Alternative NYC

In May we spent a wonderful week in New York City. It was our second time visiting and it was so great to get a chance to do things that were off the beaten path and not necessarily on the usual tourist lists. No long queues, no bustling attractions. We got to try some amazing food, see the city as a local would and just absorb and enjoy the amazing energy.

Here are some things that we did that I recommend you try out on a visit to NYC, which are alternatives to the regular tourist attractions.

While I highly recommend seeing a show on Broadway, I also strongly suggest seeing some interactive theatre like Sleep No More. It is based on Macbeth, set in the prohibition era and the location is the eerie Mckittrick Hotel in Soho. Grab an absinthe cocktail to give you some liquid courage and chase actors up and down staircases, and in and out of scene in graveyards and ballrooms. Warning: a fair amount of nudity and intense situations - but entirely worth opening your mind and experiencing the New York theatre scene at its best.

Gotham Comedy Club was a great discovery. You get to see some amazing comics and writers at work. We left with aching jaws and bellies from laughing so hard. We saw the Late Night Writers Review which featured the top writers from a few of the Late Night shows. These guys and girls write and work with the likes of Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, Seth Myers and one of them was newly appointed at our own Trevor Noah's new gig!

Grab a bike near South Street Seaport and bike across Brooklyn bridge. The bike lane is less crowded than the pedestrian side, and you get across quicker. The bridge is much longer than you'd think. We did about 4 hours and would our way through Brooklyn Heights, to along the waterfront and all the way back to Williamsburg for the SmorgasBurg food market. If you love queuing for food, by all means, stay here - but I really can;t handle the idea of a 45 minute queue for a burger on a bed of noodles, so head back to South Street Seaport where they have a couple of the most popular stands at Smorgasbord, with hardly any queue. There you can sample the famous lobster rolls and ramen burgers and craft beer to your hearts content without it taking 3 hours of precious NYC sightseeing time.

Pack your running gear and go for a trot through Central Park. This was a highlight for us this time and we tried to at least walk through the park daily. Stop in at Whole Foods on Columbus Circle and buy a few things to make up a picnic. It'll be one of the most romantic and beautiful afternoons you could spend in New York.

Many folks go to the Metropolitan Museum for the art and fantastic exhibits. I went for the bookstore - and one section of the bookstore in particular. The fashion section. They have the largest collection of books on fashion that I've ever seen and I spent a god two hours looking at them. If you love fashion and its history, I highly recommend you spend some time here.

Find a rooftop bar and go have a drink. You won't find a more beautiful cityscape to watch, and nothing will make you feel as cool as a drink on a rooftop bar in New York City will. We loved the one at our hotel - Hudson Hotel.

Head on down to Union Squre and peruse the farmers market and watch the people playing intense games of chess. It makes for a relaxing afternoon in a busy city. You'll sample some amazing food and coffee too!

Check out the Highline urban park. It is an old subway/train line that has been converted into an inner-city park. It is lined with beautiful gardens, art installations and beautiful places to sit and read, or just enjoy watching the people, the gardens or the surrounding cityscape. Blue Bottle coffee has a mobile stand in the park so you're even able to get some of the best coffee in NYC while you're there.

One thing we wanted to do, but sadly did't get around to, is get a caricature drawn in Central Park. It is super cheesy, but I'd love to have one of the two of us on our wall at home. What we did enjoy doing was watch a baseball game while inhaling pretzels and ice cream. They have a double peanut butter Magnum flavour in the states and it is everything you ever wanted out of an ice cream.

Get on the train to Coney Island. As a Capetonian, I wasn't impressed by the beach. Its hideous actually. But the boardwalk, the theme parks and them park food made it great for a half-day trip out of the city.

Lastly, go and people watch in Washington Square Park. There is always some kind of live music or art exhibit to go and enjoy. We found one where they invited passers by to submit a secret anonymously and they had some posted on a wall to read. I was completely absorbed by it. I could have read those secrets for days. Stumptown Coffee is right around the corner so you can pick up the best cappuccino in New York on your way to the park. People watching is always best accompanied by caffeine and pastries.

Writing this makes me want to go back and do it all again. If you've been, what were your favourite things to do in New York City?