NEW YORK CITY’S Underrated Gems

A guide to New York City’s lesser-known Gems

So many travelers to New York City come for the iconic attractions: the Empire State Building, the Guggenheim, Central Park, Times Square, Broadway, and the Statue of Liberty. And sure, these spots are iconic for a reason—they’re tried-and-true ways to experience New York’s pulse and thrill. But step off the beaten path and you’ll be rewarded for your creativity with unique experiences, smaller crowds, and a chance to see a different side of New York that fewer people tap into. These gems are slightly off the beaten path but still offer a fantastic way to feel a part of it all, learn some history, and maybe even feel slightly less crushed by the throngs of tourists.

New York Transit Museum

The name says it all. This museum is dedicated to the engineering wonder that is the New York subway system. The museum sits in a former subway station, underground, and is more than just a spot for train nerds to hang out. Check out vintage subway cars and turnstiles, plus a collection of mosaics that once decorated the stations. And learn the fascinating history of the subway.

Museum of the Moving Image

This thoroughly entertaining museum is dedicated to all things screenbased—from movies to television to video games. There are a slew of interactive exhibits, art, artifacts, and video sequences, all designed to inform and entertain. You can learn the technological aspects of filmmaking, watch demonstrations from working editors and animators, play throwback video games, catch a film, and more. It’s also a great spot for families traveling with kids.

Cooper Hewitt

National Design Museum

This museum is the design arm of the Smithsonian Institute, so you know it has serious museum chops. The Cooper Hewitt explores “the impact of design on everyday life,” with fascinating and interactive exhibits. The whole thing sits in a mansion built by Andrew Carnegie, and holds a collection of ever-rotating exhibits. The one constant with every visit is that ticketholders receive a stylus to carry throughout the visit, visitors can save what they’ve seen and interacted with to view later at home, via customized (and private) personal URL. Arthur Avenue

Skip Manhattan’s Little Italy—it’s no longer the real deal. Instead, hop a train and head to the Bronx, where Arthur Avenue has held its own as a hub of Italian restaurants, markets, and bakeries since the late 1800s. There are scores of outstanding restaurants here—it’s hard to go wrong.

Roosevelt Island Tram

Yes, the ride is just four minutes long, but the Roosevelt Island Tram is worth the ride. The tram floats

above the East River and the Queensboro Bridge, offering incredible city views—and the occasional peep into the apartments on the island. While you’re in the area, you can tack on a visit to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, a tribute to the president and a lovely spot to take in more views of the Manhattan skyline. Greenmarket

Rub elbows with locals at the Greenmarket, held Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in Union Square Park. The market is packed with around 100 vendors selling local produce, wine, flowers, cheese, and even rooftop honey. You can shop and sample at your leisure.

P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center

Set in a former public school, this quirky art museum is a memorable place to spend a few hours. The ever-changing art exhibits are as bizarre and avant-garde as they come, with around 14 art installations set in unexpected places (like the basement boiler room). On summer weekends, there are “beach parties” with sand, DJs, food, and games.

FALL for Lakeville, Minnesota

Explore the Outdoors

Known for its picturesque beauty, Lakeville, Minnesota, has long been a destination for enjoying an abundance of outdoor activities. With fall’s tapestry of brilliantly changing colors dotted with scenic lakes and parks, it is an outdoor adventurer’s dream come true.

Whether hitting the links, peddling around the lakes, casting a line, or simply enjoying the sights and sounds of the open air, Lakeville presents opportunities for every nature-lover.

Adventures Await

Family adventurers and sports enthusiasts enjoy loads of recreational activities on the lakes and swimming beaches, parks and picnic areas, as well as greenways and trails. For a truly adventurous outing, try hurling axes or challenge your friends to a paintball fight.

Home to 120 paved miles of bike and pedestrian trails, there are unlimited possibilities for your next outdoor adventure. Whether cruising for cardio or out for a relaxing ride, you can experience Lakeville on their extensive trail system. For the thrill-seekers, the West Lake Marion Park Mountain Bike Trail offers five miles of off-road awesomeness. Biking enthusiasts helped design the trail’s multiple switchbacks, berms and rollers. If meandering is more your style, enjoy the six-mile loop in Ritter Farm Park’s 340 acres of natural prairie grasses and woodlands, or stroll Juno Trail walkway for panoramic views of Lake Marion. Fido can roam free on five acres of doggy goodness at Ritter Farm’s Dog Park.

