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Visiting NY On a Budget

29 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by in Tips & Tricks, Travel Destinations

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New York City is one of those places that many people dream about visiting. It can also be a very expensive place to visit, leading many to put off those dreams. The good news? It’s totally possible to visit NYC on the cheap, especially if you happen to be traveling by RV.

I have had the pleasure of visiting the Big Apple two times since we started traveling seven years ago. The first time was with my husband and son a few years back; my second visit was a last-minute trip with my son, my mom, and a few other family members. We had to stick to a small budget both times, and both times we had an absolute blast.

Below are my tips for visiting New York City without breaking the bank.

What to Do in NYC on the Cheap

First, let’s discuss what to do in NYC without spending much money. Believe it or not, there are actually a number of free and cheap things to do in New York City. The options below are a few of our favorites.

Walk Times Square

No visit to New York City is complete without checking out Times Square. While the bustling area does get overwhelming quickly (you’ll definitely want to keep the kids close and have a plan in case you get separated from your party), the sights and sounds are like nothing we’ve seen anywhere else in the country.

There are tons of stores in this part of the city, and food carts and restaurants are around every corner. Be sure to take a minute to look up at the many lights and moving advertisements. If you have kids with you, stop in at the M&M store, the LEGO Store, and the huge Disney Store.

Ride the Staten Island Ferry

Of course, you will want to see the Statue of Liberty. It’s practically the law. The thing is, tickets to go to Ellis Island are not cheap. Instead, we rode the free Staten Island Ferry. This ferry takes passengers right past the Statue of Liberty, providing a great view, fantastic photo opportunities, and some free fun in NYC.

Visit Museums on the Cheap

Everyone knows that New York City is full of great museums. What many don’t know is that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to check them out.

Most museum reciprocal programs include free or discounted admission to at least a few NYC museums. ASTC alone includes the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the National Museum of Mathematics, the New York Transit Museum, the Staten Island Children’s Museum, and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Additionally, many museums are always free, while some others will occasionally offer free days, pay-what-you-wish days, or discount days. A few examples include…

  • The American Folk Art Museum and the Bronx Museum of the Arts, are always free.
  • The Jewish Museum, which is free on Saturdays.
  • The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), is free from 4pm–8pm on the first Friday of every month.

Check Out Shakespeare in the Park

Both times I’ve been to New York, I’ve splurged on tickets to a Broadway show. I don’t regret this at all, and I 100% recommend seeing a show on Broadway if you are a fan of theater and you have the funds.

That said, if you’re short on cash or just don’t want to shell out money for a $100 ticket, there is another option. Every summer, there is Shakespeare in the Park productions in Central Park. These are free to see, but you do still need a ticket and they go fast, so be sure to snag one.

Stroll and Play in Central Park

Speaking of Central Park, this famous sprawling urban park is the perfect place to spend an afternoon, particularly if you have kids with you. The park is home to a huge number of playgrounds as well as plenty of walking paths, Turtle Pond, free concerts, the aforementioned Shakespeare in the Park, and more.

Head to the Beach

Many people forget that NYC does have beaches. These are open for swimming on Memorial Day through early September, and lifeguards are on duty from 10am–6pm. The beaches are sandy, sunny, and each one has its own unique personality. They are the perfect place to relax on a hot summer day.

Visit the 9/11 Memorial

To be perfectly honest, I still haven’t made it to see the 9/11 Memorial. It just feels like a really heavy thing to take kids to see on vacation. That said, I know it would be an excellent educational opportunity and it is on my short list of things to see next time we find ourselves in the big city.

The memorial is free to the public and an audio guide app is available for those who’d like a guided tour of the place. There is a museum as well, but there is an admission fee to visit the museum and tickets must be booked in advance.

Tour Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Finally, I must mention the Hamilton Grange National Memorial. If I had known this existed during our most recent visit, I definitely would have wrapped it into our trip, as it would have been the perfect spot to visit after seeing Hamilton on Broadway.

This national memorial is located in St. Nicholas Park in Manhattan. Here, guests can tour the relocated home of Alexander Hamilton. You do need to book tour tickets in advance, but they are free.

Where to Stay

Okay, so there are a lot of free and inexpensive things to do in New York City. Unfortunately, inexpensive places to stay are a bit harder to find. That said, RV camping makes finding inexpensive lodging a bit easier, and camping in NYC does exist. Here’s where to look.

Camp Gateway – Brooklyn (Floyd Bennett Field)

Floyd Bennett Field is where we stayed the first time we visited NYC. We were fairly new to towing our trailer and were a bit freaked out pulling it through Brooklyn, but we made it just fine and the awesome location made the scary drive worthwhile.

