The Subway in New York

Cabbing it around New York is easy: Put out your hand, a car stops; state a destination, and away you go. But riding the subway gives you a cultural cross section of New York—say, a billionaire in a bespoke suit next to a Chinese housewife toting bags of chicken feet—that's just as interesting as the museums, theaters, and sites that it links with its 660 miles of track and 468 stations. And, hey, almost two billion annual riders can't be wrong. Then there's the convenience factor: During rush hour, you'll often get where you're going faster than if you'd taken a cab. All told, it's a pretty astounding bargain. For a mere $2.25 (less than the cost of even entering a taxi), you can traverse the nearly 25 miles between 242nd Street in the Bronx down the length of Manhattan and all the way through Brooklyn to Coney Island. The cab fare for such a trip? At least $100 including tip. And you'd miss the subterranean show.

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