Unique Things to Do in NYC
Arial view of New York City and the Chrysler Building
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Unique Things to Do in New York City
New York City will forever be my favorite city in the US. If you haven’t been, it’s a great place to check off your US bucket list. Having grown up just across the river in New Jersey, I spent much of my childhood and adolescence in the city. I even started my career working in New York. Alas, the lure of the television industry brought me to Los Angeles. But I still manage to go back to New York several times a year. In fact, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to write a guide to this amazing city.
If you’re looking for unique things to do in NYC, and some non-touristy things to do in NYC, you’ve come to the right place. Below you’ll find a list of some of my favorite New York City spots. Most of the things on this list are things to do during the day, but there are plenty of great things to do in NYC at night. And if you happen to get a bit of bad weather on your trip, there are also plenty of amazing things to do in NYC on a rainy day.
I hope you enjoy this list. As always, I’ve also included accessibility information for each location.
To Get around New York City and see a lot of these sites, I recommend the wheelchair accessible Hop On Hop Off Big Bus Tour.
New York in spring
Best Time To Visit New York City
There is no one size fits all answer when it comes to the best time to visit New York City. The city is gorgeous in spring, summer, and fall, but nothing beats New York at Christmas time when it comes to that festive feeling.
New York Public Library
New York Public Library
Opened in 1911, the building was declared a New York City Designated Landmark, a National Historic Landmark, and a National Register of Historic Places site in the 1960s. Located along Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd streets the Beaux-Arts style library sits just east of Bryant Park.
Inside the building, you’ll find the main reading room, public catalog room, library shop, various reading rooms, and art exhibitions. You don’t have to be a local to visit. Out-of-state visitors can apply for a temporary card. My personal favorite spot is the maps division, which houses more than 20,000 atlases and 433,000 sheet maps, some dating back as early as the 16th century. There’s also a Manuscripts and Archives division containing illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods.
The rare books division houses the first Gutenberg Bible to be brought to the US, and first edition works by Shakespeare, Voltaire, and Walt Whitman, among others. However, admission to the rare book division requires pre-registration.
Even if you’re not a voracious reader, you can appreciate the building’s art and architecture. I also highly recommend the library shop if you’re looking for unique gifts for that literature lover or quirky NYC gifts and souvenirs.
The building has been featured in such films as 42nd Street, The Wiz, Ghostbusters, Network, The Thomas Crown Affair, Spider-Man, Sex and the City, Arthur, and many more.
The New York Public Library’s flagship location the Stephen A Schwartzman Building is fully accessible to wheelchair users.
Address: 476 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10018
2. Coney Island
If you visit New York City during the warmer months, get thee to Coney Island! This Brooklyn seaside resort area nicknamed the “Playground of the World” has two separate amusement parks, Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. Three of the rides in Coney Island actually have landmark status. The Wonder Wheel, a steel Ferris wheel pictured above, is an NYC landmark. The B&B carousel, a traditional horse carousel, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. And The Coney Island Cyclone, one of the oldest wooden roller coasters still in operation, is both an NYC landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. There are also bumper cars, a steel coaster, and a myriad of arcade-style games. You can also enjoy the nearby beaches and boardwalk.
If you visit in January you can come out for the traditional New Year's Day Coney Island Polar Bear Club event. Witness daring club members dash into the frigid ocean waters for their annual swim.
Coney Island amusement areas and beaches are largely wheelchair accessible. The Coney Island Fun Guide has a great section on accessibility and provides all the info you’ll need to plan a great trip.
3. Smithsonian Design Museum
Smithsonian’s Copper Hewitt Design Museum is the only museum in the United States devoted to historical and contemporary design. It’s located within the Andrew Carnegie Mansion in Manhattan’s Upper East Side within the Museum Mile. The museum focuses on sculpture, architecture, decorative arts, woodwork, metalwork, pottery, musical instruments, and furniture. Notable items in the collection include a chair used by Abraham Lincoln during his visit to Cooper-Union and a Rolls-Royce once owned by the Beatles.
Cooper Hewitt offers several services for guests with disabilities. An access ramp is located at the museum’s front entrance. An elevator is located in the main lobby. Free passes are available for caregivers. Wheelchairs and portable stools are available free of charge on a first-come-first-serve basis at the museum’s coat check. For visitors with vision loss, large-print labels are available at the Visitor Experience Desk. Audio description is provided for all exhibition videos.
