Kayak at the Downtown Boathouse. Stand on the fast-moving line for free kayaking on weekends and weekday evenings. Choose from the numerous, brightly colored kayaks, and race around a bordered area while enjoying the New Jersey and New York landscapes. Check the schedule and restrictions at Downtownboathouse.org.
Book a guided tour. Visit the Municipal Art Society, at 457 Madison Ave., for free tours of New York's historic neighborhoods. Or grab an insider's look at Manhattan with a New York resident by asking Big Apple Greeter to pair you with a friendly volunteer New Yorker who will share the best of the city from a local's perspective (see Resources).
Attend a world-class classical, opera, theater or jazz performance in one of the city's parks. Line up early at Central Park's Delacorte Theater, at 81 Central Park W., to snag free tickets to the Shakespeare in the Park performances. Or watch musicians in action at the Studio Museum in Harlem, at 144 W. 125th St.---free the first Saturday every month. Club freeTime keeps an updated list of free performances on its website (see Resources).
Visit New York's top art museums. Marvel at some of the world's best contemporary art at the Museum of Modern Art, at 11 W. 53rd St., which offers free admission on Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m. Head to the Whitney Museum of American Art, at 945 Madison Ave., every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., or stop by the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, at 2 E. 91st St., on Tuesday evenings for free admission.
Climb aboard the free Staten Island Ferry for an unforgettable view of the Manhattan skyline. As an added bonus, the ship's route offers views of the Statue of Liberty. Log on to the New York City government website (see Resources) for departure and arrival information. Ferry trip time is approximately 25 minutes.
