Sometimes, the best way to take a vacation is by turning it into a staycation instead. Whether you’re trying to save money or want to get better acquainted with the wonderful city you live in, there is a practically endless list of ideas to keep you busy! After all, you live in one of the best cities on earth, so why not get out there and enjoy it with a NYC staycation!  

1. Experience NYC Like a Tourist Does 

There are certain activities that almost every tourist does, including going to the Empire State Building, shopping in Times Square, and taking a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. When you live in NYC, though, it seems like there’s never enough time to visit the attractions that help make New York such a big tourist destination. Why not take a staycation in NYC that allows you to finally see what all the fuss is about? 

Remember: There’s no reason to feel embarrassed! People come from all over the world to see these sights, so why shouldn’t you visit them?  

2. Explore Brooklyn Botanic Garden

With 52-acres of stunning diversity, which includes 12,000 unique plant species from around the world, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a place where you can go to happily get lost in the details. Living in New York City usually means rushing everywhere, but since you’re on a staycation, you’ll be able to finally relax, shake off some of your stress, and smell the flowers. Wander through the gardens and various exhibits such as the lovely Cherry Blossoms! 

3. Enjoy Central Park 

Another thing that New Yorkers don’t usually have enough time to do is stroll through Central Park to take in the sights. Or, if you do get to go there, you’ve probably only got time for a quick picnic. Fortunately, you can see a lot more of this famous park when there is nowhere else you have to be! 

You could actually spend most of your staycation visiting Central Park’s top landmarks such as Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields, Balto’s statue, and Bow Bridge. Don’t think of it as a tourist destination. Instead, reflect upon how the city set aside such a large area for your enjoyment. It would be a shame if you never really got to see it. 

4. Take in Art at the Guggenheim Museum 

New York City is full of art museums, but none quite have the same flair as the Guggenheim Museum. Make your way up through each oval-shaped floor as you take in some of the world’s greatest artwork. Even better, see a different side of some of your favorite painters, including Jackson Pollock. Although Pollock was known for his drip-style artwork, the Guggenheim displays some pieces where he abandoned the drips in favor of showing people. 

Some of these pieces demand to be viewed close up, while others become much clearer if you look at them from across the room. Have fun digging in to see which is which! 

5. Learn About Agriculture at Queens County Farm Museum

The NYC area can’t possibly have a real, working farm that takes up 47 acres, right? Well, that’s where you’d be wrong because that’s exactly what’s in Queens! It’s called the Queens County Farm Museum, but it’s so much more than just a museum. Go be a farmhand for a day and get the entire farm-life experience. There are livestock, growing fields, NYC’s largest apiary, a certified monarch waystation, brilliant flowers, and more! Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city without having to drive a long distance. 

6. See Landmarks from the Water with New York Harbor Tours

Anyone can see New York’s landmarks from the land, but have you ever considered getting a completely different viewpoint? New York Harbor Tours offers a variety of different boat cruises that will give you a new appreciation for well-known places such as: 

• Ellis Island

• Statue of Liberty 

• Empire State Building 

• Brooklyn Bridge 

• Freedom Tower 

• United Nations Building 

• Chrysler Building 

• And more! 

Walking past one of these landmarks is nice, but there will be people all around you. Plus, it’s hard to get a good perspective from the street level. Instead, sign up for one of these tours and enjoy a private boat ride with no more than 16 people. Take your significant other on the Sunset Cruise to turn your ride into a breathtaking and romantic experience! Alternatively, take the Manhattan Circumnavigation cruise with some of your friends.

7. See Tons of Animals at The Bronx Zoo

Celebrate 125 years of The Bronx Zoo by spending a day taking it all in! While you’re there, be sure to book yourself a wildlife encounter. You’ll be able to get up-close and personal with cheetahs, sloths, porcupines, and penguins! Can you imagine the special photos you can get while you closely interact with an adorable big cat? You can also view wildlife feedings, including sea lions, penguins, and bee-eaters. And, of course, there are more than 6,000 unique species on display such as tigers, bison, aardvarks, flamingos, and giraffes.  

8. Take a Daytrip to the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame 

Have you ever thought about how many musicians got their start in the New York City area? Several of them have been inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame, including Lou Reed, The Ramones, Run DMC, Louis Armstrong, and Gene Simmons. When you go to NY’s mecca of music history, you’ll get to learn about more than 120 musical artists as you wander through their 8,800 square foot building. Plus, they also have regular performances from a diverse group of different artists! Currently, they’re celebrating the career of the Piano Man, also known as Billy Joel. 

