While each one of us is super excited about every NYC travel plan, remember that everyone would eventually land up at the same place. Jostling through the crowds and not finding peace of mind in exploring the place or even click some memorable pics, thus becomes a challenging proposition. All those sugar-coated advertisements listing the best hop-on-hop-off tours and what else goes caput by the sheer volumes and tourist traffic. Thus, it’s always wise to get off the beaten path and make a journey of your own by looking out for the best non-touristy things to do in New York. For all you know, you may find another gem to add on to this list. 

Start admiring the beauty of Parks & Gardens

1. The charming beauty of NYC lies in the fact that there are glorious parks to unwind and charge up your batteries after a long day of exploration. From Manhattan to Brooklyn, some of the most famous parks include Central Park or Madison Square. Look beyond them, and therein lies a plethora of options that are less crowded and will offer you to make a story of your own in NYC.  The view that defines NYC is the Manhattan skyline and the best way to relish this is from top of the Brooklyn, wherein, lies the Sunset Park. The park offers some of the best photo opportunities of the skyline including the Statue of Liberty and as the name suggests, sunset is the best time to visit this park. 
2. As for Central Park, its the best way to get away from the urban jungle all around, but when everyone lands up at the same place it becomes a cacophony. Look no further, as closeby Fort Tryon Park is a much serene and calm alternative, albeit designed by the son of one of the architects of Central Park. 

Image Courtesy: Central Park NYC

3. New York Botanical garden has a wonderful array of flora and fauna but the sheer number of tourists can be a bit overwhelming. Snug harbor cultural center at Staten Island is a good alternative in equally serene surroundings. 

Explore the Museums

4. NYC is renowned for being home to some of the best Museums in the world. Unarguably, The Met tops the list with over 7 million visitors in 2017 alone. The adrenaline rush to witness pieces of history from across centuries can die in the long queues and mad rush. Convinced enough to drop The Met, move on to The Cloisters, an annex of the Met located at Fort Tryon Park. The castle-shaped magnificent building houses many fabulous attractions from the period of medieval Europe, amidst the serene setting of the park. 

Image Courtesy: MET Museum

Indulge in the Culinary world

5. The favorite hole for all foodies and culinary connoisseurs alike is Chinatown, where Chinese cuisine is served in perfect fusion with other multinational dishes at their tastiest best. Although the place has become a noisy version of its former self due to the hordes of tourists, thereby calling for an alternative to being found. Flushing at Queens is an equally enchanting culinary experience with lesser worries of jostling for space with fellow travelers. 
6. Chelsea Market at the former Biscuit Company premises is definitely the best place for a whole variety of exciting American cuisine. However, the crowds in this indoor location may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Instead head out to Smorgasburg, which offers an equally exciting food market in open settings. 

This one is for the Art lovers

7. Likewise, for an art experience, it’s better to skip Chelsea and hop on to Long Island City instead. MoMA PS1, numerous galleries and summer festivals such as Warm-Up, add up to an exciting visit. 

Image Source: MOMA

Looking for some photo opportunities?

8. The glittering neon background of Times Square makes for a fascinating photo background, but the mad rush of locals and tourists alike can photobomb it almost every time. That’s why we would recommend heading out to Sreet Art locations such as Bushwick Street whose murals and paintings are one to cherish for a long time. 
9. Similarly, one must have heard a lot about Grand Central Terminal and Brooklyn Bridge. However, Woolworth Building and Brooklyn Bridge Park are rather less crowded but equally enchanting options. 

Admire the beauty of Performing Art

10. Radio City music hall has been synonymous with the journey of music in America and witnessing a performance here is on everyone’s bucket list. Although, that may stretch your budget and time manifold, therefore, it may be wise to head to Lincoln Centre of Performing Arts for a lovely evening. 

Image Source: Lincoln Center

Celebrate the festivities with these Events & Festivals

11. Events makes the perfect things to do in NYC in the Non-touristy category. Chinese New Year city parade is a thrilling experience with waves of dragons and performing artists marching through Chinatown and Little Italy.
12. Come March 17, the fifth avenue is turned green by a million spectators celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day.
13. The best way to bring rainbow colors in your life is to witness New York Pride, the largest such event in the world. 
14. The children in you will come alive at the mere sight of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, home to some of the most loved characters from everyone’s childhood.
15. In the end, there is hardly any place better than Times Square to ring in the New Year. When a large part of NYC lands up here with visitors from across the world amidst enthralling performances and atmosphere, there is simply no better way to say ‘Happy New Year’ and calling it the best non-touristy thing to do in NYC during winter.

Image Source: NY Post

Thanks to Vertoe for providing luggage storage space new all these landmarks to enjoy the essence of these famous landmarks without worrying about the luggage. Be it finding a location near Central Park, Grand Central, Times Square or near the Museum of Modern Art, with 300+ active locations, you can easily find a Vertoe space at a stone throw distance. Be is a touristy or non-touristy place, book a Vertoe space online in just three steps and explore the big apple luggage free.

To sum it up, New York is a city famous for the secrets it awaits for every tourist to unfold and cherish. Simply following a set itinerary can be a mundane affair and won’t be as great an experience as advertised. Therefore, its time to head out to the best non-touristy things to do in NYC which are equally wonderful options while giving you space and freedom to make a memory of your own.