambiance of a Candlelight Concert
Watch live performers play renditions of the music that has shaped our world, from Beyonce to Frank Sinatra to Vivaldi and beyond. The music—and the talented musicians who deliver it—is only part of the allure of the Candlelight Concert series by Fever, the live-entertainment discovery platform. The rest lies in the serene ambience of the events, which is achieved with a sea of soothing LED candles flickering from wall to wall in some of NYC’s coolest venues. The effect is hypnotic.
We attended From Bach to the Beatles, an evening of music that began with unique arrangements of the 18th century composer and then evolved into some of the greatest hits by the Fab Four. The Highline String Quartet performed each hit beautifully. They also interacted with the audience, throwing out fun facts about the connection between the featured music (Paul McCartney is said to have found the chords for Blackbird as he was strumming Bach on his guitar).
And while Candlelight Concerts are not unique to New York City (you can catch them in Paris, São Paulo, Montreal, and many more cities), what is unique are the venues. Concerts take place inside some of the city’s most beautiful buildings, from the stunning Church of the Heavenly Rest on the Upper East Side to the historic St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn, and many more locations throughout the city.
Themed concerts have included A Tribute to Taylor Swift, Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop Favorites, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Keep an eye out for upcoming concerts in New York City.
4. Eat on the Cheap at Gray’s Papaya
If a traditional New York hot dog is on your list, be sure to head to Gray’s Papaya on the Upper West Side. The franks are hot off the griddle, the prices can’t be beat, and the efficiency of service brings Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi to mind. Gray’s Papaya is not a place to lounge or linger; instead pop in for a quick bite after a day of exploring the Upper West Side or Central Park.
Hot dogs are their specialty and almost the only food on the menu (they serve breakfast rolls, too). Toppings of your choice include ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, onions, and relish. Chili and cheese are each fifty cents extra. Even with a papaya juice on the side (or another tropical flavor like coconut, banana, or pina colada) the whole thing will set you back only about five bucks.
Gray’s Papaya flagship location at Broadway and 72nd Street is the only remaining location in New York.
- Address: 2090 Broadway (at 72nd St.), New York, NY
- See menu and business hours
5. Attend Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island
Speaking of hot dogs, have you ever seen anyone pack away as many as they can in 10 minutes? That’s the challenge competitive eaters are up against at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, a popular event that takes place annually at Coney Island in New York City.
Avid fans arrive early at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues, the original location of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. The most enthusiastic among them are wearing wiener costumes, but everyone’s excited and vying for a spot to view first the women’s and then the men’s event. In between the matches, there’s a lot of hype and ceremony, led by the legendary master of ceremonies, George Shea.
The current champion in the men’s division is Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, who holds the world record for downing 73 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Miki Sudo holds the women’s title with 40 wieners. Winners walk away with the money and prizes, including the coveted Yellow Mustard Belt. The popular event is broadcast by ESPN and is easily one of the most unusual things to do in NYC!
- Date: Annually on July Fourth
- Location: Coney Island at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues
6. Revisit History at Ellis Island
While Ellis Island wasn’t the only immigrant port of arrival around the turn of the 20th century, it was most certainly the busiest. From 1892 to 1954, a staggering 12 million people passed through this point of entry. Now a world-famous museum, Ellis Island acts as a time capsule that preserves one of the most significant eras in American history.
Ellis Island offers three floors of exhibits that capture the immigrant experience. To dive deep into the history, begin on the first floor with exhibits that detail America’s people from 1550 to the present day. Another first-floor highlight includes the Baggage Room, a poignant display of century-old luggage that passengers used to carry their personal belongings across the sea.
On the second floor is the Registry Room, a vast open space where thousands of new arrivals waited daily to meet with Immigration Service officers. Another gallery on the same floor displays artifacts, photos and information focused on the peak immigration years of 1880-1924.