Address: 2 East 91st Street NY, NY
The Empire State Building with gorgeous pink sunset
4. Empire State Building
Named the Number 1 attraction in the United States by the 2022 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards, this National Historic Landmark should be on everyone’s must-see list. Built in a record-breaking 1 year and 45 days, this 102-story building is one of the most iconic in not only NYC but the entire US. Visiting the Empire State Building is also one of the most romantic things to do in New York City.
Set in the heart of midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building offers two observation decks with panoramic views of New York City that stretch across six states. It’s one of the best observatories in New York. From here you can see the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, and my home state of New Jersey. Okay, that last one may not be as exciting. But on a clear day, you can see an impressive 80 miles away through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the 102nd floor. Live out your Sleepless in Seattle fantasy by visiting the 86th-floor observatory, or immerse yourself in the exhibits showcasing the building’s history located on the 2nd and 8th floors.
Reservations are required. Click here for skip-the-line Empire State Building Tickets.
The Empire State Building is fully ADA-compliant. The main entrance at 20 West 34th Street is handicap-accessible. Ramps are available throughout the building to make access easier. Handicap-accessible restrooms are located on the 86th Floor Observatory. The 86th Floor Observatory also has lowered viewing walls and binoculars to make the viewing experience accessible to all.
Address: 20 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001
5. Lexington Candy Shop
One of the more unique places in New York City, The Lexington Candy Shop is a throwback to a bygone era of soda fountains and luncheonettes. Founded in 1925, The Lexington Candy Shop has been continuously owned and operated by three generations of family. Located in the heart of the Upper East Side, the LCS is three blocks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the corner of 83rd Street and Lexington Avenue. It’s the perfect place to grab a delicious breakfast of eggs/omelets, French toast, or pancakes. Or you could stop by for one of their famous ice cream floats.
The Lexington Candy Shop is wheelchair accessible.
Address: 1226 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10028
6. New York Transit Museum
The actual travel part of travel may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the New York Transit Museum is a cool look at the history of the subway, bus, and commuter rail systems in New York City. And it definitely ranks as one of the more unusual things to do in NYC. My favorite part of the museum is the collection of twenty vintage subway and elevated cars dating back to 1907. Visitors can also check out an old 12-seat city bus, historical street furniture, a “fishbowl” bus cab, and detailed scale models of trolleys and busses from the past.
The Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn is wheelchair accessible. It also offers visitors with disabilities a reduced $5 admission. Use code welcome during checkout. For more information, check out the NY Transit Museum website.
Address: 99 Schermerhorn Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
Boat ride in Central Park
7. Central Park
Central Park is a much-needed respite from the bustling streets of New York City. Located between the Upper East and Upper West sides of Manhattan, Central Park spans an impressive 843 acres. It’s the most filmed location in the world and the most visited urban park in the country. Central Park was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963.
The park’s main landscape attractions are the Hallett Nature Sanctuary, the Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, the Ramble and Lake, and Sheep Meadow. Central Park also offers several amusement attractions like Central Park Carousel, Wollman Rink, and the Central Park Zoo. Other highlights include Bethesda Terrace, Central Park Mall, and Delacorte Theater. There are also tons of recreational activities like carriage horse rides, bicycle tours, sports facilities, Shakespeare in the Park, and outdoor concerts.
Click here for a Guided Central Park Pedicab Tour.
Also, consider getting tickets to the Central Park Zoo.
Even if you have no specific park activity or destination in mind, it’s fun to take a stroll through the park. You never know what or who you’ll see wandering through Central Park. A few years ago I saw the great Joan Didion, which was easily the highlight of my trip to NYC.
Abandoned buildings on Roosevelt Island
8. Roosevelt Island
If you’re looking for something off the beaten path and one of the more unusual things to do in New York City, check out Roosevelt Island, an island in New York City’s East River. Located between Manhattan and the borough of Queens, Roosevelt Island is about 2 miles long and 800 feet wide. To get there from Manhattan, you can take the F train to access the Roosevelt Island Station.
