If you’re looking for fun things to do during your travels that don’t spend all of your savings, you’re looking in the right place
Winter, as Andy Williams once said, “is the most wonderful time of the year.” New York City, The Big Apple, The City That Never Sleeps. These are just some of the many names we use to describe the most populated city in all of the U.S. You would think that together, winter and NYC, it would be amazing and that’s true—kind of. There are plenty of fun activities to do that brighten your spirit, but along with everything amazing about New York City it is also known for being quite expensive, so it’s hard to have a good time without breaking your bank, that’s why we have found numerous New Yorkers to tell us some of the most inexpensive, underrated places to go in NYC during the winter.
If you’re planning to go to a city, especially one as famous as the Empire City, it may be helpful to have plans or ideas of where specifically to visit before you step foot in the actual destination. New York is a very popular place to visit, and there are many tourist attractions such as Times Square that may peak your interest, but these places might not meet the expectations you have been led to believe. We want your trip to New York to be amazing, so you have a wonderful time in the concrete jungle. This is why we have found people living in New York with at least five experiences of the New York wintertime, and not just December, the whole three months.
Active fun
Isabel Holmes and Laylani Morgan agree that climbing (specifically rock climbing) is an amazing winter activity and a great way to get exercise during the coldest season of the year. Isabel stated that she, ¨really enjoys” the indoor climbing gym. Both Laylani and Isabel say that this is a very fun experience and Laylani said the people at the climbing gyms are, ¨extremely kind.¨ Some climbing gyms I suggest are the VITAL Climbing Gym and the Central Rock Gym. While these are fun, they do lean more on the costly side, often being $30+.
When the snow starts coming down all New Yorkers have a common thought: sledding. New York City is home to many parks with hilly terrain, which is perfect for sledding. We suggest you try the Great Hill, Hippo Park, and the Riverside Park hills around 108th street. If you are enjoying a stay on the east side, we suggest Pilgrim Hill and Cedar Hill.
Indoor hobbies
Sure, store bought snacks are good, but homemade cooking is so much better. A lot of people agree that making things in the kitchen makes it so much better, but they don’t always do it. Why? Various reasons include price and quality. New York City offers amazing ingredients perfect for winter bites. We like farmers markets such as Columbia Greenmarket and Down to Earth Morningside Park. These places offer delicious, nutritious food perfect for a winter treat that you can whip up indoors. If you want to stick to 100% inside pick up food from one of our groceries stores, head to East village Organic or Life Thyme Natural for amazing organic ingredients.
In winter, you need to find more indoor hobbies and handicrafts are perfect whether you go somewhere to enjoy it or do it at home! Handicrafts include knitting and pottery, but those are just the well-known things. Handicrafts are just anything handmade that usually involve skills, but you can learn these skills yourself! One place we suggest is String Thing Studio. You can buy something there or go to a free string night!
What now?
Next time you’re planning a winter-time trip to New York remember this article and pick the best, most affordable options for you and your travel mates. What will YOU focus on during your trip: relaxing or moving around?
Students of the Sidewalk 