On the third floor, the exhibit Treasures from Home is especially meaningful. On display are thousands of items that people who were leaving their homes forever deemed important enough to fit into the limited luggage they had on their journey across the sea.
I also love the Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour so much that I’ve taken it three times! This experience takes visitors on a guided tour through the quarantine wards where immigrants stayed if they failed their initial health checks upon arrival. Note that Hard Hat Tour must be booked in advance and requires an additional ticket purchase.
Please be sure to buy your tickets from the only authorized ticket concessioner for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
7. Get a Glimpse of the Statue of Liberty
There are many ways to view the Statue of Liberty from afar. You can spot her from the Brooklyn Bridge, the High Line, or the Battery. You might book a sunset cruise or opt for a free ride on the Staten Island ferry, both of which will sail past this world-famous monument.
However, if you love Lady Liberty like I do, nothing less than a close-up will do. I love visiting Liberty Island and taking my time walking around and getting viewpoints from various perspectives. I always opt for Pedestal tickets, which allows visitors to enter the statue’s base and climb (or take the elevator) to the point where you’re just below her base, close enough to see the finely detailed folds in her robe and the date (July 4, 1776) etched into the tablet she holds in her left hand.
From the pedestal, many visitors continue climbing up to her crown, though I suspect many, like me, avoid it due to fear of heights. Crown tickets are also hard to come by—they have to be booked months in advance.
There’s also a wonderful free museum on Liberty Island, with artifacts, information, digital displays, and much more that tell the story of the statue’s origin. As popular as she is, the Statue of Liberty still provides visitors with a uniquely New York experience.
Please be sure to purchase your tickets from the only authorized ticket concessioner for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
8. Tour the Apartments of the Tenement Museum
After they were cleared to enter the U.S., new arrivals to Ellis Island needed a place to live. For millions, that home was on the Lower East Side. In fact, so many people settled here that by the early 1900s, it was the most densely populated neighborhood in the world.
The Tenement Museum provides a unique opportunity to tour the apartments that were occupied by New York’s immigrant population in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the 1930s, the apartment building that is now the Tenement Museum was condemned as a safety hazard. Tenants had to move out immediately and the building was shuttered for 50 years. When the museum founders entered in the 1980s, they found a well-preserved time capsule, complete with personal belongings that were left behind in the haste to move out.
The apartments in the Tenement Museum can be visited on guided tours only. Guides share items related to long-ago residents, including personal belongings, ship manifestos, census documents, and best of all, the stories of the families that lived here over the years.
I’ve gone on many Tenement Museum tours and have enjoyed every one of them. The guides are knowledgeable and engaging, and always seem to make each tour special. Like Ellis Island, the Tenement Museum provides unique insight into a pivotal era in American history.
- Address: 103 Orchard St., New York, NY
- See selection of available tours
9. Visit the Museum at Eldridge Street
The peak years of immigration to the U.S. (1884-1924) included millions of Jewish arrivals from Russia, Lithuania, Poland, and other Eastern European countries. A majority of them settled in New York City, specifically on the Lower East Side.
In 1887, a synagogue was built to provide this budding population with a place to worship and find community, and Eldridge Street Synagogue thrived for decades.
The synagogue’s decline began in the 1920s, with many of the Jewish faith moving to the outer boroughs and strict immigration laws preventing new people from moving in. The building deteriorated and the grand main sanctuary was sealed off altogether. When it was rediscovered in 1986, it was in great disrepair, filthy with dust, and ready to collapse.
In the decades that followed, extensive restoration work was done, and the building was designated a National Historic Landmark.
In 2007, the Museum at Eldridge Street opened, allowing visitors to see the stunning results of that revitalization work. The oak pews, elaborate Victorian lampshades, and handpainted designs on the walls and ceilings were cleaned and repaired. And the centerpiece of it all is a magnificent site to behold: a 6,000-pound stained glass rose window that overlooks the sanctuary.