The park is located right by a bus stop and you can see some of the city across the water. When we stayed, the park offered dry camping only, but the cost was insanely low and there were bathhouses available, so we were happy.

Unfortunately, this campground didn’t open for the 2022 season, but there has been talk of it reopening with more amenities in the future!

Cheesequake State Park

My next pick for RV camping near NYC on the cheap is Cheesequake State Park in New Jersey. This campground is relatively inexpensive and is located just outside of the city, so taking a train to see the sights is super easy. I should mention that the park only offers dry camping and it does have an 11-foot height restriction, so taller fifth wheels and motorhomes might have a problem getting in.

Liberty Harbor RV Park

Lastly, there is Liberty Harbor RV Park. Honestly, this park is far from cheap, but it is cheaper than a hotel room in the city. The park does have water and electricity at its sites, and you won’t have to worry about height restrictions. The campground is right outside of the city and public transportation is just a short walk away, meaning the sights and sounds of NYC can be reached in minutes.

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

David P. ~ “I had to use the Coach-Net system for a coach jack problem. Pat helped me resolve the issue.  He was very helpful and I was able to continue my journey. This was the first time I had to use it and it worked out great. When the time to renew, I most definitely will.  Thanks again for the help.”

Four Great Southwest Astronomy Destinations for RVers

18 Thursday Oct 2018

Posted by in The Great Outdoors, Travel Destinations

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Milky Way

If you’ve ever looked up at the night sky and wondered about what you’re seeing, it’s not hard to find the answers by taking a road trip to the dark skies of the Southwest. Just go RVing in New Mexico or Arizona and you’ll have access to some of the most fascinating ways to learn all about the galaxies. These four stargazing destinations barely scratch the surface.

Four Great Southwest Astronomy Destinations for RVers

As one of the first U.S. states to enact a law protecting the darkness of night skies, New Mexico is a world-class stargazing destination any time of year. Although winter nights can be chilly, it’s never too cold to explore more about the stars and planets at places like:

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Very Large Array (VLA).  Located two hours south of Albuquerque and 50 miles west of Socorro, the VLA’s giant antennae were made famous in the 1990s sci-fi movie “Contact.” As the most advanced, widely used radio telescope in the world, the VLA does everything from track robotic spacecrafts to map large-scale structure of gas and molecular clouds, to pinpointing ejections of plasma from super massive black holes. The 28 25-meter dishes are hard to miss on the horizon and the best part is, you can tour the VLA on the first and third Saturday of every month with a working astronomer. Should you arrive any other day, the VLA grounds are open for self-guided tours throughout the rest of the year.

VLA

 

After the VLA head to The Cosmic Campground. You’ll need warm clothes and night sky-friendly stargazing gear in this campground created just for stargazers near the remote outpost of Alma. The small town north of Silver City is the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the Northern Hemisphere and the campground attracts astronomy buffs year-round. Situated at 5,318-feet altitude, the Cosmic Campground is the perfect boon-docking spot for a 360-degree view of the setting sun. Moments after darkness begins, you’ll revel in the country’s darkest starry nights where dazzling displays of the cosmos explode overhead. Camping is RV-friendly and easily accessible on a one-mile gravel road off Highway 180.

Since you’re already traveling in the far southwest reaches of New Mexico, why not make time for an extended road trip to Southern Arizona? You’ll find more opportunities just over the border that will grow your inner RV geek astronomer. Two great destinations for snowbirds are located in Tucson, one of the world’s first dark sky cities.

First, be sure to leave the RV at any of Tucson’s many highly rated snowbird RV parks. Tucson’s observatories are located high above the city lights and it’s easier to get there without a large vehicle. Start with a 56-mile trip west of Tucson to the Kitt Peak National Observatory, where you’ll drive to the peak of the 6,000-foot mountaintop on the Tohono O’odham Nation land and get treated to unforgettable views of the sky and earth. If you arrive during daytime hours you can take guided tours of the facility, including live views of the sun and astronomy exhibits. For in-depth views of the galaxies, plan on attending a nighttime star party with a fascinating program exploring planets, nebulae, galaxies, star nurseries, and other celestial bodies.

Mount Lemmon Telescope

You’ll want to stay a while in Tucson to check out the other great astronomy destination, the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter, which sits on U.S. Forest Service land at an elevation of 9,157 feet above the city. The SkyCenter gives astronomy geeks access to the Schulman 32″ inch and the Phillips 24″ telescopes, which are are two of the largest telescopes available for public use in the Southwest. Programs range from day tours with solar viewings, to nighttime star parties for hearty souls willing to tolerate chilly alpine temperatures for a chance to see the heavens. Private star parties can be arranged for groups of any size, and advance reservations are required for all programs, so book ahead of your planned visit.

