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Annual September events like the U.S. Open and New York Fashion Week draw people to New York year after year. But there’s so much more to do in the city this fall—especially for art and music fans.

Just in time for summer, the Shirley Chisholm State Park is here.

Eating out with young kids anywhere is no cakewalk, but in New York City, the challenges are all their own.

The secret to becoming a smarter—and more open-minded—traveler? Self-defense training.

Before “Dr. Strangelove” and “A Clockwork Orange,” the future film director had his eyes wide open as a wandering staff shooter for “Look” magazine.

You’ll find his politically charged pieces throughout the five boroughs through February.

A New Yorker rediscovers her city by crossing the bridges that connect it.

The Rockaways were once a long, long subway ride away. Not anymore

Where to Get the Best Puerto Rican Food in NYC, According to a Chef

Argentina at a Gallop

People-watching and wandering New York’s distinct neighborhoods are two of the city’s greatest—and cheapest—thrills. You may also be pleasantly surprised by how many historic sites, cultural venues, and green spaces are free day in and day out. We’ve included 20 here. But there are many more like MoMA and the Bronx Zoo that have select free entry times, so be sure to do your research before you pay up.

Let Hollywood keep its famous sign; Jersey City has the Colgate Clock. Visible from Manhattan, Staten Island, and The Bronx, the clock, which lights up at night, is a decade shy of its centenary and is one of the few remaining reminders of the city’s industrial past. Now known as the producer of a popular toothpaste, Colgate once manufactured the laundry soap, Octagon, which inspired the shape of the clock. Head down to the clock (which is a bit south of the Goldman Sachs Tower) just before dusk: the sun sets behind the clock and autumn sunsets along the Hudson are often epic.

With more than 250 acres of grounds, the New York Botanical Garden manages to fit a number of different landscapes and experiences into its garden walls. The garden was established in 1891, the inspiration of Nathaniel Lord Britton and his wife, Elizabeth, who returned from a trip to England determined that New York should have its own equivalent to London‘s Kew Gardens. They found backing among New York society and created one of the country’s leading research institutions that also happens to be an ideal place to commune with nature right in the city. The rose garden designed by Beatrix Farrand is a highlight, while an abundance of azaleas reaches their peak in May. In all there are some 20 different gardens, including one dedicated to native plants, a rock garden, and a wetlands trail. The conservatory, constructed in 1902, is the largest in the country and includes 11 different climatic zones. When the last of the fall foliage has fallen from the trees, the conservatory hosts the popular annual Holiday Train Show (from the end of November to mid-January).

Of all New York’s boroughs, the Bronx has had the hardest time shaking the reputation left over from darker periods in the city’s history. The South Bronx is not, however, the lawless, crime-ridden neighborhood you might imagine if you have watched too many Al Pacino and Robert De Niro movies of the ‘70s. Adventurous travelers are crossing the Harlem River to visit long-established destinations like the area’s Antiques Row and new additions like the Bronx Brewery. A good way to start or end a day of exploring the district is with a meal at Charlies Bar & Kitchen, a lively local favorite that serves comfort-food favorites like barbecue ribs, burgers, and mac and cheese.

In this week’s episode of Travel Tales by AFAR, on a road trip through Canada and Maine, J.R. Harris meditates on a lifetime of adventure—and the enduring power of a great road trip.