Hidden Gems in New York City Only Locals Know About

Hidden Gems in New York City Only Locals Know About

You can indeed live in New York City for over a decade and still not see everything. Of course, when visiting New York City, you’ll want to enjoy all the main attractions and sites. However, it’s also really fun to add in a few of the secret and quirky things that are off the beaten path. It has a treasure trove of cultural icons and offbeat historical landmarks. You could not have wished for a more fascinating place in which to witness a historic celebration. Offbeat museums and attractions, and lots of fun ideas, something for everyone to explore

Hidden Gems in New York City

Artsy NYC Getaway (1)
Photo by Meagan Wristen

New York City is not where you roam around as a tourist in a car when you’ve been there a couple of times. Even if you are from there your whole life, you still don’t know the little things you have to explore and that are worth seeing.

As Christmas is at the doorstep, places to go for Christmas in the USA become the default holiday destination. Christmas lights, Christmas markets, and an authentic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. It attracts a lot of tourists worldwide.

Join Locals Spotted and discover New York’s best-kept secrets! From Brooklyn’s best-kept secrets jazz clubs to lower Manhattan’s best-kept secrets art. Let’s experience the city’s best-kept secrets.

Morris-Jumel Mansion

Morris-Jumel Mansion
Photo from Morris-Jumel Mansion

It was constructed in 1765 for the Morris family and is Manhattan’s oldest continuously occupied house. The old mansion, now a museum of the modern world, rests in Washington Heights. It even served as General George Washington’s headquarters during the Revolutionary War! It is a joy to behold, too, because it runs parallel literally to hip as a June bug Sylvan Terrace of historic old wooden townhouses.

Sylvan Terrace

Jumel Terrace Historic District Sylvan Terrace from west

Cobblestone Sylvan Terrace street is lined with preserved 1900s historic row homes. Street now, landmark, historic horse-drawn tour to Morris-Jumel Mansion. Stop when you drive by and soak it in, and be sure to share your experience with other wanna-be travellers who will pick up on stopping and soaking it in. Be careful of the residents there when crossing over to look at this street, because people are actually living in these houses.

The Met Cloisters

The Met Cloisters, NY (1)

While NYC’s greatest museum is The Met, its lesser-known counterpart, The Cloisters, isn’t something to be forgotten. In fact, it’s sort of a Washington Heights secret, one on the other side of the Hudson, in Fort Tryon Park. It’s a museum-castle containing George Barnard and John D. Rockefeller’s medieval art collection. The most famous are likely the Unicorn Tapestries of the 14th century. Some of the medieval monasteries of Europe are found in the complex, and an extremely high percentage of New York City’s population enjoys going here in an effort to gain admittance to a less populated and serene cultural experience.

Lotus Garden

If you’re on the Upper West Side on a Sunday afternoon between April & November, consider climbing the stairs to the roof of a parking garage on 97th Street. This beautiful community garden has been tended to by 28 families for many years and is now open to the public on Sundays. The garden is maintained by the gardeners and volunteers to keep this place beautiful.

Riverside Church

It boasts North America’s tallest church tower, on top of which is the 74-bell, 20-ton Rockefeller Memorial Carillon. Nave Sanctuary has carvings, engravings, and stained glass windows, and natives from across the USA come or reside here with an effort to make use of the facility as a snapshot of worship, culture, and community.

Museum at Eldridge Street

Eldridge Street was built in 1887. It used to be the first great house that was built by the Eastern European Jewish immigrants. The building is a blend of Moorish, Gothic, and Romanesque architecture. After many years, it was restored in 2007. Because the water drainage system of the museum was damaged, the structure was unstable, and plaster and glass were broken. This place hosts many events like educational programs and cultural festivals. Jewish women’s ornaments and paintings are displayed in the museum.

6 ½ Avenue

Sixth and a Half Avenue Looking North from 51st Street

Manhattan’s sole flubbed street! Pedestrian cross-over, which has been officially named even by a street sign, because it has been utilized as frequently as a mini neighborhood shortcut by the locals. I went there not knowing that it was even a street. Ring a bell like Hogwarts’ Platform 9 ½?

West Village

In the Lower Manhattan West Village, there is an ancient, scenic, and prosperous place. Once it was an artist and Bohemian place. Now it gives a sophisticated and decent atmosphere. The best village is also known for its three-line streets that don’t follow Manhattan’s block system. You can explore unique boutiques in Bleecker Street, enjoy the dancing scenes in neighborhood trendy restaurants, and experience the amazing nightlife in a jazz club or colourful bar areas.

Merchant’s House Museum 

Merchant’s House Museum
Photo from Merchant’s House Museum

This museum is located at 29 East 4th Street in Manhattan. This house is a wonderful survivor of old NewYork. All belongings of the Tredwell family are fully furnished in the museum. The architecture of the museum showcases the Greek Revival architecture. The house was designed by the architect Minard Lafever and Joseph Roberto.

 The Treadwell family has lived in the house for almost 100 years, which gives a perspective of domestic life in NewYork. The merchant house is also known as one of New York’s most haunted houses. Some special facts about the merchant house are its largely unaltered room system, panelling, and stone chimney pieces. This property is now owned by an agency of the government of New South Wales.

Frick Collection 

Frick Collection 
Photo from Frick Collection 

The Frick collection is an art museum. It is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. To preserve the collection of industrialist Henry clay frick, it was established in 1935. The freak collection is all about 1800 works of fine and decorative art. The frick collection is a must-visit place; the masterpieces of Bellini, Vermeer, and Fragonard are well preserved there. Sometimes it gets crowded because it is small in size. All historic art pieces give examples of European sculptures.

Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island

In the East River, Roosevelt Island is a narrow island. It is located between Manhattan and Queens. Native Americans first inhabited this island. There are many ancient buildings and ruins of the smallpox hospital on the island. Travellers can explore the Cornell Tech campus and the engineering school. There are many activities to do on the island, like sports and picnics. The island is a mixture of many parks and memorials. The famous Hollywood movie nighthawks was also filmed in Roosevelt Island.

Ground Zero Museum workshop 

Ground Zero Museum workshop 
Photo from Ground Zero Museum workshop 

This museum is located at 420 West 14 Street in NewYork. It was founded by Gary Marlin Suson. It shows the recovery period of the 9/11 attack. This museum includes 100 images of artifacts, the donated pieces from the attack that visitors can touch. This place is also kid-friendly. Non-graphic and mindful content plays in the museum, which is very overwhelming for the kids. You can also get a self-guided audio unit in the museum. Travelers find this place very emotionally powerful. Videos are not allowed there, but visitors can take photos of this place.

Tenement Museum

Tenement Museum
Photo from Tenement Museum

This museum is basically a cultural institution. It tells the stories of immigrants and refugees who lived in NewYork City. The museum has a collection of historic apartments of German, Italian, Jewish, and Chinese families. If you hire a tour guide, they will properly show the restored spaces and tell the stories of adapted life in America. This place is located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. For history lovers, this place is so fascinating.

Conclusion 

New York City never fails to surprise us with its silly and humorous attractions. The city itself is actually a kind of blinding smorgasbord of life culture. It’s own wacky day trips, quirky museums, and tours; the city has something to offer all those who want more. All such tourists who visit there in search of variety, diversity, and a sense of wonder would never feel disappointed. You can enjoy this journey to the fullest. During festivals, visitors from all over the USA visit New York to see its stunning Christmas lights along with festival bazaars and other events, which also contribute to the amazing aspects of the city. 

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