Call these honorary mentions or yet-to-come trips, as these are things on my bucket list that I will get to – one of these days… This overlaps with the Outside of Manhattan entry, where I mention other desirable destinations. Why I have not yet visited these can be for any of the following reasons in no particular order: lack of time, not heard of it until much later, priority, I prefer company, or simply lack of funds. I am very good at doing things by myself, but every so often, there are things that I just think would be a lot more worthwhile if I could experience them with somebody else, although I reserve the right to change my mind and still do some of these things by myself..

Of course, if money is not an issue, there are loads of places to visit, such as making it to the top of the Rockefeller or Empire State Building, which are both iconic and worth doing. The Empire State building has one of the fastest elevators I have ever been on – quite a spectacular experience, and, of course, the view is stunning. As with many of these highly popular places, book your ticket online to reserve your seat and allow for planning, particularly if your visit is brief. I have yet to do the Rockefeller, the Summit One Vanderbilt, and the Edge, which should all be great alternatives if skyline view is your thing: The Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, located at 30 Hudson Yards, with a one-of-a-kind design. The SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Experience offers an immersive art experience while having access to the stunning views of New York City.

Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty – it is somewhat embarrassing that I have not yet visited this place, as it is one of the most important historical landmarks – but alas – one of these days. One thing the security guard at Federal Hall told me, as he had worked on the island for many years, is that it is absolutely crucial that you buy the authorized tickets through the website: https://www.statueofliberty.org/statue-of-liberty/, as there are many scammers out there, selling unauthorized “tickets” which either is a ticket to nowhere, or all you get is a crappy sail trip around the island, and does not actually include stopping there! So, be aware of this, and purchase the correct ticket, or you might as well just get on the Staten Island ferry for free.

African Burial Ground National Monument – now, why I have not actually seen this yet is based on pure ignorance – I had simply not taken the time to look up where it was located, as it is basically where Brooklyn Bridge starts on the Manhattan side, and I have walked by a million times. So, no excuse – next trip to NYC, and I will finally be able to check this off the list…

As with NYPhil, the Opera also offers rush tickets (https://www.metopera.org/season/tickets/rush-page/), and I will make it there one of these days. During my last visit, there were no tickets to be had. The same with Carnegie Hall, another iconic location if you are interested in music.

There are a ton of museums I have yet to explore. Several of which are free or cheap. The Museum of Sex seems super fun – I have walked by it several times but deemed it that it is something to visit with a friend – so we can giggle away together. Right outside the main entrance, there is a food truck selling waffles in designs appropriate to the museum’s name (enough said…). The only museum in North America dedicated to math, the Museum of Mathematics seems so intriguing to me, highlighting the role of math. Math has existed since before the first pyramids were built, and I cannot wait to see their narrative. The FIT Museum is free and focuses on Fashion (garments and accessories). The American Folk Art Museum near Central Park – I have walked by several times but never had the time to stop (also free!). Being interested in history, I must visit. There are several museums dedicated to the Gilded Age of NYC, such as the Frick Collection (note that this collection is temporarily in another location as of winter 2023), the Merchant’s House Museum, and the Morgan Library and Museum. You can also consider a tour of NY City Hall to see George Washington’s old desk (https://www.nyc.gov/site/designcommission/public-programs/tours/city-hall.page), or the home of Alexander Hamilton (https://www.nps.gov/hagr/index.htm) – who these days has had quite a revival and fame with the wonderful musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda (you should check it out if you have not yet seen it!). The Institute for the Study of the Ancient World might also have something interesting on display, and it could be worthwhile swinging by.

I want to wrap up with the honorary mention. The odds of bringing old books with you, I presume, are pretty slim, and in my case, I do not actually like pickles, but the concept of this used bookstore is just too good to pass up, and I will definitely visit it on my next trip to NYC! The Sweet Pickle Books store (https://www.sweetpicklebooks.com/) literally trades you a jar of pickles for a few secondhand books! Amazing! With that, I have completed my blog on how to visit NYC on a budget (most of the time) - which turned into nine separate entries! I am always open to expanding my repertoire, so feel free to share ideas, suggestions, updates, changes, errors, and whatnot – and then I hope I see you in NYC ;)