The grass is always greener in Lakeville. With a dozen options, there’s no shortage of beautiful public golf courses! Whether you consider yourself a champion player, an occasional golfer, or a mini-golf fan, you’ll find hundreds of fairways within a 15-mile radius.

Families love fall’s memorable experiences here in Lakeville. Harvest season activities include apple picking, trips to pumpkin patches, hayrides and corn mazes. In addition, attend the farmers markets and orchards to pick up honey, jams, maple syrup, caramel apples and yummy baked goods.

Festival Goers

Lakeville will soon be alive with festivals. Held in late August, the Taste of Lakeville is a celebration of the senses. This annual event offers adults the opportunity to sample, taste, sip and devour local culinary treats, wine and spirits while enjoying live entertainment.

Are the arts and culture more your thing? Scheduled for the third weekend of September, the annual Lakeville Arts Festival boasts 100 juried artists showcasing paintings, jewelry, ceramics, glass, sculpture and photography. Located on the park-like grounds of the Lakeville Area Arts Center, attendees enjoy fine art, food, drink, live music, demonstrations and the ArtWalk.

Palate Pleasers

Home to 90 area restaurants, 30 independently owned, you will find plenty of delectable food choices to satisfy every palate. So, what sounds good - a juicy burger, fresh farm-to-table entree, gourmet steak, savory seafood, or spicy ethnic cuisine? For your insatiable sweet tooth try an ice cream bubble waffle cone creation, gluten-free goody or gourmet cupcake. With so many eateries around town, there is a place to fill all your foodie cravings.

With a blend of the small-town atmosphere and modern-day amenities, Lakeville’s walkable historic downtown is bustling with unique businesses, breweries, entertainment, arts, and outdoor patio eateries to enjoy the crisp Autumn air! If nightlife is more your scene, attend a foot-tapping outdoor gathering or intimate indoor music event that occur nearly every weekend. Getting Here

As the southern gateway to the Twin Cities, Lakeville is conveniently located at Interstate 35, just 13 miles south of the world-famous Mall of America and MSP International Airport. With six hotels and an abundance of activities, Lakeville offers more vacation for your money!

VisitLakeville.org to start planning your next adventure.

FALL for Lakeville, Minnesota

adventure awaits in LOS ALAMOS

Los Alamos, New Mexico is the gateway to three national parks – Bandelier National Monument, Valles Caldera National Preserve and Manhattan Project National Historical Park. Los Alamos is also home to more than 150 trails with easy access right from town. Most people are unaware that Los Alamos is on the side of a volcano surrounded by five finger mesas. There are 360-degree views. It’s the perfect place to escape. If you love outdoor adventures, Los Alamos is your next destination. It is affordable, with smalltown charm and world-class amenities.

Our three national parks are unlike any others. At Bandelier National Monument, one of the National Park Service’s oldest sites (1916), you will find Ancestral Pueblo dwellings scattered across a landscape of broad mesas and steep-walled canyons that provide habitat for a diversity of plant and animal life. The main loop trail (1.2 mile loop) in Frijoles Canyon provides easy access (partially handicapped accessible) to the remains of these ancient homes. Like past inhabitants, you can climb ladders into several of the small carved rooms (caveats). A more challenging climb can be found at Alcove House where Ancestral Pueblo people built homes in a natural recess in the cliff face. Four ladders and a number of stone stairs are required to make the 140-foot ascent. Although best known for archeological sites, Bandelier also includes 23,000 acres of designated wilderness. Over 70 miles of trails vary in difficulty from easy footpaths good for the whole family to more challenging ones best for experienced hikers. Permits for overnight stays in Bandelier’s backcountry are available at the Bandelier Visitor Center. There are 57 camp sites at Juniper campground (can accommodate RVs, but not hookups).

Among the newest additions to the National Park System, the 89,000acre Valles Caldera National Preserve encompasses a dormant volcano that possesses exceptional value in illustrating and interpreting massive explosive volcanic eruptions, caldera formation, and the functioning of active geothermal systems. Its distinct topographic mosaic of expansive valley meadows, or valles (va-yes) in Spanish, lush forested volcanic domes, meandering valley streams, and old growth Ponderosa pine groves are in striking contrast to the arid New Mexico landscape at lower elevations.

