In Part 5 of our 5-part series on cities where you can have a great timeshare vacation with real no-cost entertainment we explore how New York City fits the bill.
New York City is one of the most exciting cities in the world to visit. And, as with most big cities it can also be pricey.
However, along with a budget-friendly timeshare rental right in mid-town Manhattan, you can have a fun time and stay within your vacation budget by seeking out these activities that, quite amazingly, are free:
1. Staten Island Ferry. (see top photo) Long holding the distinction of the greatest free attraction on the Eastern Seaboard, the Staten Island Ferry is actually transportation for workers who commute between Staten Island and Manhattan.
And that translates into a terrific free activity for NYC visitors. This free ride that cuts across busy New York Harbor gives you a chance to get out on the water with great views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and the many ships and boats in the harbor.
The 5-mile, 25 minute ride – or, just keep hopping back on and ride all day! – is one of the best bangs for the (no)buck that you’ll ever come across.
2. Brooklyn Brewery Tours. Hearkening back to a time when this area of New York was a beer brewing center, the Brooklyn Brewery not only brews and serves tasty local suds, but offers free tours of their facilities on weekends.
Interesting fact: the brewery’s cursive logo was designed by Milton Glazer, of ‘I Heart New York’ fame, who did the job in exchange for a share of the profits and free beer for life.
3. Grand Central Walking Tours. Here is your chance to have a free, guided walking tour of one of the most well-known areas of NYC.
Led by two historians, this award-winning walking tour brings you up close and personal to many architecturally and historically significant sights.
Among them are the Chrysler Building, Pershing Square, and Grand Central Station where many movies have been filmed, including Cary Grant’s North by Northwest, Robert DeNiro’s Midnight Run, and Christopher Reeve’s Superman.
4. Grant’s Tomb. Officially known at the General Ulysses S Grant National Memorial, this $600,000 granite structure holds the remains of the Civil War hero and 18th president, and his wife Julia.
It is the largest mausoleum in the US, and is patterned after Mausolus’ tomb at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
This breathtaking structure is constructed from 8,000 tons of granite, with Massachusetts marble for the floors and fine Italian marble for the railings and trimmings.
5. Central Park. You could spend days in this 840-acre splash of green that stretches for 2.5 miles, and you still might not experience all the free things to do here.
There are 32 different playgrounds for the kids. Extensive walking, hiking and biking trails cut through woods and across grassy fields.
Play chess or checkers under the shade of beautiful trees. Create your own scavenger hunt for the many, and varied, statues that range from a Civil War monument to whimsical Alice in Wonderland. And in the summer attend the many free concerts that are offered.
6. Bronx Zoo. One of the oldest and most beloved zoos in the country, the Bronx Zoo is free every Wednesday.
This was the first zoo to ever develop educational activities, and today its curriculum is used in every state in the union, and 15 foreign countries. The zoo’s programs are divided into children’s group visits, summer camps, and family outings.
7. National Museum of the American Indian. Located just off historic Bowling Green and Battery Park, this outstanding museum is situated in the spectacular former US Customs House (1907), one of NYC’s finest beaux arts buildings.
The museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute, so admission is free. One of the country’s finest collections of Native American art, the focus here is on fascinating culture, not history, with exhibits of a million-plus items.
Stay in a New York City timeshare rental and save.
Timeshare Vacation – Free Things to Do in the City Part 1 – Las Vegas
Timeshare Vacation – Free Things to Do in the City Part 2 – New Orleans
Timeshare Vacation – Free Things to Do in the City Part 3 – San Francisco
Timeshare Vacation – Free Things to Do in the City Part 4 – Myrtle Beach
Photo Credit (1): commons.wikimedia.org
Photo Credit (2): timeout.com
Photo Credit (3): timeout.com
Photo Credit (4): cityprofile.com
Photo Credit (5): redtri.com
Photo Credit (6): timeout.com
Photo Credit (7): blog.nmai.si.edu