I love New York for its energy; I can’t think of another place that is so emblematic of humanity. But sometimes, I like to remove myself from that frenzy and just observe and really savour the life of the city. The following are my five favourite spots to do just this (and they’re almost all free!).

1. Brooklyn Bridge – walk from the Brooklyn end into Manhattan. I think it’s a really great way to spend an hour – the views from the bridge are spectacular as is peering at the car traffic below. The walk itself should take less than 30 minutes, but allocate more time to take photos. Try to start at the Brooklyn end of the bridge, the views are of NYC so it’s better to do the walk facing the city. Most Brooklyn bound subway trains – namely, the 2, 3, A, C and F trains – have stops within around 10 minutes walk of the pedestrian path entry point to the bridge. I would suggest taking the 2 or 3 train to Clark St station and walking from there as it seems a more pleasant route.

   

2. Central Park – spend time in the park: take a walk, stop to watch a baseball game and sit on the grass in Sheep’s Meadow. There are few better places to be on a nice spring day than in Central Park with the trees, lake and city scape. The park can also be a pleasant escape from the heat in summer. I prefer to start my walk at Strawberry Fields, at the W. 72nd St entrance of the park, skirt north and take a short loop by the lake walking toward Cherry Hill. Continue eastward past Bethesda Fountain and take the path south toward Sheep’s Meadow. I always used to look forward to sitting on the rocks overlooking the lake or lying back on the grass at Sheep’s Meadow. After Sheep’s Meadow, head further south toward Heckscher Ballfields and stop to watch a baseball or softball game. Sometimes the games can get pretty competitive and heated – just another NYC characteristic.

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   Grand Central Station – pick a spot and watch the rush. The iconic spot would be on the balcony level of the main concourse. You could have a drink at Cipriano Dolci – get a table overlooking the concourse – or perhaps pretend to check out some Apple products at the new store. Feign interest, if you can, in the new Mac and just sit back and watch the folks below.

4. Chelsea Flea Market & W. 4th St Courts – stroll through the market and catch a basketball game. The weekend flea market (nominal USD1.00 fee) is fun to browse and I’ve picked up some nice pieces of antique jewelry in the past. However, you don’t need to buy anything but have a wander. It starts on W. 25th St. and Broadway, not far from the Flatiron building. After the flea market, head south along 6th Ave to the W. 4th St basketball courts (should just be around a 20 minute walk). It’s pretty high quality street basketball that you can watch.
5. Staten Island Ferry – complete your Wall St experience by taking the ferry to and fro Staten Island. As a tourist visiting the Wall St area of NYC, I feel that the increased security since 9/11 has dampened the experience a bit. I used to enjoy waiting for friends at the World Financial Center – very buzzy as bankers rushed by to get to work or to get home at the end of the day – but I’ve not been back there since extensive renovations were made following 9/11. I will have to take a look my next trip. In the meantime, you could take the ferry to Staten Island, get good views of the city and experience the commute some make on a daily basis. The ferry terminal (also known as South Ferry) is on Whitehall St and easily accessible by subway or bus. Of course, if you’re already in the Wall St area, it should just be a short ten minute walk south. Depending on how keen you are to experience the mass of humanity, you may not want to do this during peak hours, which starts at 5pm, but hey…why not? The 25 minute ride (one way) is free but you will have to disembark before getting back on at the other end.