Famous for once housing prison inmates and a now defunct asylum, the island has become gentrified and is now home to New York State Park, The Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, a memorial to journalist Nelly Bly, whose reporting led to the closure of the island’s asylum, and several important works of architecture, most notably, The Octagon.
The island is also home to 4 recreational fields, Southpoint Park, a seven-acre green space, and Lighthouse Park. The entire island is circled by a publicly accessible waterfront promenade.
Washington Square Park with sculpture installation by Ai WeiWei
9. Washington Square Park
I love Washington Square Park. If you happen to be traveling with your dog, it’s a great place to stroll through and visit the adjoining 2 dog runs. Located in Lower Manhattan’s Greenwich Village neighborhood next to New York University, it’s a well-known center of cultural activity. On any given day you can see chess players, people offering to sell you their poetry, free-style rappers, dancers, and other artists enjoying the park’s open space. The park has come a long way since the early 2000s when I was a kid and it was dominated by people offering to sell you their drugs.
It’s worth a visit to photograph the park’s famous Washington Square Arch on the north end of the park and the beautiful fountain in the middle of the park. There are also many flower beds and trees, children’s play areas, park benches, and well-paved paths to stroll.
The park is located at the foot of Fifth Avenue and is bordered by Waverly Place, University Place, West 4th Street, and MacDougal Street.
The park is wheelchair accessible.
10. New York Philharmonic
Are you classy? Just want to pretend to be classy for the night? Then check out the New York Philharmonic. From Tchaikovsky to music from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the NY Phil has something for everyone. For tickets and to check out the season’s schedule, check out the New York Philharmonic Website.
Wheelchair-accessible seating is available. To purchase tickets online, look for the wheelchair symbol. Additional adjacent companion seats are also available. Programs with Braille and large type are available at the Head Usher’s Podium located in the Grand Promenade. Headsets and loops are also available at the Head usher’s Podium with a driver’s license or credit card needed as security. The accessible entrances are located at Josie Robertson Plaza and from Broadway on the south side of 65th street. There are accessible restrooms on all levels.
For guests with sensory issues, noise-reducing headphones, earplugs, and fidgets are available to borrow from the Head Usher’s Podium.
Address: David Geffen Hall 10 Lincoln Center Plaza (Broadway at West 65th Street) NY, NY 10023
Brooklyn Bridge at sunset
11. Brooklyn Bridge Park
It’s a romantic spot to watch the sunset and an iconic part of NYC. The park is also a great spot for birding, kayaking, roller skating, fishing, biking, basketball, ping pong, and other recreational activities. In fact, it would be easier to say what isn’t available to do in Brooklyn Bridge Park. If you’re not into physical activities, you can visit the gardens, Empire Stores, the Environmental Education Center, dog runs, Jane’s Carousel, ample lawns for picnicking, Pebble Beach, numerous piers, public art, a labyrinth, playgrounds, restaurants and cafes, and much, much more. For a full list of available activities and attractions, visit the Brooklyn Bridge Park website.
All entrances and pathways to the park are wheelchair accessible. All lawns have accessible entrances at grade. Benches throughout the park have backs and handrails. Picnic tables are accessible. Fitness equipment on Pier 2 has ADA-specific pieces. The basketball court on Pier 2 also has a fully adjustable hoop. The playgrounds at Piers 1,2 and 6 also have accessible swings and ground-level play equipment. All restrooms are fully accessible.
Address: 334 Furman Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
Welcome to Little Italy
12. Little Italy
One of my favorite unique NYC experiences is strolling through Little Italy. Bordered on the west by Tribeca and Soho, on the south by Chinatown, on the east by the Bowery and Lower East Side, and on the north, by Nolita, this neighborhood is known for its once-large Italian population. Today, Little Italy is made up of 50 or so Italian restaurants and cafes, and an ethnically diverse population of residents. Fun fact, it’s also home to Alleva Dairy on Grand Street, the oldest cheese shop in the United States. Opened in 1892 it’s still in operation today.
If you’re lucky enough to visit in September during the 11-day Feast of San Gennaro you can check out the area’s large street fair along Mulberry Street between Houston and Canal Streets.
