When one thinks of New York City, they probably immediately think Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and One World Trade Center. As a native New Yorker, I’m going to be completely honest and say I’ve been to only one of these attractions. In my thirty-two years of life, I have never step foot on Ellis Island or went up the Empire State Building.

And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with visiting any of these iconic spots. They’re popular tourist attractions for a reason! But I think my city has so much more to offer – especially in the other boroughs.

For example, one of my favorite places to bring out-of-towners is the New York Botanical Gardens. Located in the Bronx, it’s a bit off the usual path for tourists. But it’s absolutely beautiful in the spring and fall months. At 250-acres, it features over one million different plants. The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory houses tropical plants, cacti, desert plants, and rainforest vegetation. Every Spring, they run their annual Orchid Show and every Christmas, they run their Holiday Train Show. Both are fantastic special events, but visiting during any time of the year is great as well. 

The NYBG is super accessible by public transportation – you can take the Metro-North Railroad from Grand Central Station and be there in about 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can also take the B, D, or 4 train to the Bedford Park Blvd. Station and take the bus or walk.

Just down the road from NYBG is the Bronx Zoo, one of the largest metropolitan zoo’s in America. Bronx Zoo is world-renowned for its large and diverse animal collection, and its award-winning exhibitions. It is home to over 10,000 animals, many of which are endangered or threatened. On Wednesdays, admission to the Zoo is completely free, provided that you get a ticketed timeslot online beforehand. 

You can reach the Zoo by taking the BxM11 express bus, which makes stops along Madison Avenue, between 26th and 99th Streets. You can also take the Metro North’s Harlem line to Fordham and transfer to a bus, or the #2 train to Pelham Parkway. 

Another spot that I love to take out-of-towners is the High Line, which is an elevator urban park that’s build on top of the now unused New York Central Railroad’s West Side Line. Originating in the Meatpacking District, the park runs through Chelsea and up to 34th Street near the Javits Center. If the weather is nice, it is a wonderful and leisurely walk, where you get to people watch and city watch. 

Close to the High Line is Little Island. Little Island at Pier 55 is an artificial island park in the Hudson River on the West Side of Manhattan. Visit during sunset for amazing views across the Hudson River to Jersey City – or of midtown and the Empire State Building. It’s a great little piece of respite from the bustle of the city – and you get to be on the water! 

A favorite activity of mine is to just take Ferry Rides to see the skyline. There are a multitude of ferries that run from Manhattan to the other boroughs. If you’re looking for a view of the Statue of Liberty without paying, take the Staten Island Ferry to Staten Island and back. For a wonderful view of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, take the ferry to Bay Ridge in Brooklyn. Bay Ridge is more of a residential neighborhood but you will find some of the BEST Italian food in the city here.

And lastly, head to Times Square to see a Broadway Show. As a New Yorker, one of my favorite activities is to enter lotteries for theater tickets. To date, I’ve seen 60 shows on Broadway and it is something that I always take out of town visitors to do.