Free Things to Do in New York City

It sounds like a bit of a contradiction placing "New York City" and "free" into the same sentence. Granted, New York can be an insanely expensive place to visit or live. It seems you can't do anything without shelling out the cash. But if you take a good look around, there are plenty of free things to do in New York all year round.

All those museums are expensive, right? Not really. If you take a trip to the Bronx Zoo on Wednesdays, admission is by donation so you could essentially get in for free.

Another great place to go is the Sony Wonder Technology Lab in Midtown. Admission is always free and it's four floors of awesome exhibits that are all hands on, such as creating your own video game, starring in your own news broadcast or making your own music.

The Museum of Modern Art (affectionately known as MoMA) is free every Friday night from 4 to 8 pm, which is sponsored by Target. Yes it'll be a little more crowded but it is a great way to see some amazing work without spending a dime!

But where else can you go without opening your wallet? Take a trip to the Southstreet Seaport and take in the sights. They also offer free events constantly, including many outdoor concerts during the spring and summertime.

You can hop aboard the Staten Island Ferry for free, and take in a scenic view of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Lower Manhattan and the New York Harbor. It'll make for some beautiful pictures you can take home and brag to your friends about.

Also in the summer, there are a lot of outdoor concerts, movie screenings, and sometimes even broadway performances at Bryant Park, Central Park, Chelsea Piers, and lots of other locations. All of which are free of cost! It's a wonderful way to take in the culture and arts of New York.

For a full list of all the places, dates and times that hold these free concerts and the like, check out http://gonyc.about.com/cs/music/a/summermusic.htm.

If you don't mind traveling outside of Manhattan, you can also visit the Queens Botanical Gardens for free all year round. The New York Hall Of Science, located in Flushing, Queens, is free from September to June Thursdays and Fridays from 2-5. It's one of the coolest places that's definitely a must see. You'll learn a lot and have fun doing so!

If you just take a look, there is plenty to be done and seen at New York without breaking the bank. So the next time you think spending time in New York is expensive, think again!