Lower Manhattan has 2.5 acres of brand new parkland to explore as Hudson River Park's Pier 26 is now open to the public. A long-time coming, it's the first new pier to open in the green space since 2010 and connects New Yorkers to the Hudson River in a whole new, educational way.

Read on to find out what makes this new stretch of waterfront worth adding to your fall bucket list.

If you've trekked through Times Square lately, you likely saw as many pigeons as pedestrians. For the first time in decades, the city is deserted. Locals can enjoy all the usual tourist spots without waiting in line. Bollards are waiting to restrict lines of visitors for crowds who haven't shown up and social distancing markers on the sidewalk are barely scuffed. And the scene replays itself at tourist hotspots and beloved local institutions all across town. In short, it's a little slice of paradise for New Yorkers weary of dodging slow-walking tourists and selfie snappers.

The city streets are quiet when compared to pre-pandemic times. Office workers are still mainly working from home, and tourists are steering clear. This is all good news for intrepid New Yorkers, who are ready to explore again after months of making the best of stay-at-home orders. Museums are reopening, and Times Square mega shops are debuting. So, if you're ready to get out, the city is your playground. With flexible work arrangements and hybrid school schedules, now is the perfect time to play tourists in our hometown.

So, book those timed-entry tickets, skip the lines that usually run blocks long, and step out to visit a favorite museum, support a local business, and show New York City some love with these 20 things to do before the rest of the world discovers NYC is back.

New York City has changed its return to school plans yet again, delaying a return to in-person learning for most children. The city now plans to phase-in its hybrid learning plan. Hybrid learners were scheduled to return to classrooms beginning Monday, September 21.

Early education students in the DOE's 3K and pre-K programs, plus those in District 75 schools who have opted for hybrid learning, still return to the classroom beginning on that date. Students in elementary and K-8 schools return to buildings Tuesday, September 29, while those in middle and high schools, secondary schools, and transfer and adult education centers do not return until Thursday, October 1.