Christmas in New York: The Definitive Guide
This Christmas in NYC blog post was originally published in December 2013 and last updated in November 2019.
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My undying love for the Christmas season will forever be one of life’s unsolved mysteries.
This Christmas in NYC blog post was originally published in December 2013 and last updated in November 2019.
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My undying love for the Christmas season will forever be one of life’s unsolved mysteries.
Oh yeah, this baby’s gonna take some time to load. Go grab a cup of coffee while you’re waiting – I promise it’ll be worth it! Unless you’re on your phone right now, in which case you should bookmark this post and come back to it later when on a proper computer.
New York may be famed for its Broadway shows, world class shopping, and Michelin-starred restaurants, but it also offers a myriad of opportunities for affordable outdoor activities.
Here are 50 great outdoor activities in NYC, all located within the 5 boroughs and accessible by subway:
Free Outdoor Activities in NYC
Cycling the Hudson River Greenway.
Let’s suppose you’re visiting NYC from some faraway land, possibly for the first time. You’ve strategically based yourself in East Midtown at a hotel just a few blocks from Grand Central Terminal and all the Bucket List-worthy tourist attractions nearby.
I may no longer be a New Yorker, but after living there for 7 years I can confidently say I know how to “do New York”. At least in the Frugal Frolicker style (i.e.
Behold, the Williamsburg Bridge: my favorite of all the bridges in NYC. It’s not the prettiest, most famous, or most traversed – but I love it fiercely.
Our love affair began innocently enough.
I feel like a common misconception about NYC is that it’s got ZERO nature. True, the concrete-to-tree ratio is objectively depressing for the outdoor enthusiast, but the city has prioritized going green in recent years: from dedicated bike lanes to the random green spaces scattered about to new pedestrian paths like the High Line and the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway.
In nearly seven years of living in (or in very close proximity to) Williamsburg, I’ve amassed an impressive collection of photos of the prolific street art in this Brooklyn hood. I’ve staged many a photo shoot in front of these colorful works of art, usually with me coercing a friend from out of town to “stand there for just a second” while they strike a goofy or badass pose in front of it.
I’ve spent the entirety of my near-7 years in NYC living in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn area. As a self-proclaimed coffee snob, I can say with assurance that I’ve carefully sampled this neighborhood’s coffee.
Ah, fall. That time of year where I start compulsively scouring the foliage report and playing that fun game called, just how many layers do I need today and can I get away with wearing flip flops?