Winging It in New York

How many people have arrived in New York looking for a new start on life? How many Broadway dreamers have thrown caution to the wind and moved to New York? Who knows? But if there is any city that defines the winging it attitude, it's New York. There is no city in the world like it. As Frank Sinatra belts out, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.

Ascend from any subway exit underground to the street for an unbelievable sight. The city stretches as far as you can see. Building after building, skyscraper after skyscraper, there are millions of people who call this magical concrete jungle home. It's the kind of place where you don't need to spend a penny to see anything to be entertained. Just walk around--there is so much to see it's absolutely staggering.

Traveler Type: New York has something to offer everyone. Go shopping with your girlfriends on Madison Avenue for the afternoon. Play catch with a baseball or football with your kids in Central Park. Take a romantic moonlit walk along the river with your sweetheart, topping off the evening with a trip up the Empire State building. Take in a Mets or Yankees game with friends. Some of the world's most famous landmarks are in New York, so plenty to see for the "tourist-at-heart."

For Families: You'll feel happy just to wander around this interesting city with your kids, knowing you're giving them the unique experience of "experiencing" New York. Venture outside the wild streets of the city to see where the real animals in this city live. The Bronx Zoo is considered to be one of the best in the world. Don't think this is just a summer option - this zoo is open 365 days a year. Check the website for admission and times. If you can't get enough of the animals, the Central Park Zoo is a great spot for little ones.

Museums : No one has museums like New York. In fact, there are too many to mention. There are also museums to pique the interest of any traveler. Have a fascination with law enforcement and firefighting? The NYPD and FDNY both have museums. Have a higher-end liking for fine art? The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a must see. Modernism is more your bag? The Guggenheim is a most do.

Unfortunately, unlike many European cities, different museums and zoos are closed on different days of the week, so it's best to do you research early. All their websites have admission info as well as hours of operation. As is usually the case, children and seniors will get preferential pricing.

Costs: In North America there is such a large food selection that whether you are on a tight budget - or an extravagant one - you'll find plenty of restaurants to service your needs. The best advice: Stay off the beaten track when you get into ethnic neighborhoods - Chinatown, Little Italy, Little Saigon - and go into a local restaurant for dinner. Nine times out of 10, the food will be better than the "main-drag-tourist-traps" and much cheaper. Plus, it provides exposure to local personality.

In general, admission costs for museums or local attractions, observation decks, zoos and so on are all pretty reasonable and are not out of whack with the North American average.

But make no mistake about it - New York City is expensive. It is a city of apartment dwellers and flat renters: 500 square feet runs you - on average in Manhattan - upwards of $2,500 U.S. The hotel prices reflect this reality. A few options do exist, however, that are kinder to your wallet.

Places to Stay

Budget: The Big Apple Hostel is a clean, centrally-located place with all the important hotel amenities. Prices range from $28 U.S. to $38 U.S. in a dorm room. Another good option is the Chelsea Center Hostel, which has two locations to choose from. Prices range start at $30 U.S. per night in a dorm room.

Because of the sheer size and the massive amounts of people that flock to the city every year, there are many more cheap options. Try Hostels.com to find one that suits you.

If you're into an out-of-city adventure, try staying in New Jersey and commuting in on the train - coming in with the morning commuters is a treat, and the hotel cost is likely to be kinder to your wallet.

Mid range: A true gem in the heart of the Theater District and just a few blocks from Time Square is the Days-Inn Time Square on Eight Avenue. Great location, very clean, friendly staff, and a nice French bistro attached. The prices are surprisingly competitive for New York - you can get a very comfortable and good-sized room for less than $100 U.S. a night.

Expensive: If you're into chic hotels with a groovy local feel, nothing beats the five different W Hotels in New York and they do not disappoint.

If you prefer something a little more traditional in a palatial feel, the recommendations are two mainstays of the Manhattan skyline: The Park Plaza hotel and the Waldorf Astoria.

Best Time of Year to Go: New York is always a great city to visit - but winters can be harsh. Summer too have been known to welcome a level of humidity that cooks the sidewalk and makes car exhaust smell like paint fumes as it converts to smog over the city. Late spring (April, May, June) and early fall (September/October) provide an ideal Northeast climate.

Top Five Must-Dos:

The walk - Bring a good pair of walking shoes and do what is possibly the cheapest and most entertaining thing you can do in New York. There are so many neighborhoods, so many restaurants, so much shopping, so many bars, so much to simply see.
A Broadway Show--when in New York, a Broadway show is a must-do. If you can easily afford to buy tickets in advance, you're in luck. But if you don't care what you see, and would prefer to save a few dollars, go to Times Square early the day of a show to get cheap tickets at the Broadway sell-off counter. Because most Broadway shows are in a class by themselves, you are almost certainly going to have a great time, and the savings from buying tickets at the counter is certainly worth wait of the line-up.
Manhattan boat cruises from Pier 83, corner 42nd Street and 12th Avenue. The tour guide may be a little on the cheeky--or even down-right boring - side, but the cruise is a surprising must-do when in NYC, especially if it's your first visit. Cruises vary in length and run all day into the early evening. They are ideal for families or couples or friends and usually have a bar on board for those who like to use the occasion to take a load off from their day. Cruises begin on the west side of Manhattan, go down the Hudson and up the East River, giving you a beautiful view of Liberty Island, Ellis Island, Brooklyn, downtown and mid-town Manhattan skylines, Staten Island and New Jersey. A must do and great find - plus it's pretty cheap entertainment for 3 hours.
The Empire State Building observation deck. The view is fantastic - it is really the best place to get a true understanding of the sheer scope and size of the city and it's not too expensive. Go first thing in the morning to avoid the crowd and skip the souvenir shop (everything is cheeky anyway). You will likely spend less than a half-hour up there so it's a good idea to do it in the morning.
Yankee Stadium. If you can fit it in, go to a ballgame. The fans in New York are crazy and completely entertaining. The hot dogs will run you around $5 U.S., but they're pretty good and nothing beats the feeling you get when you walk into Yankee stadium--a shrine to some of the best baseball players who've ever played the game. Even non-baseball fans will love it.

One final note--many people have visited the World Trade Center site to pay their respects and survey for themselves what they saw on television every night for well over a year. During summer, city workers removed the elevated viewing platform. In early 2003, they took out the surrounding sidewalk that tourists used to view the site, after reopening many of the buildings in the area. Even most of the memorials left around the gates of the church across the street have been removed and sent to the Smithsonian institute. With construction about to begin, it really doesn't look like anything more than a soon-to-be office complex: it literally is a construction site. So if you want to head down there to pay your respects put on a good pair of walking shoes and enjoy the day. There are many beautiful parks in the area, and as well as great neighborhoods - but don't expect the shrine as seen on CNN.

With files from Julie-Anne Cardinal