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Fun activities to do with out of towners — Brooklynian

Fun activities to do with out of towners

verucasalt
verucasalt
edited November -1 in Park Slope
My aunt and uncle are coming to town in a couple of weeks. I wanted to do something fun with them and show them around Manhattan and Brooklyn. I was going to do the Seinfeld tour as they were huge fans of the show but the tour guide it out of town. Any suggestions on fun, (can be off the beaten path) things to do?

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • owler
    owler
    Here's about a hundred things you can do.

    http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2737284-new_york_city_things_to_do-i
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  • verucasalt
    verucasalt
    Thanks Owler. I was thinking moreso of places that aren't sooo touristy if that makes sense. Not a big fan of Times Square. They have been to New York City before. I would like something a little different.
  • wheres my dog
    wheres my dog
    I keep walking around Green-Wood cemetery. It's beautiful and I know there is a tour
  • tridentine
    tridentine
    Sightseeing tours of New York City via helicopter are always fun and interesting:
    http://www.newyorkhelicopter.com/helicopter_tours.html
  • MOD
    MOD
    NY Waterways do historical ferry tours, I suggest the NY Historical Society one. I know the curators that put it together

    http://www.nywaterway.com/Home/TakeaTour.aspx
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    Kind of touristy be I am a fan of the boat tours, including the ones Mama suggested. I've done several Circle Line tours and still enjoy them as do guests. Kind of laid back and a cool way to see the city.

    I haven't been in a while so I don't know what it looks like, but we also usually take folks down to Coney Island. The train ride above ground gives good views of Brooklyn and the boardwalk vibe is kind of fun, imo. There's also the aquarium and I think some "freak shows" down there.

    Some of the walking tours also sound fun for you and for guests. One legit company I know of is Big Onion so maybe check out their schedule. Some kind of historical neighborhood themes and some food themes.

    The High Line park.

    Bronx Zoo and NY Botanical Gardens. Not off the beaten path but both I love both.

    Walk around Red Hook. Someone posted about all kinds of stuff to do there recently. The Erie Basin park behind Ikea is great and not crowded, then you can walk down to the Fairway area which has lots of shops (art, plants, pies). I love walking around over there and just seeing in the open doors in those big buildings.
  • antigone
    antigone
    There's always the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. That's my fave. Forsythias should be in bloom by then!

    Another possibility, if they're into walking and historical stuff, is the Lost City guy's tours. I haven't done one yet but they sound really interesting. He's doing one of Carroll Gardens March 27-28.

    http://lostnewyorkcity.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-spring-lost-city-walking-tours-of.html
  • pastoralia
    pastoralia
    My midwestern family can't come to New York without a eat/shop tour of Chinatown which always includes soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai.

    Also: Coney Island/Brighton Beach
  • astigmatism
    astigmatism
    I second (third?) the boat tour, particularly at night - my in-laws absolutely loved the water taxi tour when they were in town a couple of years ago. Another touristy idea that's nonetheless worth it is walking the Brooklyn Bridge; I do it myself every year or so even though I'm not a tourist, just because it's such a wonderful experience. And the Bronx Zoo is absolutely worth spending a whole day there (unless they're coming from San Diego) - and has the added benefit of being a short walk away from Arthur Avenue, the "real" Little Italy; take them to Roberto's for dinner afterwards for an Old-New-York-Italian experience that can't be topped. The Bronx Botanical Garden is across the street from the Zoo and very much worth it as well; but the Brooklyn Botanic might be nice to give them a better idea of your neighborhood.

    One other idea, that's further off the tourist track: a walking food tour of the Lower East Side. If they have the stomach for it, I'd definitely try this, for your benefit as well as theirs: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/462240#3140838
  • MOD
    MOD
    I agree with all the recs for food tours. You can also just create your own. When my best friends from out of town visited I walked their feet off. You can go across the gowanus bridge to carroll gardens for Italian food, shopping,a drink at the Brooklyn Inn, then over to Atlantic for Middle Eastern, Bahn Mi, desserts, and maybe chip shop, then wrap it up at the brooklyn heights promenade. There's so much just here in our area.

    Dumbo for Grimaldi's pizza and ice cream at that famous place on the water (I forget the name??) then go to the park by the bridge.
  • reader
    reader
    Don't forget the Staten Island Ferry, every out of town visitor I have taken on it has loved it. I beleive there is a historic district near the Staten Island side terminal. Staten Island also has a zoo that is noted for their collection of reptiles.

    There is an organization called Big Apple Greeters, they are volunteers and I am told they will customize an itinerary for you if they have advance notice of your visitors interests.
  • vidro3
    vidro3
    new york historical society, municipal arts society usually have interesting walking tours. if you check time out ny you could probably find more off-beat things.

    staten island ferry + 6-pack = NYC Booze cruise
  • ljnd
    ljnd
    Hellz, the beer ON the ferry is ridiculously cheap.
  • 1st_streeter
    1st_streeter
    City Island

    http://www.cityisland.com/
  • carnivore
    carnivore
    At sunset, take the Roosevelt Island tram for one of the best views of the skyline. Note: do not spend any time on the island. Just take the tram there and back.
  • lnclnplcgentrifier
    lnclnplcgentrifier
    Carnivore wrote: At sunset, take the Roosevelt Island tram for one of the best views of the skyline. Note: do not spend any time on the island. Just take the tram there and back.
    just make sure it's working. Last weekend it was out of order. Coupled with the F'ing train down = disaster
  • hamilton
    hamilton
    Go to Prospect Heights and watch the alternate side of the street muggings.
  • lnelson
    lnelson
    I second City Island. It's like Cape Cod but dirty!
  • oldsloper
    oldsloper
    The Tenement Museum on the Lower Eastside followed by Katz's deli and take home food at Russ' Daughters.
  • magicube
    magicube
    Carnivore wrote: At sunset, take the Roosevelt Island tram for one of the best views of the skyline. Note: do not spend any time on the island. Just take the tram there and back.
    Or if you take it during the day, consider walking across the island, over a bridge to Queens, and to the Noguchi Museum. According to their web site, that's the route Noguchi would take to his studio (which is across the street from the museum) from his place in Manhattan.
  • erratum8mm
    erratum8mm
    Carnivore wrote: At sunset, take the Roosevelt Island tram for one of the best views of the skyline. Note: do not spend any time on the island. Just take the tram there and back.
    It's closed for several months of maintenance.
  • carnivore
    carnivore
    erratum8mm wrote: [quote=Carnivore]At sunset, take the Roosevelt Island tram for one of the best views of the skyline. Note: do not spend any time on the island. Just take the tram there and back.
    It's closed for several months of maintenance.
    Too bad. it's a cheap and fun way to impress out-of-towners.
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