While today the area may be more nostalgic than an actual hub of Italian Americans, it still has some of the best food in the city and you can’t throw a rock without hitting a great chicken parm. If you’d like some recommendations, I highly recommend Emilio’s Ballato, Peasant, and America’s first pizzeria, Lombardi’s.
For a full sampling of the best foods in Little Italy check out the Italian Food Tour of New York.
Bustling streets on Chinatown
13. Chinatown
While Little Italy may be shrinking, Chinatown is growing. I’ve been to several Chinatowns across the US and I still say NYC’s is the best. With its many bakeries, herbal pharmacies, bars, bubble tea shops, temples, restaurants, bargain shopping retailers, and nightclubs, it honestly feels like a little slice of China. And if you’ve been a reader of my blog for some time, you know how many times I’ve visited China.
To get to Chinatown take the 6, N, W, R, Q, J, or Z line to Canal Street, an area known for its major bargain shopping scene. Even if you’re not into knock off purses, there’s still a ton to do in Chinatown. Below are some of my top recommendations.
Golden Unicorn: The best dim sum in Chinatown.
Museum of Chinese in America: Learn about Chinese American identity and history.
Chinese New Year Parade: Chinese New Year happens in February. If you’re lucky enough to be in NYC at the time this parade cannot be missed.
The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory: This family-owned business has been around for three decades serving up Chinese-influenced ice cream flavors like ginger, green tea, almond cookie, durian, taro, and coconut fudge.
Click here for an amazing China Town and Little Italy Food Tour.
Mural by L’amour Supreme in New York’s Lower East Side
14. An NYC Street Art Tour
I’m a huge fan of graffiti and murals and have put together guides for Street Art in Los Angeles and Chicago Street Art before. And now I have an NYC Street Art post, but I’ll also give you a few great places to view amazing NYC street art below.
First Street Green Art Park, East Village - 33 East 1st Street - This open art space and garden has been showcasing street art since 2008
The Bowery Wall, Nolita - 76 E Houston Street - On the northwest corner of Houston Street and Bowery. Known for being the spot where Keith Haring created his first public work.
Freeman Alley, Lower East Side - Between Bowery and Chrystie Street - This little alleyway leading past Freemans Restaurant holds an incredible array of colorful art. If you only check out one place on this list, I recommend Freeman Alley.
The Bushwick Collective, Bushwick - 427 Troutman Street, Brooklyn - This vast array of art by both local and international artists begins on Jefferson Street and continues on Troutman Street leading to Saint Nicholas Avenue.
All of this art is viewable from easily accessible streets and well-paved alleys.
Want to learn how to make your own street art? Check out this Brooklyn Graffiti Lesson.
Don’t want to explore on your own? Check out the Brooklyn Street Art Walking Tour.
My dog, Maddie, in Times Square
15. Times Square
As someone who spent the late 90s working in Times Square in a building directly next door to MTV’s Total Request Live and despised pressing my way through the throngs of bridge and tunnel teens who clogged up the sidewalk, I’ve more than had my share of Times Square. But, if you’ve never been it’s definitely something to check off your list. Just be prepared for tons of traffic and tourists.
While there are a fair amount of things to do in Times Square, in my opinion, New York City has far more unique offerings than M&M World, The Naked Cowboy, a bunch of Elmos, Dave & Busters, and Madame Tussauds. But Times Square isn’t all bad. If you want to check out one of the many Broadway shows you’ll find yourself in the Times Square area.
For discount day of Broadway tickets check out the TKTS booth in Times Square. They offer same-day tickets for as much as 50% off. If you’re feeling lucky, you could also enter the Broadway ticket lottery where you’ll be entered to win tickets to hit Broadway shows for as little as $35 each. I’ve entered 10 or so times and was lucky enough to win 2 tickets to Kinky Boots once a few years back. Your luck will vary.
16. Van Courtlandt Park
Van Courtland Park is a 1,146-acre park located in one of the safest neighborhoods in the Bronx. It’s the city’s third-largest park and has the oldest public golf course in the country. It also offers facilities for basketball, cricket, cross-country running, football, horseback riding, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, and tennis. The park also features the Van Cortlandt House Museum, the oldest surviving building in the Bronx.
