On a flying visit, sightseeing New York usually involves exploring some of the more iconic city landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. But if you have a bit more time, a little imagination, and you can stay out after dark, then heading underground in New York will open up entirely new world to you.

A Little Night Music

New York’s infamous jazz clubs have entertained locals and visitors since way back in the 1940s. Some of them have become household names and places like Birdland on West 44th Street and the Blue Note on West 3rd Street are the home away from home for many of the jazz movement’s most respected proponents. Sightseeing New York’s underground jazz clubs can reveal not only the better known names like those above, but also some hidden gems which many locals may prefer to keep secret. The true aficionado can seek out lots of smaller clubs on an underground tour of New York’s jazz scene, and it is possible to try a different venue nearly every night of the week. For a secret local’s tip, try Bills Place on West 133rd Street for an authentic taste of Harlem jazz sounds.

The Mysteries of the Sewers

Rumours abound about the alligators which may or may not live in the sewers which network under the streets of New York, but whether or not the stories are true, if you peer down into their murky depths it becomes a pretty believable tale. One of the theories is back in the 1930s, wealthy families brought back the animals from Florida as pets for the children and when they grew too large for comfort, flushed them down the toilets where they ended up in the sewers. On a diet of rats and rubbish, legend has it that these alligators grew to outlandish proportions and terrorised sewer workers for years. Over the years these tall tales have all but died out and it is very unlikely you will come across an alligator while sightseeing New York’s sewers. While there are no tours of the sewers in New York, it is generally accepted that many eccentrics or adventurous people regularly venture underground to explore the abandoned sections of the sewers. Strike up a conversation in a bar; you never know who you’re talking to. For a more comfortable way of learning more about the fascinating life beneath the sidewalks, read Jennifer Toth’s The Mole People or rent the movie Stag Night. Both are guaranteed to make you look at the sewers in a very different light…

Underground Art

If you never thought about sightseeing New York’s subway would be a worthwhile journey, then think again. Some of the city’s most exciting and accessible art is underground and New York’s Art for Transit program has succeeded in beautifying even the most dismal of stations in some amazingly original ways. Mosaics, installations and murals adorn many city stations and some of the very best are 81st Street, Houston Street stop, and the Atlantic/Pacific stop in Brooklyn. Buy an all day ticket and spend a cheap and cultural day out on the subway!

Author Bio: Marta Sanders-Cooper is the New York Destination Expert for Shorex, specialising in unique and unmissable, expert-led tours & excursions in major cities around the world, for the best in city sightseeing. New York tours are custom made and constructed from an extensive menu of activities, attractions and excursions, many of which are unique to Shorex.com.

Category: Travel
Keywords: sightseeing. New York