Visitors to the Museum at Eldridge Street will not only learn about the history of Jewish immigration to New York, but will also view one of the most beautiful works of architecture in the city. Guided and self-guided tours are available.
- Address: 12 Eldridge St., New York, NY
- See hours and admission
10. Catch a Performance at The Juilliard School
New York City attracts emerging actors, singers, and musicians, and anyone else who wants to make it in the performing arts. One way to take advantage of this up-and-coming talent is to take in a performance at Juilliard, one of the most competitive and rigorous conservatories in the country.
More than 700 performances in music, dance, and drama are staged annually and tickets are always $45 or under; many performances are free. Juilliard shows are far more under the radar than anything you might see on Broadway, and is therefore one of the more unique NYC activities you’ll encounter.
Keep an eye on the performance calendar for the upcoming school year’s schedule.
- Address: 60 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY
11. Do Yoga in Times Square
Experience the Crossroads of the World—and the beginning of summer—in a completely different way with Solstice in Times Square: Mind Over Madness Yoga. Classes take place throughout the day from sunrise to sunset. Yogis at every level are invited to ring in the summer solstice while finding peace among the flashing lights and foot traffic of Times Square.
Yoga classes are free (donations accepted) but advanced registration is required. Registrants are given free yoga mats to keep and admitted into Yoga Village, where you can load up on free schwag from the event’s promoters.
I love attending Solstice in Times Square whenever I can. There’s something about doing yoga in Times Square with thousands of other yogis, surrounded by the everyday pulse of the city, that reignites my youthful passion. It only takes place one day each year, but this is by far one of the most unique things do to in New York!
Since well-known instructors from around the world are invited, the classes are always exceptional, and I’ve noticed the quality of the promotional items at Yoga Village goes up a notch every year! Keep an eye on the Solstice in Times Square website or sign up for the newsletter. Registration and class schedules are usually available about a month before the event.
- When: Classes take place annually on June 21
12. Celebrate LGBTQ Rights at The Stonewall Inn
In the heart of Greenwich Village, there’s a bar that’s synonymous with modern LGBTQ Rights. The movement was ignited on June 28, 1969 when the NYPD raided the Stonewall Inn. In those days, police raids of gay bars were common. However, on this particular day, the community decided to take a stand.
As the police dragged customers and employees out of the bar, arresting some of them, a crowd formed and grew. A police officer hit a woman over the head as he arrested her and soon, a riot erupted with hundreds of people involved.
For five more days, protestors came to the Stonewall Inn to express their objection to the unfair harassment of the gay community. This stretch of time marked a key turning point in the movement for equal rights.
When you’re in Greenwich Village, be sure to pay homage at this iconic New York landmark and while you’re there, grab a drink. The Stonewall Inn still operates as a bar and continues to be a symbol of acceptance and community for all.
- Address: 53 Christopher St., New York, NY
- See hours and Happy Hour specials
13. Eat Lox and Bagels
If you think a chewy New York City bagel smeared in cream cheese is the world’s most perfect food, you’re not wrong. But for an even more mind-bending taste-bud extravaganza, add a couple of slices of fresh smoked salmon (aka lox) plus thinly sliced slivers of red onion and—if you’re into them—tangy capers to top it all off.
Lox and bagels are a classic Jewish deli favorite and a quintessential New York meal. The sandwich is widely available throughout the city, but some places well-known for making them the best are Russ & Daughters, Murray’s Bagels, and Barney Greengrass. If you want to eat like a New Yorker, lox and bagels are a must!
14. Tour the Home of Alexander Hamilton
Many sites in New York City are reminiscent of the country’s founding members, but few are so wholly intact, so informative, and so intimately related to a founder as Alexander Hamilton’s home. In 1802, the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury moved with his family to a 32-acre estate in Harlem, which was still wide open countryside.
Nicknamed The Grange, the yellow Federal-style home provided the family respite from crowded Lower Manhattan. Unfortunately, Hamilton was only able to enjoy it for a couple of years before he died in a duel with Aaron Burr. However, his wife Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, lived in the home for another 30 years after her husband’s death.
