Dodge the Crowds: Five New York City Attraction Alternatives

It’s summer vacation and throngs of tourists are descending on the Big Apple. Where will most visitors end up? Expect large crowds and lines at the city’s most popular sights including the Statue of Liberty and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Savvy explorers are getting off the beaten path for more local experiences that lose none of the oomph and deliver a uniquely authentic New York experience.

For a view that rivals the Empire State Building…

…try the Roosevelt Island Tram. Connecting Manhattan with Roosevelt Island at 60th Street and 2nd Ave, passengers glide through the air in a pod-like capsule. While tickets to the Empire State Building can run as much $85 per person, the tramway provides stunning views of midtown Manhattan for the just cost of a subway ride. Traveling through the sky at the start of the journey above the Upper East Side also delivers a great vantage point for taking arial photographs of the city streets.

Learn about real-life immigrant experiences not at Ellis Island…

…but at the Tenement Museum in the Lower East Side. There are no long ferry lines here. The Tenement Museum provides small group walking tours throughout their building at 87 Orchard Street. Definitely one of the cool things to do in New York, trace the history of actual immigrant families as they acclimated to the new world. The Tenement Museum also offers one of the best spots for New York City souvenirs with tons of books, gifts, and toys centered around the city.

To curb a cupcake craving, ditch Magnolia Bakery for…

…Molly’s in the West Village. Magnolia has long been a must-visit on any Sex and the City fan's New York itinerary, leaving the petite cakery swarmed with fans. For a better sugar rush, Molly’s offers mix and match cake and frosting, letting you build your ideal cupcake. You can also choose center-filled options like berry and chocolate mousse.

Beaux-Arts Architecture without the throngs of commuters at Grand Central Station…

…can be found at the New York Public Library. Free guided talks of the library are some of the best New York tours and run Tuesday-Saturday at 11am and 2pm; Sunday at 2pm. The tour highlights the architecture and history of a structure that was the largest building of marble in the United States when it opened in 1895. History buffs will love touring a Registered National Historical Landmark and even having the chance to see the Gothenburg Bible on display.

MoMa may have Warhol, but for emerging modern artists…

…check out the New Museum in Soho. There is always something new to see in these galleries that are ever changing. Largely featuring living artists, the museum was conceived in 1977 in response to living artists not traditionally being included in the conventional exhibition of the classic art museum. Today, its mission is to serve as a home for modern art and an incubator for fresh ideas. Admission is typically $16, but pay as you wish on Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm.