5 Little-Known Treasures in 5 NYC Boroughs

When she's not navigating the globe, writer and social do-gooder Sloane Davidson is navigating her own backyard — New York City's sprawling, five-borough nexus of history, design, nature, and culture. She shares five hidden gems that even some locals don't know about. 

NEW YORK CITY — I am a lifelong tourist. Anywhere and everywhere is an opportunity to learn and explore. From Manhattan and Brooklyn to Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx, there are obvious tourist spots and then the out-of-the-way places that are special and really worth it throughout New York City. From learning about past generations or spending time outdoors, I love to dig in and experience the places that lifers and tourists alike don’t know to have on their “must” list. Here are five of my favorites.

1. Manhattan: Merchant's House Museum

Merchant’s House Museum, formerly known as the Seabury Tredwell House, is the only 19th-century family home in New York City preserved both inside and out. This is an awesome snapshot of what life was like in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. The self-guided tour takes maybe 45 minutes, though you can linger longer by chatting up the front desk staffer. There are also ghost tours and live music events throughout the summer. The garden alone is worth the trip. Who knew such a beautiful one lay behind this house on East 4th Street? Bonus points if you can find the pie safe.

2. Queens: The Noguchi Museum

What a lovely slice of zen within Long Island City. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum was designed by the Japanese-American sculptor of the same name and opened on a limited basis to the public in 1985 with the purpose of preserving Noguchi’s sculptures, architectural models, stage designs, and drawings. Long Island City is exploding with development now, and I can’t imagine what it was like in the 1960s when Noguchi first started working and living here. The museum has a dozen spacious, stunning galleries. It's a great date spot.

3. Staten Island: Alice Austen House

Alice Austen was the original Humans of New York photographer. She discovered the camera as a child in the 1880s, when the craft was just enterting the world. Photography was certainly not an accepted profession for women, but Alice pushed forward, taking hundreds of photos of friends and life, not only in NYC but also across the country. Alice Austen House, where she lived and worked for a good portion of her life, is listed as one of the oldest homes in New York City. There are rotating photo exhibits in the house, events on the grounds, and gorgeous views of NYC from the lawn.

4. The Bronx: Wave Hill

So green! So lush! So quiet! Wave Hill is a 28-acre estate with two houses, public gardens, and a cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the estate includes music performances, workshops (beekeeping, botanicals), kid-friendly activities, and visual arts exhibits. Strolling the grounds is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

5. Brooklyn: Brooklyn Cyclones

Cyclones are the minor league baseball team affiliated with the New York Mets who play at MCU Park just off the Coney Island boardwalk. I know most people go to Coney Island to ride the Cyclone or eat Nathan's hot dogs, but baseball is the real find here. What a great way to pass an evening: Tickets are cheap (so is the food and the beer) and games are in an open-air stadium with a slight ocean breeze.

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