Located in Hamilton Heights, Hamilton Grange National Memorial is now a house museum run by the National Park Service. The first floor Visitor Center includes exhibits and a film on the life and accomplishments of Hamilton. The Historical Floor one story up is furnished in much the same way as it was when the family resided there and shows where the family dined and entertained. The Visitor Center can be seen on a self-guided tour. The Historical Floor must be visited with a guide.
Visiting Hamilton Grange is a great add-on if you’ve seen the hit hip-hop musical based on his life. You can also stop by Hamilton’s final resting place at Trinity Cemetery in Lower Manhattan.
- Address: 414 w. 141st St., New York, NY
- See admission, hours, and tour information
15. Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge
The woven wire cables and Neo-Gothic architecture make the Brooklyn Bridge immediately recognizable. The pedestrian promenade that stretches above the roadway draws millions of visitors every year, allowing them views of the Manhattan skyline and parts of Brooklyn, as well as the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges. You can even spot the Statue of Liberty out in New York Harbor.
When the Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, spanning the East River and connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn. It remains today just as beautiful as it was 140 years ago and it’s still one of New York’s best-loved and most visited sights.
16. Grab a Beer at an Old Sailor’s Bar in Brooklyn
Everyone loves a dive bar with history and that’s exactly what you’ll get at this Brooklyn watering hole.
Opened in 1938, Montero Bar & Grill is decorated with countless orange life preservers, a mini captain’s wheel, figures of fishermen carved from wood, model ships, ships in bottles, and oil paintings of more ships. This is all a throwback to the World War Two-era, when naval ships docked nearby and sailors from ports around the world crowded into the bar for cold beers and hot meals.
The cluttered nautical décor adds a comfortable, dive-bar vibe, the staff is always friendly, and customers can get up and sing karaoke Wednesday-Friday.
Montero’s also has a place in New York’s literary history. Frank McCourt, author of Angela’s Ashes, lived upstairs. He was often spotted drinking at the bar with Beat poet Herbert Huncke.
- Address: 73 Atlantic Ave., New York, NY
17. Go to the Top of the Empire State Building
Sure, flashier new observation decks have sprung up in recent years. There’s Edge, which holds the title of the highest outdoor viewing platform in the Western Hemisphere. And Summit, which is a mirror-and-glass feast for the senses. But the Empire State Building will always be carved into our collective pop culture consciousness, thanks to countless films that have romanticized it for decades now.
When the Empire State Building was completed in 1931, it was world’s first 100+ story building in the world. The Art Deco building was an immediate tourist magnet and then climbed to even higher heights of fame with the 1933 debut of the classic film, King Kong.
The Empire State Building will always be synonymous with New York City and remains truly a uniquely New York experience. If you’ve visited during the day, consider going at night for even more stunning views!
- Address: 20 W. 34th St., New York, NY
- See hours and ticket options
18. Walk Around Grand Central Terminal
Any trip to NYC must include a walk through Grand Central. The Beaux-arts building in midtown Manhattan is a transportation hub for the Metro-North railroad and several subway lines. But the real reason to visit is to stand in awe in the Main Concourse, where the arched ceilings painted in celestial scenes soar high overhead. Here is also where you’ll find the four-faced opal Information Booth Clock, well-known as the most famous meeting spot in New York.
Grand Central is also home to many shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes. Treat yourself to a cold martini at The Campbell, a luxurious Florentine-inspired space that was once a private office, or feast on fresh seafood at Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, a New York institution since 1913. Just outside the Oyster Bar, don’t miss the Whispering Gallery, where whispers bounce off the walls and float to listeners clear across the hall.
Be one of the 750,000 visitors that passes through Grand Central every day and don’t miss out on this unique New York City experience.