The land was used during the Revolutionary War when the Stockbridge Militia destroyed the Queen’s Rangers. In 1888 it was sold to the city of New York and converted into public parkland.
There are five major hiking trails in the park ranging from easy to difficult.
Van Courtlandt Park is fully accessible to wheelchair users.
Address: Broadway and Van Cortlandt Part S, The Bronx, NY 10471
17. See A Comedy Show
Whether it’s Carolines or the Comedy Cellar, NYC has some of the best clubs in the country. I highly recommend getting tickets in advance and laughing your ass off.
The Comedy Cellar: 117 MacDougal Street NY, NY 10012 - wheelchair-accessible car park and wheelchair-accessible entrance
Carolines: 1626 Broadway (Btwn 49th and 50th Streets) NY, NY 10019 - wheelchair accessible
Gotham Comedy Club: 208 W 23rd Street NY, NY 10011 - wheelchair accessible
18. Fort Tyron Park
Fort Tyron Park is a 62-acre park in the Hudson Heights and Inwood neighborhoods of Manhattan. It runs from 192nd Street in the south to Riverside Drive in the North and from Broadway in the east to the Henry Hudson Parkway in the west. The main entrance to the park is located at Margaret Corbin Circle. Back in the Revolutionary War the Battle of Fort Washington was fought at the site that would later become the park. So if you’re a war buff, this park may just be for you!
Fort Tyron Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and was designated an NYC Scenic Landmark in 1983.
The park is perhaps most famously known for the Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that’s home to the museum’s incredible collection of medieval and European art and artifacts, including the Unicorn Tapestries. The actual museum buildings are medieval structures brought over from Europe and reconstructed stone by stone combined with several new structures designed in the medieval style.
Fort Tyron Park and the Cloisters are wheelchair accessible.
Address: Riverside Drive to Broadway NY, NY 10040
Beautiful bustling Grand Central Terminal
19. Grand Central Terminal
Depending on where you’re coming from you may travel through Grand Central Terminal. But it’s so much more than a train station. It’s a gorgeous historical building that’s well worth looking at even if you aren’t there to catch a train. The building’s Beaux-Arts design incorporates numerous works of art earning it a place as a National Historic Landmark.
Believe it or not, Grand Central Terminal is actually one of the world’s 10 most visited tourist attractions. I highly recommend the NYC Secrets of Grand Central Walking Tour.
Grand Central Terminal is wheelchair accessible.
Address: 89 E 42nd St, NY, NY 10017
20. Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty
Is there anything more iconically New York, or iconically American than the Statue of Liberty? If you’ve come to NYC you simply have to visit. However, please be advised if you wish to enter the statue’s pedestal and crown or Ellis Island tour, you will need reservations. Reservations are separate from the ferry tickets needed to access the islands.
To get there, take Statue City Cruises ferry from Battery Park, at the southern tip of Manhattan. Statue City Cruises is the only boat company authorized to sell tickets for and provide transportation to Liberty and Ellis Islands. Do not buy tickets from any other boat company in New York Harbor. For full tour tickets check out Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tours.
When it comes to accessibility, most of the Ellis Island and Liberty Island grounds and the statue itself are wheelchair accessible. The one exception to this is access to the statue’s crown. You can make the trip to the top of the pedestal easily with elevator access. However, making the trip to the crown requires a steep walk up the 162 steps of a spiral staircase from the feet of the statue to the crown. There is no elevator access past the top of the pedestal. It’s a hard walk and extremely claustrophobic. Each step is 9 inches in height and 8 inches in length. The staircase itself is 22 inches wide. I made the trip as a teenager but honestly don’t think I would be able to do it again today as an adult.
Three wheelchairs are available for rent on a first-come-first-serve basis from the Statue of Liberty Museum. A valid photo ID is required to borrow one.
NY Botanical Garden
21. New York Botanical Garden
The best botanical garden in NYC, the New York Botanical Garden has a stunning array of plants, trees, and flowers. Located at Bronx Park in the Bronx, the garden was established in 1891 and encompasses 250 acres and over one million plants. As with many of the sites on this list, the New York Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark.
The garden actually encompasses 50 different gardens and plant collections, a waterfall, wetlands, and a tract of old-growth forest. Some of the highlights include the Peggy Rockefeller Rose garden, an alpine rock garden, an herb garden, and a 37-acre conifer collection. There’s also a research library and an herbarium containing one of the largest collections of botanical specimens in the world.
