New York can be a very expensive city to visit, with its myriad of museums, theater, shopping and dining options. There is a reason why the most famous song about New York (Liza Minelli’s New York, New York) references the city name back to back in the song title. It’s so good you just have to sing it twice! It seems like every attraction in the city requires you to spend on an entrance fee or at least spend a couple of dollars for you to enjoy it. Fear not, however, there are still some very interesting activities that you can enjoy in Manhattan without worrying about budgeting.
Central Park
Central Park is long famous for New Yorkers as a green place to relax, jog, take the dogs for a walk, or just meander around in. It has also been made famous by various films and TV shows, including one of the most famous musical concerts of all-time, The Concert in Central Park, with American folk-rock duo Simon and Garfunkel. There are many great parks in the world, but the prime appeal of Central Park is that such a stunning, lush and green urban park sits right next to Manhattan’s sprawling skyscrapers.
You can be walking through the busy city streets, make a few turns, and suddenly be transported into a different world, a world with lovely bridges, fountains, trees, ponds, a castle (yes, a real castle called Belvedere), all within minutes. If you get hungry walking through the park, which is very likely, there is also a popular restaurant, Tavern On The Green, which serves fresh American food and will satisfy any hungry stomach.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York & New York Stock Exchange
It doesn’t cost a cent to reserve the one hour tour of the Federal Reserve Bank, one of the most powerful financial entities in the United States. There are numerous exhibits which will teach you about the interesting history of the Federal Reserve, plus a chance to see the vault, which houses thousands of tons of gold reserves. The New York Stock Exchange is the most famous stock exchange in the world.
To emphasize its significance, it has a statue of America’s most famous leader, George Washington, in front of the entrance. If you wish to see the great charging Bull sculpture that is recognized as the symbol of Wall Street Titans, however, you will not find it directly in front of the NYSE. You will have to walk a few blocks from the building at the intersection of Broadway & Morris streets to take a picture of the bull.
New York Public Library
Over 100 years old, the New York Public Library stands as a beautifully ornate monument to learning and education. Opened in 1895, thanks to famous financier John Astor, it quickly became a grand place of intellect second only to the equally magnificent Library of Congress, located in Washington, D.C. The centerpiece of the library is a breath-taking room called the Rose Reading Room, which features high rosette ceilings, giant windows, elegant chandeliers, and long oak tables. It is a truly inspirational room, made all the more precious by the fact that you cannot actually check out books from this particular library, you can only peruse them.
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New York, New York
As soon as you step inside the planetary system we recognize as New York City, you are faced with many choices to spend your time and money, but it’s important to remember that you can do a wide variety of activities for free or a very low cost, some of which we’ve listed in this article. It doesn’t require too much planning, just a subway ride, and you will feel happier knowing that you’ve explored some great landmarks without burning a hole in your pocket!
History
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