NEW YORKERS are an insular bunch. We like to think we’re way more adventurous than our suburban colleagues, but who are we kidding? On weekends, most of us stay within a four-block radius in our own neighborhoods. And when it comes to hunkering down, we have the advantage over the Westchester set; they have to drive miles for a gallon of milk, whereas we have a nail salon/pizza joint/bodega/sushi restaurant/dry cleaner on just about every city block.

Still, change is good. And sometimes a trek to another neighborhood is just what you need to pump up your old humdrum routine. Our bold, courageous staffers ventured to brave new worlds – or maybe just above 14th Street – and reported on what it’s like to walk a mile (or a few blocks) in someone else’s neighborhood.

WEST MEETS EAST

Home ‘hood: West Village

Normal routine: I can be a snob when it comes to crossing Fifth Avenue – especially on the weekends. When a $10 manicure from Eve (400 Bleecker St., [212] 807-8054) lasts for more than a week, the owners of a hip boutique like Yamak (321 Bleecker St., [212] 807-9100) know your favorite designers, and a smoked chicken salad with hazelnuts and orange dressing from Elephant & Castle (68 Greenwich Ave., [212] 243-1400) keeps you full for at least five hours, it’s hard to consider breaking routine.

New ‘hood: East Village

How I got there: I took the bus and walked.

What I did: I was so giddy to browse the racks at a new clothing boutique like Roni (119 St. Marks Place, [212] 388-0038) on the eastern, less-dodgy end of St. Marks that I almost wanted to say to the shopkeeper, “I’m visiting from the West Village – just here for the day!” (I refrained, though, for fear of sounding like a complete wacko.) I stopped in for a meal across the street at the funky Crooked Tree (110 St. Marks Place, [212] 533-3299), where scents of both sweet and savory crepes prompted me to try one of each. (Neither disappointed.) My nails needed some lovin’, so I got a manicure at Relax and Renew (50 Third Ave., [212] 388-9821). It didn’t have the polish selection I’m accustomed to, but it was great to be able to walk in somewhere without an appointment. Plus, the 30-second neck massage is always a yummy cherry. While I still prefer the cobblestoned blocks and old-school charm of the West Village, the vibe across town is similarly sweet – just in a grander way.

– Sara Lieberman

JUST NEXT DOOR

Home ‘hood: Lower East Side

Normal routine: I live on FDR Drive near the Williamsburg Bridge, and very few options exist for dining and shopping. So when it comes to a dinner out, my boyfriend and I usually walk to Clinton Street.

New ‘hood: Chinatown and the East Village

How I got there: I walked.

What I did: To break our locals-only habits, we went to sprawling Chinatown for dinner at Pongsri Thai Restaurant (106 Bayard St., [212] 349-3132), across from lovely Columbus Park Pavilion. The next night we went to the East Village to Banjara Indian Restaurant (97 First Ave., [212] 477-5956) off East Sixth Street’s Little India. Not only did we get out of the Lower East Side, we traveled around the world! I even ran a different route (to Tompkins Square Park instead of along the East River) and found that it added a little zip to my jog. Going 10 blocks might only take 10 minutes, but it definitely helps wake up the wide-eyed tourist within. Refreshing. – Mary Huhn

OVER THE RIVER

Home ‘hood: Lower East Side

Normal routine: When it comes to food, I usually order groceries from Fresh Direct and cook dinner at home.

New ‘hood: Williamburg, Brooklyn

How I got there: I took a car service.

What I did: Encouraged by my jaunts to other ‘hoods, I decided to undertake a big trip – to Brooklyn. After researching Williamsburg as if it were Paris (which was fun enough in itself), my plans were foiled by monsoon-like winds and rain. So I didn’t get to go to any galleries, the Bedford Cheese Shop, SoundFix Records or have afternoon tea at Roebling’s Tea Room as I had planned. And instead of the wildly adventurous J/M/Z train line to Marcy Avenue in South Williamsburg, I took a car service to the Italian restaurant Aurora (70 Grand St., [718] 388-5100), where my friends and I soothed our dampened souls with a cabernet and homemade porcini mushroom ravioli. For a nightcap, we headed to the indoor/outdoor heated Radegast Hall and Biergarten (113 N. Third St., [718] 963-3973), a huge, loud space that also boasts a full menu of hearty fare (braised rabbit, veal Schnitzel and roasted quail). People were practically polka dancing at the bar as Gogol Bordello’s gypsy music blasted. – Mary Huhn

AND UP THE HILL

Home ‘hood: Lower East Side

Normal routine: On a lazy Sunday afternoon, I usually crave a dish of French toast with berries, and I know that my corner café, 88 Orchard (88 Orchard St., [212] 228-8880), serves an impeccable plate of it. So the thought of trekking 30 blocks north for the same thing would normally never even cross my mind. But I’m trying to broaden my horizons.

New ‘hood: Murray Hill

How I got there: I took a taxi, because it was 28 degrees out and I didn’t feel like deciphering a new subway route.

What I did: Upon exiting the cab at 34th and Third, I wandered in search of a yummy brunch spot. Had I been craving Dunkin’ Donuts or Baskin-Robbins, I would have been one happy camper, because I passed about five in five minutes. I walked into Josie’s (565 Third Ave., [212] 490-1558), took a glance at its $7/each organic smoothie menu and decided to keep going. I ended up getting a strawberry-banana-and-Nutella crepe at Crepe Mania (533 Third Ave., [212] 684-6733). Far from the hipster throngs I’m used to, the only people hanging out in Murray Hill on a Sunday afternoon were ex-sorority sisters and frat boys in Topsiders. I wasn’t too impressed by the collegiate restaurants and bars I passed. My field trip to Murray Flat (I have yet to witness altitude higher than uneven gravel) proved I don’t need to venture north of Houston for any reason aside from inconvenience. Sue me! – Alisa Wolfson

ON BROADWAY

Home ‘hood: SoHo

Normal routine: During the weekends, I tend to roam up and down Broadway, avoiding going north of Houston Street whenever possible.

New ‘hood: Upper West Side

How I got there: I took the 1 train.

What I did: I joined the brunch line at Good Enough To Eat (483 Amsterdam Ave., [212] 496-0163), which was already 20 frozen people long at 11:45 a.m. This was insane.

The only time I’ve ever seen this phenomenon downtown is at Lombardi’s Pizza (32 Spring St., [212] 941-7994). Five minutes into our wait, two seats opened up at the

bar, so my cousin and I cut the queue. The “hole in the bread” egg, wheat bread and ham dish was fantastic,

and I’ve never had better strawberry butter with biscuits. From there, we walked down Broadway dodging

strollers aplenty to hit Zabars (2245 Broadway; [212] 787-2000). Quickly tiring of its grumpy fur-coat wearers,

we moved on to the infinitely more pleasant Fairway

(2127 Broadway; [212] 595-1888). No trip to the Upper West Side is complete without stopping at H&H Bagels (2239 Broadway; [212] 595-8003), so I grabbed some

amazing everything bagels. The Barneys Co-Op (2151 Broadway, [646] 335-0978) was small but well-stocked, and blissfully free of the out-of-town shopping crowd

that usually populates the SoHo outpost. Sweet!

-Maxine Shen