The Botanical Garden’s buildings, tour vehicles, and much of the property are wheelchair accessible. However, due to the garden’s naturally varied topography, portions are inaccessible. For more information, visit the New York Botanical Garden website.
Address: 2900 Southern Blvd, The Bronx, NY 10458
22. NYC One World Observatory New York
NYC One World Observatory offers unparalleled views of the city from over 100 stories above in the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. This is one of the excellent indoor activities NYC has to offer. One of the coolest parts of the observatory is the registry of guests where you can enter your place of origin into the largest curved indoor LED screen in the world. The data displayed represents where guests from all over the world have visited from. Visitors can also check out the Horizon Grid, a multimedia display highlighting all of the places viewable from One World Observatory.
The Sky Pod elevators climb 102 stories in 47 seconds to the top of the observatory. Guests are also able to dine at the restaurant ONE dine, and bar, ONE mix where they can relax and take in the gorgeous views.
For tickets, visit NYC One World Observatory Tours.
One World Observatory’s amenities and exhibits are fully accessible to guests with disabilities. There is a wheelchair-accessible entrance along West Street north of Vesey Street in the west Plaza Entrance. Alternatively, guests may also access the Observatory from inside the World Trade Center Oculus.
Address: 117 West Street, New York, NY 10006
9/11 Memorial
23. 9/11 Memorial Museum
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum commemorates the September 11 attacks in New York City, which killed 2,977 people as well as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing which killed 6 people. The memorial is located on the former World Trade Center grounds. The grounds feature a forest of swamp oak trees, and two square reflecting pools where the Twin Towers once stood. 152 bronze parapets surrounding the memorial pools are inscribed with the names of the 2,983 victims. The museum itself contains a collection of more than 40,000 images 14,000 artifacts, 500 hours of video, and 3,500 oral recordings.
For tickets visit 9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Tickets.
The museum is wheelchair accessible. An accessible drop-off/ pick-up location is located at the intersection of Liberty Street and Trinity Place. The museum offers free admission to one accompanying caregiver. All restrooms have wheelchair-accessible stalls. Wheelchairs and walkers are available to rent on a first-com-first-serve basis.
Induction loops that transmit sound to visitors with T-coil compatible hearing aids and cochlear implants are installed throughout the museum. Captioning is also available on all video exhibits. An ASL tour is also available. The audio guide includes an audio description tour to help guide visitors who are blind or partially blind.
Address: 180 Greenwich Street, NY, NY
Toucan at the Bronx Zoo
24. The Bronx Zoo
The best zoo in NYC and one of the two best and largest zoos in the country, The Bronx Zoo is an excellent place to visit with or without kids. With more than 4,000 animals of 650 species, the zoo has more animals than any zoo in the United States. Some of the exhibits include endangered and threatened species you won’t see elsewhere. Highlights include lions, giraffes, baboons, snow leopards, lemurs, Nile crocodiles, penguins, Amur and Siberian tigers, toucans, Gila monsters, elephants, giant tortoises, king cobras, vultures, and Andean condors.
The zoo participates in multiple conservation efforts helping to conserve wildlife and wild places. They also pioneer research efforts with their team of scientists from all over the world.
Click here for Bronx Zoo Tickets.
The zoo is wheelchair accessible and provides an accessibility map to help facilitate guest visits. The zoo also offers wheelchairs on a first-come-first-served basis with a $20 refundable deposit. A zoo shuttle is also available for all guests.
Sensory bags containing fidget tools, noise-reducing headphones, and other resources are available at no cost from Guest Relations next to the Sea Lion Pool.
Address: 2300 Southern Blvd, The Bronx, NY 10460
The High Line
25. The High Line
If you’re looking for an easy, accessible, and scenic walk, you can’t beat the High Line. One of my favorite unique NYC activities, the High Line takes you past a number of NYC cool places.
The High Line is an elevated linear park stretching 1.45 miles along a former NYC central railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan. The park runs from Gansevoort Street through Chelsea to the northern edge of the West Side Yard near Javits Center.