- Address: 89 E. 42nd St., New York, NY
19. Experience Christmas in NYC
Any time of year is a good time to visit New York but during the Christmas season, there is truly no place like it. The centerpiece of festivities is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, which is lit annually on the first Wednesday following Thanksgiving.
Once the tree is lit, the holiday season is in full swing. Department store windows are elaborately decorated for the season, holiday markets pop up around the city, and the Radio City Rockettes take the stage for their famous and beloved holiday stage show. Christmas is also the season to ice skate while surrounded by some of the most iconic skyscrapers and monuments in the world. There is simply no other place like New York City at Christmastime.
20. Drink Up at McSorley’s Old Ale House
In a city of 8 million people, there are more than enough bars to hang out at. But McSorley’s stands out among the rest as one of the oldest in New York City. Opened in 1864, McSorley’s is as old-school as it gets. Sawdust covers the floor, cash is the only currency accepted, and your only choice of beer is a McSorley’s Ale, though you can specify if you prefer yours light or dark.
Interesting memorabilia clutters McSorley’s. Among the many historical artifacts are a pair of handcuffs hanging from the ceiling, which belonged to magician Harry Houdini. He was known to drink here and it is said that his ghost still makes an appearance every now and then. Stop in for a beer and enjoy this quirky, historical pub.
- Address: 15 E. 7th St., New York, NY
21. Take a Harlem Walking Tour
For an iconic only-in-New-York experience, I highly recommend taking a guided tour of a unique local neighborhood. There are, of course, many neighborhoods and many tours to choose from, but my top suggestion is to tour Harlem, a neighborhood rich in African American culture and history.
Depending on your tour, you might take a deep dive into the Harlem Renaissance, hip hop history, civil rights, architecture, or gospel. In my opinion, it’s even better if your guide is a local to Harlem. Our last tour was especially enriched by our guide, who shared her memories of growing up in her tight-knit Harlem neighborhood in the 1960s.
Here are some tours to choose based on your interests, but really, you can’t go wrong in beautiful Harlem!
- Mount Morris Park Historic District (with lunch)
- Central Harlem African-American Culture Walking Tour
- Harlem Hip-Hop Walking Tour
- Harlem Civil Rights Multimedia Walking Tour
- Evening Harlem Jazz Tour
- Harlem Gospel and Brunch Tour
22. Enjoy Food, Music, and Culture at the Uptown Night Market
This seasonal food festival features local food and entertainment and takes place in uniquely scenic spot, yet remains off the beaten tourist path. To experience the food and festivities at the Uptown Night Market, look for the Arches of Harlem at 133rd Street and 12th Avenue in Harlem.
From April to October, more than 60 vendors gather on the second Thursday of each month to bring food, beverages, and merchandise to the community. Live performances by local musicians and artists are also a highlight of the community festival.
- Location: 133rd Street and 12th Ave., Harlem
- Hours: 4-10 p.m.
23. Attend a Free Concert by the New York Philharmonic
Summer in New York City doesn’t officially kick off until the fabulous New York Philharmonic comes out with their schedule of free (seasonal) concerts. Since 1965, the world-class orchestra has played concerts in parks throughout the city, bringing classical music to the community at no cost.
To experience this beloved New York event like a local, bring a blanket and plenty of picnic snacks! Concerts take place in parks across the city, from Central Park in Manhattan to Prospect Park in Brooklyn to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and beyond. Performances always begin at 8:00 p.m. and are followed by fireworks.
As you might imagine, these summer concerts are outrageously popular and become very crowded, especially when they perform in Central Park. Arrive early and stake out a good spot.
The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks typically take place each year in mid-June.
24. Stop by the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue
Built in 1911, the Main Branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) first began appearing in films in the 1930s. Since then, you might have seen it in movies like Spiderman, Sex and the City, and Ghostbusters.
Especially familiar from the movies are the rows of tables and high-arched windows of the Rose Main Reading Room, and as well as Patience and Fortitude, the stoic marble lions who greet visitors at the steps of the magnificent Beaux-Arts building on Fifth Avenue.
