10 secret spots of New York

Surely you are aware of the must-see places to visit in New York during a trip, but a city as big as this one is full of possibilities, original things to do and secret places to discover. Take a look at the different things to do in the Big Apple!

One of the most original things to do in New York is to leave the skyscrapers of downtown for a morning to experience the cultural diversity of one of the most interesting neighborhoods in the city: Harlem.

In the early twentieth century it became the epicenter of African-American culture and the defense of civil rights in the United States. This was accompanied by the flourishing of a musical and artistic movement led by Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald performing in venues such as the legendary Cotton Club.

If you decide to take a tour of Harlem with a Gospel Mass, you will get to know the most authentic side of this neighborhood. It will take you to its main sites of interest such as the Apollo Theater, the Cotton Club, the Morris Jumel Mansion and the historic streets of typical apartments.

What is a Gospel Mass like?

A Gospel Mass in New York City usually lasts about two hours, although the tour only takes you there for one. The experience is highly recommended! The mass consists of a combination of singing and sermon. You'll enter moments before the start and usually sit in the upper box, from where you'll have a magnificent view of the proceedings.

I recommend going on Sundays, as you will find a larger congregation and therefore a more genuine experience.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

Remember that there is a dresscode for attending a Gospel Mass: avoid tank tops or tank tops and skirts and shorts.

Central Park is by far the most famous park in New York. A real green lung for the city and the most visited urban park in the world.

Givenits size, from experience I know that walking through Central Park will take you several visits because it is huge and there is a lot to see. If you do not have much time to invest in this visit, one of the most entertaining ways is to rent a bike through Central Park with which you will know the most iconic places of the park and also others that usually go unnoticed by tourists.

You will also discover the origins of Central Park in a fun way and see some of the locations of movies that have been filmed here, as well as several of the houses of celebrities.

Why do I like this tour?

I love to enjoy it during the fall in New York, when the sun is still warm in the morning. The light is dim and the landscape is tinged with reds, ochers, browns, oranges... It's a color show to admire! Take your camera and get ready to take the most beautiful pictures of your trip.

The streets of New York are exciting, there is always something new to see in this ever-changing city. On the surface there are tourist attractions for all tastes but not many know that underneath it lies a secret place known as the ghost subway station of City Hall, which was plunged into darkness for a long time.

Just the name alone makes you want to find out what it is, right? You only have to enter the subway and take line 6 to the end of the route because the train continues to travel through this station. After Brooklyn Bridge you can pass by the ghost station of City Hall and admire it from the car.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to get off to see it but at least the subway runs at very low speed so with a little skill you can take several pictures of this piece of New York history, which tells us about the origins of this public transport at the beginning of the twentieth century.

What is the ghost station like?

City Hall was never a station much used by New Yorkers, as most got on and off at the nearby Brooklyn Bridge and eventually closed to the public in 1945 for various reasons.

Perhaps this has allowed it to be preserved in such good condition, as well as the original tiles, crystals, chandeliers and stained glass windows that decorate it. Many find a certain resemblance to the decoration of Grand Central Station, what do you think?

Of all the parks in New York, one of the most original to me is High Line Park. A new urban garden, barely a decade old, built on an old elevated railroad line and filled with greenery, wall art and sculptures on the west side of Manhattan. One of New York's almost secret places waiting to be discovered on your trip.

High Line Park is located between Gansevoort Street and 34th Street. Its two-and-a-half-mile straight-line route begins (or ends depending on which direction you take) to the north near Hudson Yards, the trendy new Midtown neighborhood along the Hudson River. It then runs through Chelsea and finally empties south into the Meatpacking District next to New York's Whitney Museum.

From end to end, the High Line Park path is lined with skyscrapers, designer buildings and interesting sculptures. But in addition to the urban art you'll see along the High Line Park, I suggest you pause along the way to exit at the 23rd Street entrance and take a stroll around the area to see some of the graffiti by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra. Three of the most striking and that have become true icons of the neighborhood are:

With a few souvenir photos, return to High Line Park to continue the route. Don't put your camera away because just ahead of 21st Street, on the left there is a very unique sculpture under whose arch you can take some more cool pictures.

New York is one of the most important cultural centers in the world. The museum offer is vast (MoMA, the MET, the Guggenheim Museum...) but not many travelers know that in New York's Upper Manhattan, west of Broadway, is located the Hispanic Society of America, an elegant Beaux Arts style building that houses the most important collection of Hispanic art in the world outside Spain. Amazing, isn't it?

If you love art and history, the Hispanic Society of America will surprise you with its treasures from the Paleolithic to the 20th century! It has more than 18,000 works in almost every field and within its collection we can highlight important artists such as Diego de Velázquez, El Greco, Francisco de Goya, Joaquín Sorolla, Mariano Fortuny or Francisco de Zurbarán.

