New York is the city that never sleeps. It is a land of opportunity that offers something to enjoy for people from all walks of life. If you’re the type that likes to find the hidden gems of a city rather than visiting the main tourist attractions, you’re in luck. In addition to having some of the most famous, iconic tourist sights in the world, New York City has a plethora of offbeat things to see and do. You may even want to create yourself an itinerary to help you keep up with all the things to see and do as it is smart to consider when travelling.
Here are a few of the unusual, strange, and one-of-a-kind experiences you can have in the Big Apple.
The Explorers Club Headquarters
Travel back in time to the golden age of discovery and exploration and put yourself in the shoes of one of the original polar explorers and founders of the Explorers Club Headquarters. Originally built in 1904, this lesser-known New York City attraction boasts artifacts from when parts of the world were still new and untouched.
On the bottom floor, you will see polar artifacts. The second floor features a humongous globe used to plan explorations. The third floor is home to thousands of books, museum objects, and maps of the earth.
Obscura Antiques and Oddities
Obscura Antiques and Oddities opens a window through time to an era of medical discovery and exploration. Here you will find early models of the human form, designed and used by early medical students who longed to practice on a real human body. At the time, cadavers were hard to come by and proper anatomical figures were costly and rare.
What started as a showcase of medical history expanded to include magic lantern slides, old jewelry, shadow boxes, vintage garb, and rare, obscure medical tools. If you have a vested interest in medicine or just like the strange and unusual, you’ll definitely want to stop by Obscura.
Mmuseumm
Mmuseumm is the must-see of all offbeat attractions in New York City. This tiny museum is housed in a freight elevator located in a forgotten alley near Canal Street. This blindingly white cube has regularly changing exhibits, showing collections of intriguing artifacts and mundane everyday objects.
Depending on what time of year you visit, you may see a collection of knapsacks, prosthetic ears, toothpaste from around the globe or vacuum cleaners. Despite their banality, the everyday objects take on an eerie quality when placed on display in this hidden treasure of an attraction.
Tannen’s Magic Store
Do you believe in magic? If so, you’ll want to visit Tannen’s Magic Store, the oldest magic shop in New York City. If Tannen’s is the oldest, it raises the question: how many magic shops are there in New York City? A lot, apparently. Even if you don’t believe in magic, open your eyes and your mind and take in the atmosphere at Tannen’s.
What can you find at Tannen’s Magic Store? In addition to some fascinating books, you can find tools of the trade for some of the world’s most famous magicians. You can even book magic lessons, should you have the time and inclination.
Please Don’t Tell
What would a trip to New York City be without a trip to a genuine speakeasy? Punch the right number into the unassuming phone booth, and you’re in. Of course, you need to know someone who has been there to get the right code (or you can ruin the fun by looking online).
Please Don’t Tell, like the four other offbeat attractions on this list are easily accessible via the subway or on Manhattan bus tour routes. Everyone has a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. Create your own unique story by visiting these incredible, eccentric spots for a memorable experience.