Attractions include plants and flowers, great views of the city and Hudson River, and multiple art installations and murals.
Another great attraction is the Chelsea Market and High Line Food Tour.
The High Line is fully wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair-accessible entrances and exits with elevators are available at Gansevoort Street, 14th Street, 16th Street, 23rd Street, 30th Street, and 34th Street. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available at Gansevoort Street and 16th Street.
Unique New York Attraction, The Vessel, Hudson Yards
26. Hudson Yards
Oh Hudson Yards, what could have been… Unfortunately, today Hudson Yards is mostly known for an upscale mall with a now-shuttered sculpture, The Vessel.
You can still view the Vessel, pictured above, but due to multiple people dying from jumping from the sculpture since its opening in 2019, it has since been closed. If you’d like to know more about the area, check out the Hudson Yards Tour.
The Dorothy from Big Gay Ice Cream
27. Big Gay Ice Cream
I love ice cream. And the only thing that could make ice cream better would be Golden-Girls-themed flavors or a cone called the “Salty Pimp.” This is seriously some of the tastiest ice cream you’ve ever had. My favorite is the Dorothy, a vanilla ice cream cone injected with dulce de leche, then rolled in ground Nilla wafer cookies.
Big Gay Ice cream has three locations in NYC. For a full list of locations and hours visit the Big Gay Ice Cream website.
Museum of Natural History
28. American Museum of Natural History
One of my favorite museums in New York, The American Museum of Natural History contains over 34 million specimens of plants, animals, minerals, fossils, rocks, meteorites, human remains, and cultural artifacts. It’s a vast and impressive museum comprised of 26 interconnected buildings and 45 permanent exhibition halls. It’s a great indoor activity for a rainy day as you can easily spend hours roaming through the 2 million square feet of museum space.
Click here for American Museum of Natural History Tickets.
The museum is accessible to all individuals including persons with disabilities. All of the museum’s exhibitions are accessible by wheelchair. Public elevators near Central Park West and 77th Street entrances and those in the Rose Center are equipped with Braille signage and give auditory signals. Caregivers accompanying visitors with disabilities receive complimentary admission.
Address: 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Bryant Park Fountain
29. Bryant Park
I know there are a lot of parks on this list, but Bryant Park is one of my favorites and warrants a place on this list. I used to come here to relax during my lunch breaks back when I worked in the city. Located between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan, the eastern part of the park is occupied by the New York Public Library. The western section contains a lawn, shaded walkways, and a carousel. But my favorite part of Bryant park is the seasonal Bryant Park Winter Village and ice rink which takes place around the Christmas holiday season. During this time you can shop for all kinds of gifts and crafts from the booths set up inside the park.
You can also stop by the Bryant Park Grill for a bite to eat.
Bryant Park is wheelchair accessible. All of the public areas, walkways, and entrances to the restaurant are ADA compliant.
Address: 5th and 6th Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets New York, NY
Van Gough’s Starry Night
30. Museum of Modern Art
If you visit only one museum in NYC make it the MOMA museum. There are many cool museums in NYC, but MOMA takes the cake. Here you can check out Van Gough’s “Starry Night”, Dali’s “Persistence of Memory” (my personal favorite painting), Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” and “Girl Before a Mirror”, Warhol’s “Soup Cans”, Magritte’s “The Lovers” and “The False Mirror”, Rousseau’s “The Dream”, Lichtenstein’s “Drowning Girl”, Mondrian’s “Broadway Boogie-Woogie”, and Wyeth’s “Christina’s World.”
If you’re not an art lover and often feel lost staring at rows of paintings you’ve never heard of please know that MOMA is not that. At MOMA anyone can feel that they at least know a little something about art.
It’s recommended you get Museum of Modern Art Tickets in advance.
Also, be sure to check out the neighboring MOMA store which is full of awesome gifts and cool art-related items.
At MOMA all galleries, entrances, and facilities are wheelchair accessible. Entrances with power-assist doors are located on 53rd and 54th streets between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
Address: 11 W 53rd Street New York, NY 10019
Rockefeller Center Ice Rink
31. Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a must-see New York attraction, especially if you’re visiting during the Christmas season. 30 Rockefeller Plaza is home to the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, Rockefeller Center Statue, the Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center, and tons of NBC TV tapings like The Tonight Show, Today Show, and Saturday Night Live. Here you can find out how to get tickets to tapings at Rock Center.
