Fall is the perfect time to explore New York City. Hop on the Long Island Rail Road and see what the concrete jungle has in store. From botanical displays inspired by the art of Vincent Van Gogh to indoor skydiving, here are new things to see and do in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs worth the trip.
Van Gogh’s Flowers at New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx
Explore Van Gogh’s Flowers at NYBG. Credit: NYBG
Fall may be known for colorful leaves, but the landscapes here blend real plant gardens with artfully rendered pieces inspired by the art of Vincent Van Gogh. Contemporary pieces and sculptures are placed among the actual flora, including a hybrid field of real and faux sunflowers, which adds a photo-friendly twist to the idea of taking an autumn stroll through such big blooms. And once the sun sets, the Van Gogh-styled display lights up to give it a different look.
- COST Through Oct. 26; tickets are $35-$39, $15-17 ages 2-12.
- MORE INFO 718-817-8700, nybg.org
Immersive experience at Arte Museum New York
61 Chelsea Piers, Manhattan
The immersive art experience that opened in early September takes attendees through multiple darkened spaces illuminated by glowing statues and generated images that dance across several surfaces simultaneously. It debuted in Las Vegas in 2023, but the Manhattan edition is double the size of the original and includes mostly new pieces of artwork, such as cyber fields of roses and holographic hibiscus seeds that grow, as well as waterfalls, forests and waves crashing on digital beaches. Check out the “live sketchbook” exhibit, where guests can draw animals that then animate within a jungle scene.
- COST Tickets are $51-$59.50, $42.50-$51 ages 4-12 available through Nov. 30.
- MORE INFO newyork.artemuseum.com
‘World of Darkness’ at the Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx
Check out nocturnal animals at the “World of Darkness” exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. Credit: WCS
The zoo debuted this fresh version of its “World of Darkness” over the summer. It had been closed since 2009, but once again gives visitors the opportunity to see nocturnal animals and learn about their nighttime lifestyles. The building holds 21 habitats and features creatures such as naked mole rats, Egyptian fruit bats, giant cloud rats and blood pythons, among other animals. The exhibit is also the zoo’s first permanent bilingual display, with all informational elements presented in English and Spanish.
- COST Entrance included in general admission: tickets start at $38.20, $28.20 ages 3-12.
- MORE INFO 718-220-5100, bronxzoo.com
Indoor skydiving at iFLY NYC
10-20 Borden Ave., Long Island City, Queens
Experience skydiving indoors at iFLY NYC. Credit: iFLY Indoor Skydiving
No need to jump out of a plane to get the adrenaline rush of skydiving, as guests experience body flight in an indoor vertical wind tunnel. No prior experience is needed, and participants will receive a safety instruction class after obtaining the required helmet and suit. Once class is dismissed, thrill seekers line up to take a one-minute ride in the wind tunnel and will be guided by instructors. The first-time experience of the class and tunnel rides takes approximately 90 minutes.
- COST Rates start at $79 for two flights; tickets available in advance online. Weight restrictions apply. All ages are welcome, but participants 18 and under need a parent/guardian to sign their waivers.
- MORE INFO 212-977-4359, iflyworld.com
‘Maestros and the Machines’ at Mercer Labs, Museum of Art and Technology
21 Dey St., Manhattan
Attendees can play around with interactive installations at the “Maestros and the Machines” experience at Mercer Labs.
This program strives to answer the question of what iconic art and musical minds like Da Vinci and Mozart could have created if they had access to modern technology. The exhibition combines the efforts of those past masters with interactive installations, digital tools and soundscapes. Participants can interact with master works that have been reimagined in part by Grammy Award-winning producer and performer Timbaland.
- COST Runs an hour to 90 minutes. Tickets available through Oct. 7 for $52; $46 ages 4-17 and must be accompanied by an adult.
- MORE INFO mercerlabs.com
‘Encounters in the Milky Way’ at the American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park W., Manhattan
“Encounters in the Milky Way” at the American Museum of Natural History will have attendees feeling like they’re in space. Credit: Alvaro Keding / AMNH
The museum’s Hayden Planetarium is presenting a new space show narrated by actor Pedro Pascal that focuses on how everything in space, including people on Earth, is constantly in motion and how that affects our solar system. It looks back billions of years and examines what is expected to happen millions of years in the future. The program also explores a pair of interstellar objects that originate from unknown points before investigating the outer limits of the sun’s reach, beyond the Kuiper Belt and through the Oort Cloud.
- COST Additional $4-$6 ticket required; general admission is $25, $14 ages 3-12
- MORE INFO 212-769-5100, amnh.org
‘Life Chronicles’ at Eclipso NYC
555 W. 57th St., Manhattan
Experience a VR journey at the “Life Chronicles” experience at Eclipso NYC.
Not just a look at human history, this virtual reality experience begins with the inception of life on Earth, showcasing dinosaurs — as well as a world without humans. The walk-through program requires attendees to wear free-roaming VR headsets while they view a depiction of more than 3.5 billion years of evolution, verified by a cadre of more than two dozen experts — from scientists and paleontologists to paleobotanists to sound specialists who helped determine what the days before microphones sounded like.
- COST Open to ages 8 and older. Program is one hour: 15 minutes of on- and off-loading plus 45 minutes of show. Tickets are available through Sept. 30 starting at $39.
- MORE INFO lifechronicles-experience.com
‘Viola’s Room’ at The Shed
545 W. 30th St., Manhattan
Viola’s Room, presented by The Shed and Punchdrunk, runs through Oct. 19. Credit: Marc J. Franklin
A great warmup for Halloween, you must first not only secure your phone before entry but also take off your shoes — then don an audio device and headphones as guests are guided through a Gothic mystery (narrated by actor Helena Bonham Carter). Participants will have to navigate narrow spaces, as well as bend, crawl and crouch at times to solve the story — and while flashing lights and sounds will help at times, at other moments there will be total darkness.
- COST Open to ages 12 and older. Program is approximately one hour; all are asked to arrive 20 minutes before entry time. Tickets are available through Oct. 19 starting at $49.
- MORE INFO 646-455-3494, theshed.org