Schooner & Yacht Cruises-best touristy thing ever for New Yorkers as well as visitors!

BEST OF THE BEST: Classic Harbor Line schooners.
When I had visitors a couple of years ago, I decided to take them on a cruise with Classic Harbor tours. I'd seen their schooner "Adirondack" docked in the Battery Park Piers and always wanted to try it out...visitors are great excuses to do the touristy things you've always wanted to do! It was without a doubt one of the MOST fun things I have ever done in NYC and I highly recommend it as a first choice for a non-traditional tourist experience. On the schooner tour, once they raised the sails, it was a thrilling experience...made more so by coming incredibly close to the Statue of Liberty. CHL docks now at Chelsea Piers, and you have a choice of a schooner trip (Adirondack or Imagine-about $44) or a the "luxury yacht"Manhattan (about $85)--which I haven't tried but might be a better choice for seniors (the schooners can get fast AND tippy AND seating can be tight), and if you're afraid you'll be rained out (the yacht has an inside space, of course). Classic Harbor offers specialized tours on the schooners (sunset, city lights)--and the yacht has special themed food-themed tours like brunch or Chelsea Market--on the weekend. Classic Harbor Line receives rave reviews on zerve.com. I can't imagine anyone not liking it--best choice if you do one touristy thing in the city.

The New York Historical Society-little gems

(NOTE: The NYHS will be closed until Sept., due to renovations, starting July 12th...so RUN don't walk to these exhibitions if you are in NY right now!) A trip to The New-York Historical Society yielded yet another transcendent experience--which may sound a bit hyperbolic for a small museum that attracts relatively few visitors. But every time I go there I find something surprising. This time I went for the Harlem photo exhibition, which turned out to be more documentary than art. But upstairs were two lush, delightful painting exhibitions: "New York Painting Begins: 18th Century Portraits," and "Nature and the American Vision: The Hudson River School."Beautifully presented against dark blue walls (LOVE when museums think about the presentation in this way--I felt like I was in an 18th century parlor), they had 6 children's portraits that were especially unusual and vibrant. The Hudson River exhibit had some lovely paintings from lesser known painters (to me anyway) as well as Thomas Cole (him I know of!).
And there was a moving Lincoln "In His Own Words" display, with examples of Lincoln letters, notes and documents, that gave me chills. When I read the Emancipation Proclamation with his signature, it was a revelation. I suddenly understood the courage and inner strength it took to take this step. I was moved by the content--but also understood for the first time the personal weight of his decision. And a simple letter he wrote to a friend of his son who was not accepted at Harvard, filled with encouragement and exhortation to never give up, was inspiring (the friend was accepted at Yale). It revealed a kindness and positiveness I wish more politicians had.
They also have cool events here for kids (otherwise the museum is not particularly interesting for kids)--July 4th there will be an event with actors portraying Ben Franklin, etc, and Revolutionary War re-enactors.
INFO (CLOSED FROM JULY 12, 2009-Sept. 2009!!): The New-York Historical Society is located at 170 Central Park West between 76th & 77th Street.Tel. (212) 873-3400. Subway: B or C to 81st Street. 1,2, or 3 to 72nd & Broadway or 1 to 79th and B'way. Bus: M10 to 77th Street; M79 to 81st Street and Central Park West. Public parking garages are located at 203 West 77th Street, 207 76th Street and 201 West 75th Street, all between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.

Hours

Tuesday - Thursday:	10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday:	10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Pay what you wish for admission between 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Saturday:	10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday:	11:00 AM - 5:45 PM
Monday:	CLOSED

New York Botanical Garden-250 acres of beauty and peace

I've spent some lovely times here. A wonderful place to get some peace from the busy-ness of the city, though it takes some effort to get here. Take a blanket and a book and relax on one of the hills between the pines not far from the entrance and the outdoor cafe (though you are only supposed to picnic on the tables by the Children's Adventure Garden).
Especially interesting is the 50 acre native forest, with many paths, and a lot of solitude. If you have hard time getting around, they have a hop-on hop-off tram as well.
Additionally they are open now some evenings. At Christmas they have a wonderful model train landscape that is made from all-natural materials--truly amazing, although you need to buy tickets ahead of time, generally, and it is a long wait even then to get in (at least it was for us). So be cautious about bringing young children as it can be a wait.
They have a decent cafe with outdoor and indoor tables near the entrance, and another cafe further inside the garden. It's a nice place to wait with a book if you get tired, and your companions want to do EVERYTHING...;)
This is fairly easy to get to by Metro-North--much more difficult by public transportation, where you have to take a long subway ride and then wait for a bus (or walk 8 blocks) in a not-so-great neighborhood to get you to the entrance. Spend the extra few dollars for the train from Grand Central. Oh, and by the way, when coming back by train, MAKE SURE you are on the right track going in the right direction! They change tracks occasionally and it can be confusing. Check the electronic board and/or ask your fellow passengers to make sure you are going to NYC and not upstate before you board! :

TO THE GARDEN BY METRO-NORTH-GRAND CENTRAL
By Metro-North Railroad: Round-trip tickets can be bought before boarding. Take the Metro-North Harlem local line to Botanical Garden Station. Walk across Kazimiroff Boulevard to the Garden's Mosholu Gate entrance.
Just 20 minutes from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan
Also convenient from other locations
HOURS
The Garden is open year-round, Tuesday to Sunday,10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Garden is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Mondays, except for the following dates:

• September 7, Labor Day: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• October 12, Columbus Day: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.