Why go to this museum?

It is true that because of its location between 155th and 156th streets north of Harlem, the Hispanic Society of America is not part of the traditional route through the iconic museums of New York but this institution is a jewel that is well worth visiting not only for the great legacy that houses within its walls but also because admission is free.

In addition, since you are going to Harlem you can combine it with atour with gospel mass to immerse yourself in the culture and history of this neighborhood where the African American community has traditionally lived.

On the way to any of the tourist attractions that can be found in downtown New York, it is always a pleasure to discover small treasures that are not normally listed in travel guides.

Especially if we are talking about gardens in a city as bustling as this one where the incessant traffic on the streets and people in a hurry are a constant. It is wonderful to find small oases where you can take a break surrounded by water and vegetation. Such is the case of Greenacre Park and Paley Park, both in Midtown Manhattan.

Why go to these parks?

What makes these two secret places in New York different from other parks are two beautiful waterfalls that adorn the surroundings and whose sound of water transports you to a quiet place where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of the city while reading a book or having a coffee at one of the cozy little tables available to visitors. The trees in Greenacre Park and Paley Park manage to create that sense of intimacy and serenity that I love about this place.

My favorite time to visit is in spring and fall, when the flora is at its peak. For example, in autumn the trees were very beautiful and decorated with pumpkins so typical of Halloween and Thanksgiving. It makes for some very cool pictures.

Practical information

Why not dedicate an evening to going to the movies in New York City during your trip? A good plan for Monday nights during the summer in the city, when temperatures are hot, is to go to Bryant Park to enjoy its outdoor Film Festival.

This small oasis in the middle of bustling Midtown Manhattan is one of the most beloved gardens by New Yorkers and has a great cultural agenda: from writing workshops and meetings with authors, to gatherings and film festivals to musical concerts and so on.

Going to the movies in Bryant Park is one of my favorite summer activities. In front of the park's famous fountain, a giant screen is set up where classic movies are shown while the audience picnics on the lawn and enjoys the evening lying on the grass.

When does the curtain open?

The area set up to watch the movie opens at 17:00 hours so that attendees can take their seats, but the movie starts between 20:00 and 21:00 hours. From experience I recommend that you go early to get a good spot on the lawn and a popcorn cone, which is free at the entrance if you arrive early.

While you wait for the movie to start you can relax on the grass, read, review what you have left to see of the city or just have a picnic while enjoying the atmosphere in Bryant Park.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

Did you know that in this festival the public chooses the film of the night? To participate follow the @vultur Twitter account, which proposes several options and the one with the most votes will be broadcast.

One of the most original things to do in New York and a unique experience to have during your stay is to take a helicopter ride to see the city from a bird's eye view.

The New York skyline is a spectacle in itself, but to see it from a helicopter feeling the adrenaline of flying at over 200 kilometers per hour is to elevate the experience to another level.

Normally, the flight operator does not offer helicopter tours beyond 8PM. Depending on the views you are looking for for your pictures you can choose between a time close to noon to see the New York buildings in all their splendor or choose a time at the end of the day to watch the sunset and the first night lights.

Fotografiska New York is anything but your average museum. From the outside the building is a real marvel but inside it doesn't have the typical traditional museum atmosphere. I love it because it's a mix of photography, art, music and nightlife!

It never ceases to amaze because there is no permanent collection. Each exhibition is unique! It is a living art space in constant change capable of showing the latest movements and social issues by emerging and established artists, through a vibrant cultural program.

All this with a very innovative proposal: the elegant interior design, the ambient lighting of the rooms and the relaxing ambient music make the experience totally different every time and a reason to come to Fotografiska New York on every trip to the city.

Fotografiska New York often organizes events with live music and special exhibitions. You will enjoy the New York night in a very original way!

If you want to do something different during your trip to New York and see the skyline from the water without spending a penny, come to Pier 96 on the Hudson River near the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. From late May to October you can kayak and enjoy the scenery of Manhattan aboard one of these boats. The company offering this free activity is Manhattan Community Boathouse.

How to participate?

You don't have to make any kind of reservation, just go to the dock where the company operates and sign a waiver stating that you know how to swim. After storing your belongings in a locker, you will only have to be assigned a kayak and a paddle to dive into the water.

If it is the first time you do this sporting activity as it happened to me, do not worry because at each dock there are monitors who will teach you how to get in and paddle. In addition, they will give you a life jacket for safety.

The kayak tours on the Hudson River last 20 minutes but you will enjoy them a lot. The area where you can kayak is marked by buoys and you are not allowed to leave.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

Wear summer clothes, even a swimsuit if you have one. Swimming is not allowed but during the kayak ride you will get soaked. If you want to bring a change of clothes, there are often changing rooms in the area.