New York City: Off the Beaten Path!

Many think of glitz and glamour when they think of New York– especially Manhattan. The bright lights, fancy restaurants, luxurious hotels and posh nightlife are some of the main reasons travelers visit this great city!  There are so many other reasons to visit as well. New York City is the capital of self expression as well as diversity. There are so many interesting activities and attractions that sometimes get lost in the glitz of this city; some are also FREE! Are you looking to experience the city a little differently on your next trip to NYC? Looking for something other than the regular sightseeing and hotel options? This post is for you!

The Lobby of the Ace Hotel in Chelsea

The Ace Hotel defines diversity as this is not your cliché New York property!  The hotel’s decor is comprised primarily of works from local designers and artists creating a more urban/hip style. When you enter the hotel, the lobby is reminiscent of a HUGE Living room. Guests are drinking tea, coffee, “beverage of choice” and mingling in this common space. The rooms at the Ace Hotel are elegant, but simple. The Ace Hotel is not fussy, but fun!  There is a really nice shop in the hotel selling clothing that is designed by local up-and-coming designers; another one-of-a-kind aspect of the Ace!

In regards to touring the city there are many unique activities from which to choose:

If you are into Movies and Television there is a great tour that I personally took that is a great way to experience New York City from a different perspective.  The New York TV and Movie Sites Tour is 3.5 hours of fun and loaded with awesome information. Not only do you visit the actual sites, but you learn facts about the films/shows and the filming process as well. You don’t realize before you take this tour how many TV shows and movies feature gorgeous New York City.

The Graffiti Tours of New York are also different way to see the sites. The tour will teach you the history, techniques, visuals, and vocabulary needed to understand graffiti as an art form. This new tour option is a great way to see another side of the city that is truly unexpected– email me directly for more tour information and pricing.

Hudson River Skate Park

The Hudson River Skate Park is FREE! If you enjoy Skateboarding or even just watching it this is a great place to go.  I also suggest visiting The STRAND Bookstore. There are so many rare finds and interesting reads; more than 2.5 million used, new and rare books, a renovated main store and a growing author events program.

For those who like a thrill, why not take a New York Helicopter Tour over the Island o f Manhattan? It is really thrilling and the views are unlike any other! This is an eclectic way to see the “regular” but spectacular NYC Landmarks!

The Brooklyn Bridge Bike Tour is also exhilarating! Pedal over the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn Heights, considered to be America’s first suburb, boasting amazing skyline views across the water and then head back across the river on the Brooklyn Bridge, gliding peacefully above vehicular traffic and stopping to take amazing panoramic photos of lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and more. You explore downtownManhattan, the hub of the American financial system, plus Battery Park, South Street Seaport, Wall Street and more!

Shopping in New York Citycan range from Upscale 5^th Avenue Stores, department Stores and of course VINTAGE! There are many great Vintage shops from which to choose. My Colleague Lora enjoys BEACON’S CLOSET in Williamsburg Brooklyn; read her post on vintage shopping! I enjoy What Goes Around Comes Around located in SoHo where the clothing and accessories are retro and unlike no other!

Whatever your interests may be, I am happy to customize your trip! Please contact me for assistance with your travel plans toNew York City. Call me at (212) 302-4019 or email me at JUrban@newyorkguest.com. I look forward to help you with a great, unusual itinerary of New York City!

–Jana

Biking in Central Park

Greetings!  My name is Alicia and I am one of the New York Guest Concierges!  I have lived in New York almost 10 years and certify myself a New Yorker.  What do I love about being a concierge, you ask? I have the opportunity to make every guest fall in love with New York the way I have over the years.  I’ve gone from being a visitor to an official resident, with lots of secret NYC tips!  And . . . since I can’t keep a secret . . . this partnership is a match made in heaven!  I love the feeling I get when a guest returns to my desk and says “that was amazing, we never would have known to go there!”

Over the years I have had a chance to explore many of the amazing things New York has to offer.  One of my favorite places to go is Central Park. Pair this up with a bicycle and there you have it, one of the best warm weather activities in the city!   The major advantage of exploring Central Park via bicycle is the ability to see a lot of park in a very short amount of time.  There is one main loop which runs the entire circumference of the park.  It is closed to traffic on weekdays for a period of time during the day and all weekend.  While I normally love to see all the yellow cabs racing by, I certainly don’t want to compete with them on the open road!

My husband, Peter, a top a bolder in Central Park

While taking off and exploring the park on a bike is a great way to see everything, it is probably best to bike with someone who is familiar with riding in the park.  While the park is  safe for bikers, keep in mind you share the road with pedestrians, skaters, pedi-cabs and even horses!  Some paths are “pedestrian” only and a clear knowledge of the rules and regulations will ensure your ride is safe and a law abiding one.

While biking in the park, sites not to miss include:  Conservatory Water, the famous sail boat pond featured in the movie Stewart Little; Blato, a statue of the sled dog who became famous during the1925 serum run to Nome; Loeb Boathouse, where you can rent a rowboat by the hour to explore the Lake; Cleopatra’s Needle, the oldest man-made object in the park.  Also, be sure to swing by a few of the big boulders throughout the park – remnants of the last ice age! If you climb on top, you can see the grooves (striations) cut by the ice-sheets moving north and south over 12,000 years ago!

Tip: Pack a lunch and pair your Central Park biking adventure with a picnic in the park!

There are so many things to see . . . . This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg!  You should make your way to the closet bicycle and set out to discover your own Central Park gems!  For first-timers I highly recommend signing up for a guided bike tour of Central Park.  So many things to see . . . . it’s a good idea to ride along with someone who will make sure you don’t miss out on the amazing sites!

– Alicia