Cycling
Rent a bike from Metro Bicycles and explore every nook and cranny of midtown. Riding a bike is a good choice for visitors as it leaves no carbon footprint, is a way to combine sightseeing with a little exercise and is often much quicker than public transportation. Start by riding west from the store on 47th Street until reaching the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway on the Hudson River, a pedestrian and bike path. If new to the area, avoid pedaling through Times Square initially as it can be quite intimidating and is loaded with people. Fifth Aveune from 50th Street south offers views of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, the main branch of the New York Public Library and the Empire State Building. One important note: Bike theft is rampant in the city---even with locked bikes. Don't leave your bike unattended.
Metro Bicycles (Midtown Store)
360 West 47th St. at 9th Ave.
New York, NY 10036
(212) 581-4500
metrobicycles.com/47/47th.html
Bryant Park
After riding around the city on a bike all day, you may need to relax. Bryant Park is located right in the center of it all and is an appropriate place to spread a blanket on the lawn and enjoy a picnic while staring in awe at the skyscrapers that almost completely encircle the area. Back in the 1970s when Manhattan was a big, bad city, Bryant Park was a notoriously dangerous area. But these days the park serves as sort of oasis for visitors and all manner of residents, including suit-attired office workers on their lunch break. Landscaped to perfection, the park includes 300 feet of lawn, a surrounding promenade and multiple flowerbeds over which trees stand guard. Also, during the summer months, a large screen is erected and classic films in varying genres are shown. Arrive early if interested, as the film series is quite popular.
Bryant Park
500 Fifth Ave., Suite 1100
New York, NY 10110
(212) 768-4242
bryantpark.org/
The Naked Cowboy
Every tourist guidebook around will suggest that a show on Broadway is the perfect way to spend an evening in Manhattan. Though this may be true, there is a much cheaper way to be entertained that, though lacking the high production values of most stage productions, nonetheless is exciting in its own right. The Naked Cowboy is a large male with a raggedy mane of blond hair who belts out country tunes while wearing nothing but a pair of cowboy boots, cowboy hat and underwear. Laugh with glee as the Naked Cowboy looks you straight in the eye while strumming his guitar and croons Garth Brook's "If Tomorrow Never Comes." Regularly found in Times Square south of the TKTS tickets booth, the Naked Cowboy has become something of an institution in the area and has made numerous media appearances.
Naked Cowboy
Times Square, New York
nakedcowboy.com
