Any New York trip is going to be incomplete without a visit to the classics: the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, or the Metropolitan Museum. However, there is a plethora of lesser-known attractions that are just as deserving of your attention besides the more famous ones. It would be quite the pity if you missed out on them simply due to a lack of familiarity. So let’s have a look at some New York City attractions that are worth a visit to on your trip to New York City!
Socrates Sculptural Park
Created by activists and artists back in 1986, Socrates Sculptural Park is a 4.5 acre city park where large scale sculptures are exhibited all around the year. The park is one of the few locations in New York City to be specifically designed for artists to create spellbinding work outdoors. What’s more, you’re also privy to a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline here, as well as free tai chi and yoga classes.
Museum of Food and Drink
You already know that New York City is home to a ridiculous number of diverse cultures. There’s a good chance that your visit to New York has already been an intense cultural experience. One way to truly submerge yourself in the multi-cultural plurality of New York is by visiting the diverse restaurants in the city. And if you’re particularly passionate about food and drink, you absolutely have to go to the Museum of (what else?) Food and Drink, which is the United States’ first museum that’s totally dedicated to all things cooking, food culture, eating and drinking. The exhibits rotate on a seasonal basis, and there are special tastings and talks after hours. Bon appétit!
Snug Harbor Cultural Center
This cultural center used to be a home for retired sailors. Its enormous botanical gardens and cultural center, spread across 83 acres, make for a splendid sight. Said gardens and center are surrounded by Tudor and Victorian architecture, as well as cobblestone streets. Don’t forget to visit the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, which evocates the paintings and poetry of Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist monks. It also has a pond filled with Koi and a gorgeous bamboo forest path.
The Museum of the Moving Image
If you’re any sort of movie buff at all, this place is a must-visit on your New York tour. The Museum of the Moving Image is home to a three-story extension that includes expanded gallery spaces as well as cinema spaces with seating capacities of 267. The museum showcases an exhibit called “Behind the Screen” that takes the viewer though every stage of the process of filmmaking. The exhibit has artifacts from more than one thousand productions, as well as 14 classic video games (all playable!), including Space Invaders, Pac-Man and Asteroids.
The Met Breuer
You’ve probably visited the Met to see the classical art exhibits (although the museum does showcase modern art as well.) The Met Breuer, however, is a true player in the contemporary art scene. It houses the Met’s collection of modern art, and also exhibits the work of recent artists.