9. Check into the High Line Hotel 

One of the best staycation ideas in New York is to book into a ritzy hotel and let them pamper you with luxuriousness! The elegant High Line Hotel has won 25 awards for excellence and features unbelievably appointed guest rooms. Step back in time with plush robes, locally sourced furniture, oversized beds, and absolutely fantastic views of High Line Park. You won’t see any of the commonly used hotel furniture there, but you will get to enjoy the fastest wi-fi in the city. Don’t forget to borrow one of the hotel’s Shinola bicycles and take a ride! 

10. Go to Gitano Island and Enjoy the Breeze

Living in NYC is fantastic, but there are times when you wish you could go to a tropical island. Well, Gitano Island is far from tropical, but it does have a Mexican vibe that you’ll absolutely love! As of May 2024, you’ll have the opportunity to sit in the sand while enjoying top-notch food and dancing. Simply take a five-minute boat ride from downtown and get swept up in the magic of this 27,000 square foot restaurant and lounge.   

11. Stop at Island Pops for Decadent Ice Cream 

Speaking of being on a tropical vacation, Island Pops brings decadent flavors your way in the form of ice cream! Although you’ll still be in NYC, you’ll get to sample flavors such as rum & raisin, coconut, mango, guava, etc. With more than 50 unique ice cream creations, you’re certain to find your perfect island taste! Also, the season when you go will dictate which exact offerings they’ll have on hand, so be sure to go more than once. You won’t regret it! 

12. Unwind at the Ford Foundation Atrium

One of the hardest things about living in NYC is that it can be difficult to find an abundance of wildlife (outside of Central Park, anyway). It might be a jungle in the city, but that’s a concrete jungle, not the real thing. Fortunately, you can pop into the Ford Foundation Atrium and soak up everything you’ve been missing. There’s a reflecting pool, almost 40 species of trees, vines, and shrubs, and there’s a sensory section that invites those with low or no vision to interact with the plants. The atrium is also wheelchair accessible, so everyone is able to appreciate it! 

13. Take in Free Music at Bryant Park

This next option is a fantastic NYC staycation idea for those who are on a budget. Every Friday at 7 p.m., head to Bryant Park to listen to their Picnic Performances. Enjoy a wide variety of different performances, including opera, contemporary dance, jazz, Carnegie Hall, and the American Symphony Orchestra. Or join the Emerging Music Festival at the end of June to see tomorrow’s music stars today! Musical genres include rock, young indie, soul, folk, and global. 

14. Learn About Black NY History at the Tenement Museum

A Union of Hope: 1869 has been years in the making, so be sure to go see it. This particular exhibit from the Tenement Museum takes a 75-minute lookback at Joseph and Rachel Moore’s life together in Manhattan. What’s now known as the SoHo neighborhood once housed them in a rear tenement, along with several other African Americans. Learn all about Joseph’s family history, which started in Belvidere, NJ, and led to Manhattan. There, he and his wife, Rachel, were instrumental in building their local community. 

15. Dine at the Best Hidden Pizzeria in the City 

Finally, no list of staycation ideas in NYC would be complete without noshing on some delicious pizza. But where should you go? After all, there are more than 2,000 pizzerias in the city, and it seems like each New Yorker has a different favorite. We invite you to visit the hidden pizzeria in a train station known as See No Evil Pizza! 

Placed on a sub terrain level of 50th Street and Broadway, this place has amazingly earned itself a 5-star average out of 28 Google reviews. This is even more impressive when you consider the fact that a basic cheese pizza starts at $20, and a soda will set you back $6. It’s not going to be the cheapest meal, but you deserve to splurge on your staycation! 

View NYC Through a Tourist’s Lens 

Even if you have time throughout your normal life to get out into the city, we can pretty much guarantee that there are still a lot of different sights for you to enjoy. For example, how many of you knew about See No Evil Pizza or the Ford Fountain Atrium? Whether you choose to go all-in like a tourist and visit the Empire State Building or decide to be low-key with a trip to Island Pops, you’re certain to experience something that’s new to you. And isn’t that the entire point of going on vacation? 

Be sure to see the city from the water too! Book a cruise with New York Harbor Tours, then relax and allow our captain to show you around the city from a unique point of view. By the time your cruise ends, you’ll have a new-found appreciation for the best city in the world! Book your slot now!

FAQs

Where should I go for a staycation?

NYC is the best vacation destination in the world, so why not staycation there? Check out places such as Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Guggenheim Museum, New York Harbor Tours, Queens County Farm Market, and Bryant Park. 

What is the best staycation?

A NYC staycation! Stay at the High Line Hotel and check out New York Harbor Tours, the Tenement Museum, Gitano Island, Ford Foundation Atrium, and the Bronx Zoo. 

What does staycation mean?

A staycation can mean two different things. First, it can mean staying in your hometown and exploring it much like a tourist would. Alternatively, it can mean taking a vacation in your home country, rather than going abroad. Due to the massive size of the United States, a staycation here typically means staying in or around where you live.