Take a step back in time when you visit the Merchant's House Museum, the only 19th century home in New York City preserved both inside and out. The house is renowned for its collection of approximately 3,000 items including original furnishings, decor and preserved clothing and effects of the family that inhabited the home. The museum produces many performances, presentations, lectures, exhibitions and special events throughout the year.
Get an up-close look at the Brooklyn Bridge while you hang out at the 85-acre, waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. The park stretches across the waterfront in the vicinity of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges on land that was overlooked and inaccessible for decades. Although the park is still under construction, the Pier 1 and Pier 6 sections are open to the public – meaning you can enjoy beautiful views of the city right next to the bridge. The park is set to be 66% completed by 2013.
Hang out at the Staten Island Zoo to see cool animal attractions like the Serpentarium, an exhibit that houses one of the nation's largest rattlesnake collections. There are around 858 animals that live at the zoo, including its most famous resident, Staten Island Chuck, the city's official Groundhog Day forecaster.