New York City - Without Breaking Your Budget

It's the Big Apple, baby, and all roads eventually lead -they are willing to share. They often offer free
or cross - in its streets. But you won't be doing yoursamples. The Greenmarket is a project by the Council
sightseeing there, because it's too expensive...right? Ifon the Environment of NYC, and they've managed
you're resourceful, there are many free and/orthe open-air farmers' markets in New York since
inexpensive tourist destinations in New York City.1976.
Below are but a few - including well-known sites,THE ARTS
food, and New York's art scene.- Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway - So you
THE SITESwant to see one of New York's famous Broadway
- Central Park - Stretch your legs and see the world'sshows, but you don't want to break your budget?
most famous park without spending a dime. EnjoyConsider one of the Off-Broadway or even
just walking around the 800 + acres, or visit one ofOff-Off-Broadway theatres, where you will pay only
the park's many famous sites for reasonable prices,25% - 50% of what you would pay to see it on
including the Central Park Zoo, take your kids to oneBroadway. There are numerous sites advertising
of the 21 playgrounds, or enjoy one of their manydiscounted Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets; if
tours.you plan in advance, you can easily budget a show
- Ground Zero - Many New York visitors want to payinto your trip.
tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrible- Museums - There's MOMA, the Met, the
events of September 11, 2001. Today, you can takeGuggenheim, the Whitney, the Natural History
a guided tour of the site for around $20, or visit it onMuseum, and many other world-famous New York
your own for less. While you're there, you mightCity museums. Visiting all of them would cost a
want to visit St. Paul's Chapel on Broadway andfortune, right? Not necessarily. There are several
Fulton Streets near the area. An impromptu memorialoptions for the cash-poor here. First, you could
has grown there, with messages from visitors inarrange to take a tour - for around $50, you can visit
many languages.most of New York's most famous museums. But
- Many birds, one stone - A variety of tours exist forthere are plenty of free museums, too - including the
a variety of budgets, ranging from the all-day $75American Folk Art Museum, urban art particular to
tour including Ellis Island, the United Nations, and manyNew York at the Urban Center Gallery, and the
others, to a few hours' $35 tour including visits toNational Museum of the American Indian, which has
famous New York neighborhoods and museums. Forthe largest collection in the world devoted solely to
a mere $20, you can take a Harbor Cruise to theNative American culture and history. But if you don't
Statue of Liberty.feel a visit to New York is complete without a tour
THE FOODof some of the famous museums mentioned above,
- Ethnic Delights - While you're in New York, don'tthen go see them on a "pay what you wish" night -
pass up the opportunity to sample the flavors in theMOMA's, the Whitney, and the Guggenheim are all
world's biggest melting pot. Whether you stop for a"pay what you wish" Friday evenings, and although
slice of pizza in Little Italy, or grab some Dim Sum innot everyone is aware of it, the Met and the
Chinatown, New York's diverse residents haveBrookly!n Museum of Art has a suggested admission,
brought their recipes with them from their homebut is "pay what you wish" everyday!
countries and they are ready to share them withRemember, you can find a vacation that matches
you. A unique dining experience in New York can beyour budget as long as you're willing to be flexible
had for under $10.and creative - even in New York. There are many
- Union Square Greenmarket - At Union Square,online resources you can use to plan an exciting but
vendors sell fresh produce, homemade breads,realistic vacation to the Big Apple. Have fun, and
homemade drinks, and even homemade cheese - andgood luck!