Recreational activities include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, scenic drives, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Valles Caldera National Preserve enchants visitors with its stunning natural beauty and rich human history. At this time Valles Caldera does not have any established campgrounds or backcountry camping permits available. Visitor services are limited. Please come prepared with food, water and other essentials.

Manhattan Project National His-

torical Park tells the story about the people, events, science, and engineering that led to the creation of the atomic bomb, which helped end World War II. For over a decade, the Department of Energy and National Park Service, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, state and local governments, and other stakeholders, pursued the possibility of including the Department’s most significant Manhattan Project properties within a Manhattan Project National Historical Park. After numerous studies and several draft bills, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015, which included provisions authorizing the Park to be located at three sites: Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Hanford, Washington; and Los Alamos, New Mexico.

It’s easy to get to Los Alamos. By air, visitors can fly to Santa Fe or Albuquerque and make the short drive to Los Alamos. We are approximately 40 minutes from Santa Fe and 1 ½ hours from Albuquerque. It is a great place to base your visit to north central New Mexico. For more information, and to book your trip, go to VisitLosAlamos.org

Play in Pontiac

Play in Pontiac and experience year-round fun! Enjoy our Rockin’ at the River concert series; fall fairs; summer festivals and Hometown Holiday Christmas events; ice skating; farmers markets; car shows and cruise nights; historic home tours; dining el fresco; farm to table meals; old-time bakery; specialty coffees and wine tasting; unique shopping; summer plays; movie theater and our crown jewel - The Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center. The Eagle offers dinner theater, concerts, receptions and other special events.

Calling all artist and art lovers – downtown Pontiac will quickly become your new happy place! Pontiac has over 25 large, colorful, outdoor murals created by a talented group of artists known as the Walldogs. Simply follow the red footprints from mural to mural for a walking tour with nostalgic charm! Our collection of miniature art cars is scattered around the downtown sidewalks – each one created by a local artist or art group - great for photo opps! The Pontiac Community Art Center is a studio, teaching space, gallery, and retail sales outlet for locally produced works. Pontiac is also home to The Museum of Gilding Arts. Created by the International Society of Gilders, the museum focuses on the history, craft and art of using precious metal in design and decor.

With a name like Pontiac, of course we love cars! You’ll also love and appreciate our one-of-a-kind museum: The Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum and Resource Center. With classic Oaklands and cool Pontiacs, this museum is the only museum dedicated to just these two automobile brands. The museum is also home to one of the largest collections of oil cans and antique road maps around.

History Buff? We’ve got you covered! The Pontiac Museum Complex houses a variety of exhibits and displays:

The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum offers a collection of images, artifacts, and stories about the nation’s most famous road – Route 66. Memorabilia related to the iconic Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire including his school bus home ‘The Road Yacht’, VW Microbus, and a gallery of his artwork.

The Livingston County War Museum is staffed entirely by volunteer veterans. This museum pays tribute to the men and women from Livingston County who served in the nation’s military since World War I.

Ron Selle and Darlene Agner have beautifully curated fascinating exhibits that delve into the history of three transformative time periods in our nation’s history:

The Life in the 1940s – Featuring four rooms, completely furnished with furniture and toys of the era. Be sure to stop into the “Stage Door Canteen” to enjoy some vintage1940s music.

The Life on the Titanic - This ex-

hibit portrays the life and times of the ship, its passengers, and the elegant Edwardian Age. The items on display are contemporaries of those that sank on the famed ship as well as items from the rescue ship.

The Music of the Civil War – Learn about the music that was popular during the Antebellum period, the war itself, and Reconstruction Era. There are framed original editions of sheet music with recordings as well as displays of antique musical instruments and soldier artifacts.

Most famously, the city has many connections to our nation’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Follow the Looking for Lincoln Story Trail and learn more about this important historical figure and his connection to Pontiac. Located on the south lawn of the Historic Courthouse is a life-size commemorative statue of Honest Abe himself – another great selfie spot awaits!

To learn more about Pontiac, head online to visitpontiac.org or call the Pontiac Tourism office at (815) 844-5847.