While it may seem that every possible topic about New York City's attractions has been written about, 'Off the Beaten (Subway) Track' is the first book to focus on the hundreds of off-the-beaten-path destinations in the city. Some are small museums, others are historic places long forgotten, some are stores that sell only odd things, and some are distinguished for their claim to fame as the world's largest/smallest whatever. All of them are notable for the passion with which their proprietors and curators care for them, and all can be visited via the subway system as the author directs readers to which of the city's 486 subway stations will get them closest.

"As a kid growing up in Manhattan, William Helmreich played a game with his father they called "Last Stop." They would pick a subway line and ride it to its final destination, and explore the neighborhood there. Decades later, Helmreich teaches university courses about New York, and his love for exploring the city is as strong as ever. Putting his feet to the test, he decided that the only way to truly understand New York was to walk virtually every block of all five boroughs--an astonishing 6,000 miles. His epic journey lasted four years and took him to every corner of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Helmreich spoke with hundreds of New Yorkers from every part of the globe and from every walk of life, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former mayors Rudolph Giuliani, David Dinkins, and Edward Koch. Their stories and his are the subject of this captivating and highly original book. We meet the Guyanese immigrant who grows beautiful flowers outside his modest Queens residence in order to always remember the homeland he left behind, the Brooklyn-raised grandchild of Italian immigrants who illuminates a window of his brownstone with the family's old neon grocery-store sign, and many, many others. Helmreich draws on firsthand insights to examine essential aspects of urban social life such as ethnicity, gentrification, and the use of space. He finds that to be a New Yorker is to struggle to understand the place and to make a life that is as highly local as it is dynamically cosmopolitan."--Publisher's description.

Tired of the same old tourist traps? Take the road less traveled and uncover the hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales other guidebooks just don't offer. Off the Beaten Path® features the things you'd want to see—if only you knew about them! From the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits, you'll say over and over again: “I didn't know that!” Discover a different side of the Empire State. Check out Wing’s Castle, the fabulously eccentric stone dwelling overlooking the Hudson Valley; prospect for “Herkimer diamonds” in Middleville; or stop in Elmira to see what Mark Twain called “the loveliest study you ever saw” (he should know—it was his). So if you've “been there, done that” one too many times, get off the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path.

Tired of the same old tourist traps? Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for something different, let this first edition of Metro New York Off the Beaten Path show you the metro New York City region you never knew existed. Visit a sizable chunk of the Berlin Wall—in Battery Park. Attend a session of Night Court. Discover isolated and tranquil spots scattered across the five boroughs and beyond—including nearly forgotten islands, tucked away beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, a working farm, subway tunnel tours, crumbling ruins, and bizarre haunts in the middle of one of the planet’s most visited cities. So if you’ve “been there, done that” one too many times, get off the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path.

Thoroughly updated, this handbook spotlights over 1,000 of America's most overlooked must-see destinations in a state-by-state, A-Z format. 300 color photos.

Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for something different, New York Off the Beaten Path shows you the Empire State with new perspectives on timeless destinations and introduces you to those you never knew existed––from the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits to hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales. So if you’ve “been there, done that” one too many times, forget the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path.

No Access New York City is a collection of the hidden places and little-known facts about New York. These are the secret gems of the city and most are completely off limits to the public. Through these pages explore the secret train station below the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the gold vault at the Federal Reserve, burial sites, tucked away establishments, secret tunnels, and so much more. All of these spots evoke a secret metropolis that is lost in time and harboring deep mysteries! What a fun way to “explore” New York!