Nicholas Roerich Museum

While nearby Central Park is justly famous and finds its way onto a "must see" list for most visitors to New York, Riverside Park also has its charms, as its riverfront location provides pleasant views of New Jersey and sometimes breezes off the river. Summer brings al fresco movies, plays and music to Riverside Park.

Staring pensively across Riverside Drive at the children playing in the park is the statue of Shinran Shonin, a 13th-century Buddhist reformer. In another life, the statue stood in Hiroshima and witnessed the devastation caused by the bomb. His New York home is between two Riverside Drive buildings right next to the New York Buddhist Center.

Live jazz seven days a week. Performers often jam late into the night so go for the late set if you can.

The world's largest neo-Gothic cathedral, the place has been a work in progress for over a century! There are also resident peacocks on campus, and many songbirds stop by during their seasonal migrations.

Miller Theater is Columbia University's main performing arts venue and is well known for its classical music performances.

A famous Ivy League college that has existed since British colonial times, when it was called King's College. The campus is closed to non-affiliates. To visit the campus, you will need a guest pass issued by a Columbia affiliate or sign up for a campus tour.