14 Free Ways to Make the Most of New York City
Take a Ride on the Staten Island Ferry
Taking a ride on the Staten Island Ferry is a fun way to experience a historic relic of the city and some of its fantastic views. The Ferry is one of many that used to transport people between Manhattan and other parts of the city before the bridges were built.
The Ferry is one of the best places to get a good look at the Statue of Liberty for free and it also offers nice views of the lower Manhattan skyline and Ellis Island. The ride takes approximately 25 minutes and is always free, but can get pretty crowded during rush hour, so plan accordingly.
Browse Art at the Galleries in Chelsea
Chelsea is a neighborhood in Manhattan that is famous as one of the city’s epicenters of art. There are, by some estimates, more than 300 art galleries in this neighborhood alone. You’ll find most of them between West 14th Street and West 29th Street at around 10th to 11th Avenue.
The art galleries are always free to visit and you’ll find loads of museum-quality exhibitions happening all the time. If you happen to be visiting during opening night of the exhibits, you’ll often find the galleries serving free snacks and drinks. Some of the highlights include David Zwirner, Andrew Kreps Gallery, Ricco Maresca Gallery, Pace, Fergus McCaffrey James Cohen Gallery and many others.
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Enjoy a Day at the Beach
When it comes to free things to do in New York in the summer, you can’t go wrong with the beach. New York City Parks maintains 14 miles of life-guarded beaches that are open seasonally for swimming.
Brighton Beach is one of the most popular. It’s right next door to hugely popular Coney Island and sees tons of visitors all year long who come to enjoy the sand and the water. If you are a fan of Eastern European cuisine, the surrounding neighborhood dubbed “Little Odessa” should be right up your alley.
Manhattan Beach located just to the east is a bit calmer and is very family-friendly. It’s the perfect place to go for a picnic or family barbecue in the summer.
If you are into surfing, Rockaway Beach in Queens is worth a trip as it is the only legal surfing beach in the city. There are also playgrounds, concessions and other activities available so everyone in your family is sure to find something they enjoy.
