Top 5 Unique and Unusual Things to Do in New York City

Most people who visit New York City do the usual things, like visit the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Times Square. But, there's so much more to the Big Apple than the usual tourist attractions. Yes, indeed, you can visit Greenwich Village to see what the Beat Poets and hipsters had in mind. Shop SoHo for original artwork and more. Book it to Brooklyn for a stroll down Kent Street where 19th century rowhouses reign supreme or Brooklyn Heights where it's really happening. Check out Queens Museum of Art PS 1 Contemporary Arts Center or Little Manilla. What about a tour of Harlem to learn more about Harlem Renaissance art, music and culture? The skies the limit in the Big Apple where every street and neighborhood has a story to tell.

What else can do on your next visit to New York City? Check out these Top 5 Unique and Unusual Things to Do in New York City. Sure to make your trip to the Big Apple a memorable one, indeed.

Top of The Rock
www.rockefellercenter.com

For many years, the observation deck at Rockefeller Center was closed to the public. But, not any more. Top of The Rock observation deck is located on the 70th floor of Rockefeller Center. With its awesome views of Central Park , Times Square , Brooklyn Bridge, and more, you'll be transfixed by everything the Big Apple has to offer. Easy in and out make for more skyline views and less hassle. Open daily, 8am to 11pm.

Chinatown Attractions and More
www.explorechinatown.com

You might start your tour of Chinatown at Chatham Square which plays host to seven major streets (including Bowery and Mott) and more. Check out the awesome statue of Lin Zexu, a Qing Dynasty official who led the fight against Britain's illegal importation of the drug opium. From Chatham Square, mosey on over to Pearl River Mart for a little shopping and retail therapy in 30,000 square feet of the very best Chinatown has to offer, like hundreds of tea varieties, asian ceramics and tea pots, soy, hot and other kinds of sauces, silk and other fabrics, and so much more. After you've wore a path through Pearl River Mart, check out the great dim sum and noodle joints that dot Chinatown's colorful streets and byways. Try a different Chinese or Asian restaurant each time you visit Chinatown and you're sure to find your all-time favorite. Open 7 days a week.

High Stylin' MoMA
www.moma.org

The Metropolitan Museum of Modern art, nestled in midtown, is one of my favorite destinations and long considered among the best modern art museums in the whole world. Given a recent Yoshio Taniguchi renovation, it has only become a more exciting venue for residents and tourists alike in the Big Apple. MoMa galleries soar with super cool paintings, drawings, prints, illustrations, and photographs. Besides the classics, you'll also find Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe and more. Check out MoMa on your next visit to Manhattan. You won't be disappointed. Open daily, 10:30am to 5:30pm, extended hours on Fridays until 8pm.

Culinary Delights of Little Italy
www.littleitalynyc.com

Begin your visit on Mulberry Street, the heart and soul of New York City's historic Little Italy neighborhood, where lovely Italian cafes, restaurants and bakeries line the street to this day, long after Italian immigrants left for the suburbs. Chill with a glass of wine or tiramisu at a sidewalk cafe, or shop the markets for Italian sausage, salami, and more that hang from store windows along the quaint streets and byways. Open 7 days a week.

Central Park's Belvedere Castle
www.centralpark.com/guide/attractions/belvedere-castle.html

Sitting way up high, on top of Vista Rock, the second highest natural elevation in the park, this lovely castle is located mid-park at 79th Street and offers some of the most wonderful panoramic views of New York City, including Central Park's Delacorte Theater, Great Lawn, Turtle Pond, the Ramble, and more. Carriage rides and bikes aren't the only thing the park goers are looking for. Ready for adventure? Check out this incredible castle and everything else Central Park has to offer. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Tours available.

RESOURCES

Official New York City Guide
www.nycgo.com

Official New York State Tourism Site
www.iloveny.com