RVing in the Southwest offers lots to do but especially during winter. Arizona and New Mexico’s world-class astronomy destinations are one of the best ways to understand the skies above for more meaningful RV adventures down here on earth.

 

– by Rene Agredano

About the Author:

Rene Agredano, a Coach-Net member since 2015, is a self-employed full-time RVer who enjoys writing, jewelry design and animal advocacy. Her adventures with a three-legged dog and husband Jim are chronicled at LiveWorkDream.com

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Carol C. ~ “As RV ‘newbies’ we had a learning moment when, after enjoying our evening campfire, we discovered we had inadvertently locked ourselves out of our Class C with our keys and cell phones inside! And it is 9:30pm! We contacted Coach-net (using Camp Host’s phone) and Taylor was very friendly, professional, and reassuring that we would be back in our RV as quickly as possible. She began her search for a 24 hour locksmith in our area, and promised to contact us in 20 minutes to update us. She did call us in 20 minutes but was still searching for someone willing to come to State Park Campground that late at night. Five minutes later, she called to let us know she had found someone and he would be there within 45 minutes. Five minutes later, the locksmith called to let us know he was on his way and would be there in 20 minutes. He arrived, got us into our RV, and was very knowledgeable and friendly. So glad we have Coach-Net! We learned two valuable lessons: 1) keep extra key hidden outside somewhere, and 2) keep Coach-Net as our roadside assistance provider!”

Our National Parks: Places to Learn 

12 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by in National Parks, Travel Destinations

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GettysburgIt seems that no matter how many times we visit national parks we learn something new.  And Gettysburg National Military Park is a good example. Our second visit here, and four ranger-led walks and talks later, we develop a new appreciation and understanding for what went on in this battlefield to end all battlefields.Gettysburg Park Ranger

  1. First up, we learn that the battle for Little Round Top was critical to the Union victory. (Maybe not so, we find out another day, from another ranger.)
  2. Then we learned about the field hospitals, and the awful – the worst imaginable – conditions under which men were butchered in attempts to save their lives. (Germ protocol was an idea that came much later. “Surgeons” cut off limbs, then wiped their tools on their sleeves, and move on to the next poor soldier.)
  3. Then at a campfire gathering, we learn what the townspeople went through, as their farms were littered with tens of thousands of bodies of men and horses…the stench so bad…well, you need to go to hear about it.
  4. And it is something to look a mile and a half away and realize that cannons could hurl their destruction that far, and with a good degree of accuracy. Cannon balls and lethal doses of oversized shotgun shells that vaporized men and horses alike.Gettysburg Cannon

We came away knowing that peace is better than war. That the rolling countryside has taken years to restore to look somewhat like what was there in 1863. And, that today, Gettysburg is a heart-rendering place of pastoral beauty.

The endless monuments commemorating troops, battles, divisions, states  is a lot to take in. Yet at the same time, these structures honoring men who fought bravely for what they believe in add to the sense of peace and honor.Gettysburg Monument

Gettysburg: a reminder of the value of our national parks in the year of their hundredth anniversary.

 

About the author:

Rob and his wife Jan have been full-timing for the last two years.  Following a lengthy career in marketing and leadership consulting, Rob got the RV bug when in 2010 he secured a sponsored trip to visit 50 national parks over seven months in an Airstream Interstate Class B motorhome. He and Jan lived in the Airstream Interstate for the entire trip.

Taking over 12,000 photos on that 35,000 mile trek set the hook for both RVing and photography. Since concluding the 50 park adventure, Rob’s been an artist-in-residence at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (2012) and Rocky Mountain National Park (2013.) In 2015 he and his wife spent six weeks on the Oregon Coast and in the Columbia Gorge capturing images for the Oregon State Parks.

This year, their plans are taking them up through Shenandoah, Gettysburg, the Catskills, White Mountain and Acadia on the way to spending the month of September in the Canadian Maritime provinces.

You can see Rob’s work at:

http://www.trilliumgallery.com/rob-wilson.html

https://www.facebook.com/RobWilsonSanctuaryPhotos/

http://fineartamerica.com/art/rob+wilson


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Aww Shucks!Adam H. ~“We had a tire blowout.  I want to thank the staff at Coach-Net for their quick response in finding an excellent tire shop with the correct size and brand very quickly. Communication with Coach-Net, the tire shop and us was excellent.  A bad day turned out pretty well as we were back on the road very quickly thanks to your help!”