As someone who used to don a polyester suit and give tours of NBC as a page, I must recommend the Rockefeller Center Tour. For tickets visit the Rockefeller Center website.
Click here for Top of the Rock Observation Deck Tickets.
Both Top of the Rock and the Rockefeller Center Tour are fully wheelchair accessible.
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
32. 5th Avenue Shopping
New York City’s most famous shopping street is Fifth Avenue, also known as Millionaire’s Row. It’s full of the best shopping and most expensive retail spaces in the world. It’s comparable to the Champs-Élysées in Paris or the Ginza in Tokyo. Stores like Apple, Saks Fifth Avenue, Cartier, Gucci, Armani, Ferragamo, and American Girl Place line the street.
Aside from designer shopping and fancy toy stores, one can also find St Patrick’s Cathedral, The Empire State Building, The Museum of New York City, and Central Park. It’s a great street to stroll down and people-watch, even if you don’t have the funds for a $1,500 Gucci bag.
I recommend starting around 49th Street and walking north to 60th Street.
Not interested in shopping? Check out the Fifth Avenue Gilded Age Mansions Walking Tour.
Radio City Music Hall at Christmas with the Rockettes
33. Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is perhaps most famous for the Rockettes and their annual holiday performance, but it also offers year-round performances and is nicknamed “The Showplace of the Nation.” the building was designed by Edward Durell Stone and Donald Deskey in the Art Deco Style. It was originally intended to be a Metropolitan Opera House, though plans for that were canceled in 1929 and it was instead constructed to be a theater. When it was originally opened the four-tiered auditorium was the largest of its kind in the world. Radio City was designated a New York City Landmark in 1978.
On top of seeing a great show, visitors can explore a wide variety of art contained within the theater. Radio City is famous for hosting the Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and the NFL Draft.
For a schedule of events and tickets, visit the Radio City Music Hall website. Click here for a Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour.
Radio City offers wheelchair-accessible seating. Guests can purchase accessible seating by calling the venue directly at 888-609-7599 or by visiting Ticketmaster. For concerts, family events, and comedy shows Radio City offers sign language interpreters to guests who request such accommodation. Requests must be made 2 weeks prior to the performance.
Address: 1260 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10020
Katz Deli Counter
34. Katz Deli
Famous for being the spot where Meg Ryan faked her orgasm in When Harry Met Sally, Katz Deli is the oldest deli in New York City. You haven’t lived until you’ve had a Katz pastrami sandwich. Even as someone who is allergic to wheat, I go here for a big plate of pastrami and some pickles and cole slaw.
Founded in 1888 by the Iceland brothers, Katz Deli really took off with the arrival of Willy Katz in 1903 who later bought the Iceland brothers out in 1910. During World War II the three sons of the owners were all serving in the armed forces and the family tradition of sending food to their sons became a larger campaign for locals to “Send a Salami to Your Boy in the Army.”
Katz has its fair share of famous customers, many of which whose photos line the walls.
Katz is wheelchair accessible.
Address: 205 E Houston Street, New York, NY 10002
Metropolitan Museum of Art
35. Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met is the largest museum in the Americas. By area, it is one of the largest museums in the world, making it another great rainy-day activity. It permanently contains over 2 million works divided over 17 different departments. The museum was founded in 1870 and contains works of art from classical antiquity, ancient Egypt, and paintings and sculptures from nearly all European masters. It also contains an extensive collection of American and modern art. The Met is also known for its amazing collections of musical instruments, costumes, accessories, and antique weapons and armor from around the world.
Click here for a tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
For more information visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art website.
The museum is wheelchair accessible. Accessible entrances are located at Fifth Avenue and 81st Street through the parking garage at Fifth Avenue and 80th Street.
Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028
Fun Things to Do in New York City
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of fun and unique things to do in NYC. If you run out of fun New York experiences you could always take the Staten Island Ferry or Circle Line tour to see the city from the water.
New York City is a magical place and it will always be my home. Even though I love Los Angeles.
If you have any suggestions for things I’ve missed, please add them in the comments below. Happy travels!
