NY cheap

Visit New York on the cheap? Can those words even be in the same sentence?

Of course, they can. You absolutely can go to the Big Apple, have a great time and not blow your budget. But you do have to avoid the $6 sodas, $35 hamburgers and $225 tickets to Broadway shows.

Here's some advice.

Do your homework online before you go. Plug "New York City cheap" into any search engine and you'll get pages of suggestions. New York magazine features a section dedicated to seeing the city on a budget. If it's your first time, see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Times Square, any of the big museums, Central Park, etc.

Get recommendations from people who have recently been there. Online, cruise the forums and reviews on consumer sites such as Yelp.com or travel websites. Nothing beats word of mouth. I try to query a variety of folks for suggestions. If I ask everyone with the same taste as me, I'll miss something great. Never fails.

Book early. Or if you're a gambler, wait until the very last minute for an e-saver. Quikbook.com is my go-to site for getting deals in New York. I've used it for a decade. The two times I didn't, I regretted it. As far as flying is concerned, US Airways is my usual carrier, though it's worth it to check out other airlines. I buy at least 12 weeks before the trip. You can also take the bus or train. You could drive, but you'll need to budget for hefty parking fees.

Decide what you want to spend money on. Make your passion a priority. I love theater more than shopping or food, so my budget goes to seeing shows. I buy in advance for my must-sees. In April, those were "American Idiot" and "Good Ol' Girls." For the others I saw - "Next to Normal," "Enron" and "Fela" - I visited TKTS discount booths (say "Tee-Kay Tee-Ess," not "tickets"). For those three, I was in Row 9, Row 15 and front row, respectively. My savings? About $400. The secret to the sweet seats? I bought single tickets. If you're with a group, divide and conquer.

Take the subway. Or the bus. Cabs get expensive quickly. I usually get a Metro Card, a pre-pay card for subway and bus rides. You have a few options such as the 1-Day Fun Pass for $8.25 or seven-day unlimited ride card for $27. Also, grab a subway map and keep it handy. I don't know about you, but I lose all sense of direction when I go underground.

10 cheap things to do

Here are my recommendations for inexpensive activities:

1 Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge exemplifies form working with function. Plus, there are great views, great history and great parks nearby. The walk takes about an hour, but you'll want to factor in time to eat and meander. Enter on the Manhattan side. On the Brooklyn side, grab lunch or a treat. Many people hit Grimaldi's Pizza. I prefer the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. If you time it right, the walk back will give you incredible views of the Manhattan skyline. Details: www.nycroads.com/crossings/brooklyn or www.brooklyn-bridgepark.org.

2 The High Line. New York's newest park, and newest must-see, is over your head. Literally. The High Line runs along the former elevated train track on the west side of Manhattan. Section 1 - Gansevoort to 20th streets - opened in 2009. What's so cool about it? You see the city from a different vantage point. I saw rooftop gardens and peered into a gallery that I would have never seen from the street. The park is also a testament to a community's desire to maintain a sense of history, great urban design and distinctive landscaping. Details: www.thehighline.org.

3 The Museum at FIT. If you're into fashion and beauty, put the legendary Fashion Institute of Technology on your list. The exhibits don't fail to educate and entertain. Admission is free. Details: www.fitnyc.edu/3662.asp.

4 Upright Citizens Brigade. Inexpensive but good laughs for grown-ups! Seriously, folks, this isn't one for the kids. Chances are someone you catch at UCB could be the next comedy sensation. Most of the hourlong shows are $5. The "School Night" show at 11 p.m. is usually free. Details: www.ucbtheatre.com

5 Walking tours. The best way to learn New York is to walk it. You can find tours that focus on whatever strikes your fancy, whether it's food, shopping or history. Prices usually range from $10 to $20. If you're adventurous, you can do it yourself -for free. This is where the Web becomes your best friend. One resource: New York magazine's "Cheap" guide to walking tours, at bit.ly/9OYAOk. FYI: Take two pairs of comfy shoes. (Don't wear the same pair two days in a row. Trust me.

6 Park & watch. People-watching could be an Olympic sport at almost every spot in NYC. However, Times Square is the pinnacle: There's a reason that it's called the "Crossroads of the World." Grab a seat at a table along the Broadway pedestrian plaza that runs from 42nd to 47th streets and from 33rd to 35th streets. Or park yourself on the bleachers at the rear of TKTS' Duffy Square booth in the heart of Broadway. Details: www. timessquare.com .

7 Sony Wonder Tech Lab. Sony showcases its technology and mixes in science for good measure in this four-story building. Check out the inner workings of your PSP (Play Station @ Portable), view the history of interactive games, or perform virtual open-heart surgery. Admission is free, but reservations are mandatory. Best time to go: Weekday afternoon. Details: www.sonywondertechlab.com.

8 Seasonal fun (Shakespeare or skate): You can't get much more New York than The Bard in Central Park in the summer and ice skating at Rockefeller Center in the fall and winter. Summer Shakespeare performances in the park have been free since 1954. This year, "The Winter's Tale" and "The Merchant of Venice" are on the bill at the park's open-air Delacorte Theater, along with three performances of Paul Simon's "The Capeman." Check out the tickets section. Details: www.shakespeareinthe park.org . The ice skating at Rockefeller Center isn't free, but it's fun. You can re-enact your favorite skating scenes from movies. Watching the skaters is free. Details: www.rockefellercenter.com.

9 Target's Free Fridays at MOMA. From 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays, you can visit the Museum of Modern Art, one of the world's best museums, at no charge. The ticket line can get quite long, but if you want to get in free, you'll wait. The museum website's "Tips" section suggests arriving at 6 p.m. My strategy: Decide what I really want to see while waiting; once I get in, I start at the end of the exhibit and work back. I know this makes curators cringe but I get to see what I want by not getting stuck in slow-moving crowds. Also, don't skip the smaller exhibits. That's where you'll find the really interesting art. Details: www.moma.org.

10 Staten Island Ferry. One of New York's best freebies is the Staten Island Ferry. Take a sunset or late-night cruise with your sweetie. Or entertain your wee ones with a midmorning (after rush hour) boat ride. To return, you have to get off the ferry and then re-board. Details: www.siferry.com.