Classes are finally over and finals are winding down, freedom has arrived! Or has it? We all aspire to have the best times of our live over break, but lets face it, we're college students, and generally that means we cry every time we look at our bank accounts.
But there's a way to avoid staying in bed for a month staring at social media as everyone else lives their lives or binge-watching "Orange Is The New Black", which I still recommend you do!
But one of the great benefits of living in or near New York City, is that you don't always need a lot of cash to have fun. There are many cost effective and sometimes free things to do right under our noses.
1. Visit a Museum
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Museums may sound like a boring alternative, but why not stimulate our minds for a few days over break? We pay thousands of dollars in tuition, why lose everything we learned in a month. Museums can be a fun way to stimulate our minds without having to study or listen to long lectures. There are many museums in NYC that are free every day, and many more that are free in select days. Browse a full list of free museums.
2. Attend A Television Show Taping
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One of the great benefits of being in New York City is that there is entertainment all around us. Thankfully, there are quite of few free options for those of us who can''t always attend a broadway show. Many television shows that tape in NYC often offer free tickets for audience members. Most shows tape daily and some tape weekly. All you have to do is search television tapings in NYC and you'll find a plethora of results.
While some shows offer free tickets, others simply have a line. But why not try it, it's worth the chance to possibly be on television!
3. Take A Tram From Roosevelt Island
You don't have to pay top dollar to go to the top of a building in an observatory tower to see the NYC Skyline. All you have to do is get a metro-card, take the F train to Roosevelt Island, and use another swipe on your metro-card to take the Roosevelt Island Tram. The tram takes on an approximately five minute ride from Roosevelt Island to 59th Street & Second Avenue. It may be a short ride, but the outstanding views and cheap fare makes it worth while.
4. Go Sledding In An NYC Park
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If we're luck enough to get a few inches of snowfall while we're on break, as much as sitting inside with a cup of hot chocolate sounds great, I think it'll be better if you take the opportunity and go sledding in an NYC Park. It's completely legal and free to go sledding in an NYC Park in all of the five boroughs. Here's a list of popular sledding spots throughout the city.
5. Time To Bring Out Those Ice Skates
One of the other great things that you can do in most NYC Parks is ice-skating. While it may not be free, to skate costs no more than $12. Grab some friends and take advantage of this affordable activity that you can do with as many people as you like for as long as you like. Here, you will be able to find various parks throughout the five boroughs with ice-skating rinks.
6. Get Active
While we're on break lets try to stay active, or if you're like me, lets start to get active. Shape UP NYC offers free fitness classes at a plethora of locations in all five boroughs. This is a free fitness program that requires no membership and no commitment. Why not grab a few friends and get active together. Find a class near you and time that works for you here.
So you see, we all don't have to be bored out of our minds for the next month. Even with our small budgets, there is still so much we can do!
