A Local's Highlights of New York City

No matter what you're looking to do, you're probably going to find it in New York: there are only a few things you can't do, but usually because they're unlikely in any city this size. I'll be adding entries about what I would call highlights. Just keep in mind that I live here, so what you the Tourist would call a highlight might be something I take for granted.

Quick Tips:

Don't even think about trying to fit everything into one trip. You'd probably have trouble fitting the condensed highlights into two weeks and still go home with your sanity. Unless you have a month or two to kill, just plan around a few things you really want to do and leave the rest until the next time. We don't intend to go anywhere.

Best Way To Get Around:

Mass transit, hands down. Most of the city, including nearly all the places a tourist would go, are near at least one subway line. The few areas where there isn't a subway line are mostly in the further reaches, are more residential in nature than cultural or touristy, and often have a bus line or two.

Located in Fort Tryon Park, all the way up in the northwestern part of Manhattan, The Cloisters are definitely off the beaten path. Way off. So far off that even on weekends they don't usually get too crowded. That said, they're worth the trip, even if you only go for the stained glass and the Unicorn tapestries. The gardens are usually worth a look too, especially in spring and summer, and there's a good view of some of the last parts of New Jersey not yet turned into suburb.   

The building itself is mostly modern, built as ligament for an assortment of medieval architectural elements (including, yes, a few cloisters). But what it contains is also worth looking at - not just tapestries, but a whole slew of medieval stuff, mostly religious but some secular items too.   

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, of which this place is a branch, just raised its recommended donation to $20 for adults (less for students, kids and seniors), but in theory this is only a recommendation. They will make a point to tell you that you can also do the Met on the same day for no further charge, but who can look at that much art in one day?   

GETTING THERE: Take the uptown A to 191st Street. There's only one way off the platform, and there are signs from there to the exit. If the weather's good and you don't mind stairs, you can walk - turn right and go through the park via the garden. But if it's raining, or has snowed recently, you should definitely wait for the M4 bus, which stops in front of the exit from the subway.