The Main Branch, also known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, is also home to The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures. This permanent exhibit features a rotating display of artifacts, manuscripts, letters, recordings, and much more, all of which signify the NYPL legacy. Be sure to visit the gift shop for the most unique, local gifts and souvenirs.
- Address: 476 Fifth Ave., New York, NY
- See business hours
25. Discover the Splendor of the Metropolitan Opera
Settle in for a world class performance in one of the grandest settings in New York City!
The Opera tradition in New York City dates back to 1854 when performances took place at the Academy of Music at 14th Street and Irving Place. For decades, the Opera was reserved for the city’s most elite, who watched performances from their private boxes, smugly comfortable with their prominent status in Society.
Season two of The Gilded Age on HBO has an entire storyline, based in truth, about the creation of the Metropolitan Opera. It was a New York Gilded Age-era habit of attending performances in the winter, when the rich were “in town,” and not at their summer mansions in Newport or making the rounds of Europe’s grandest cities.
The “old money” crowd, mortified at the vulgar displays of wealth put on by the newly rich, did their best to keep the new money out of upper crust society. The The nouveau riche got tired of being excluded from Society’s most important gathering places, so they raised money and built their own and in 1883, The Metropolitan Opera House was born.
That new, real-life venue was located at Broadway and 39th, though the location changed again in the 1960s, when current The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center opened.
Opera in New York City has come a long way since the Gilded Age snobbery it was born of. Timeless classics like La Bohéme and Carmen will always be a staple of the opera season, but exciting new productions are now the norm, too. A recent example of this is Fire Shut Up in My Bones (based on a 2014 memoir by Charles M. Blow), by Terence Blanchard, a composer and musician known for scoring Spike Lee films.
The Metropolitan Opera also encourages audiences of all ages and backgrounds to attend performances. Tickets at discounted rates are available throughout the season through Rush Tickets, Student Tickets, Standing Room Tickets, and more.
The Met: Live in HD series also makes performances available in cinemas around the world via live transmission. The opera season runs from September-June.
26. Take a Sunset Cruise
The New York City skyline is famous the world over for its mix of modern and Art Deco skyscrapers, iconic bridges, and instantly recognizable landmarks like the Statue of Liberty. In my opinion, the best way to take in those views, to really linger on them and see them at their most brilliant, is to take a sunset cruise.
There are many cruises to choose from but for the most part, they all stick to a similar route. That means no matter which company you book with, you’ll likely sail under the Brooklyn Bridge, past the Statue of Liberty, and in full view of One World Trade.
A sunset cruise is a nice activity for all ages. It’s also perfect if you’re looking for a little romance on your New York City getaway! See many sunset cruise options here.
27. Try the Cronut of the Month
Cronuts are a delectable fusion of croissants and donuts. The flaky, cream-filled treat took New York by storm when Dominique Ansel created them in 2013. Early morning lines formed outside his eponymous bakery in SoHo and patrons were limited to two Cronuts per customer.
More than ten years later, the lines have settled somewhat, though they do still exist. On my most recent trip on a Saturday in January, I waited only ten minutes outside—and was offered handwarmers by a nice staff member—and was then permitted inside to wait in line for another quick couple of minutes.
On the outside line, a sign gently informs patrons of Cronut Etiquette. This is where you’ll find out—if you didn’t already know—that Cronut flavors rotate monthly and are never repeated. There is no “plain” cronut, and substitution requests are declined.
Cronuts have become a New York City icon—don’t miss this trying this great symbol of culinary innovation!
Final Thoughts on Unique NYC Experiences
There’s no place in the world like New York City, a destination where you can see world-class art, dine on an eclectic selection of cuisine, and get up close to world-famous landmarks. There are some things you can only do in New York, so make the absolute best of your visit by adding some unique adventures to your itinerary!
