Holidaying in New York! Alone!

SpongeCake

Alright boys and girls, I'm going on my hollybobs to New York this year all on my tod. I'm not worried about the whole "holidaying alone" thing, but I am worried about not making the most of my time there. Given that most holiday advice columns and books and what-not deal with family holidays I'm finding a dearth of info for a solo holidaymaker.

So H/A, please suggest me some of the awesome things I can do on my own in New York!

Jake!

Why, you can go on couchsurfing.com and find friendly natives who would be up for showing you some amazing parts of the city. Hell, you could even find somewhere to stay using the site. I know that isn't direct advice on what to do, but if you're interested in meeting people whilst you're out there, even if it's just to pick their brains, then CS is awesome.

SlickShughes

It really depends on what your interests are. If you want to see a play or musical, there's no better place than broad way (or off-broadway, or off-off-broadway). If you're into art, hit up moma or the met. If you're interested in military history, you could go to the intrepid. Mideval history, the cloisters. Music? lots of venues all over the place, especially in the village. People watching? Central park, union square, washington square. Consumerism? Times square. Flora/fauna? The bronx zoo and botanical gardens are right next door to each other. Sports? if you're going in the next month (and have some cash to blow on stubhub), you can catch one of the last games in Yankee or Shea stadium (ever - both are closing this year in favor of new venues). Food? Any possible cuisine can be found, usually at pretty high quality. at the very least get a slice of pizza.

How long will you be there?

Desert_Eagle25

Go meet people man. Despite what people might say, NYC is pretty darn friendly. Wherever you decide to go, tlak to people, ask questions, you'll either get help, strike up an interesting conversation, possibly meet a girl, or worst case scenario, they don't speak english.

TL DR

I've only been to New York once, and the only advice I got was about people scamming you by "helping" you figure out the metro card machine and doing a quick switch, stealing your card and leaving you with an empty one.

Never ran into that, and everyone was super cool. Their transit system was what amazed me the most, but being a non-American you probably won't be as impressed. Eat the pizza.

AlyceInWonderland

Hurt and Burn wrote: »

I've only been to New York once, and the only advice I got was about people scamming you by "helping" you figure out the metro card machine and doing a quick switch, stealing your card and leaving you with an empty one.

Never ran into that, and everyone was super cool. Their transit system was what amazed me the most, but being a non-American you probably won't be as impressed. Eat the pizza.

and the bagels, and hell, why you're at it, go to china town and chow down, cause that's the best damn chinese food i've had.

And yeah, people are generally pretty nice in the city as long as you're nice back. I mean, sure, you'll run into a couple of assholes, but that's everywhere.

Just, watch where you're going. If you accidentally run into someone, you may get chewed out. But again, those are the assholes.

BEAST!

it depends on when you're going to be out here...i didn't understand more than 3 words of what you said what with all the hollygogs and hoolygigs....

so..when?

things you can do whenever....go to the MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.....it is friggin sweet...they have stuffed animals and DINOSAURS!!!!!!! and also they have some astronomical thingies...in addition to this, i live 1 block away so you could feel like a true star being within a block of me

i don't know what kind of food you like..lots of good foods...if you want a great burger there's the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park...or if you'll be here in like a couple months or more there will be one right next to the museum also...or there's the Burger Joint which is this little hole in the wall inside a hotel..i think it's called Le Parker Meridian or something?

also a good idea would be to go with myself and Hey You! to this beer garden in Queens to get friggin drunk...we umm..we do that sometimes

i dunno, i'm sure i can think of things....it's late and i'm tired..also a general idea of when you'll be here would help with more seasonal things...you just missed out on the hot air balloon rides in Central Park..oh crap!!!!!

SpongeCake

Good stuff so far guys! I'm going in mid September and staying for a week.

Ponge

You should probably go visit your aunties old abandonded house which is being renovated and booby-trap it to defend against 2 bumbling burglars.

SpongeCake

winter_combat_knight

I reccomend...

Rent out a suite at the Plaza Hotel, go on one of those Limo tours (complimentary cheese pizza of course!), look at great toy stores. Just make sure you dont run into the Wet Bandits