Looking out the window...
For those who would really like to understand this, no finer explanation is available than in the book, "Stick and Rudder" by Wolfgang Langweische...Wolf's son, William Langweische actually wrote a book praising the automatic systems of the airbus as the biggest aid in a safe landing...go figure.
Someone wrote, he had a choice of landing in the hudson or hitting the empire state buidling. I really don't think this is true. Having flown the route many times, the Hudson probably offered the least risk to those on the ground, but 4 pilots duplicating this misadventure in the sim turned and made LGA. They didn't hesitate in the turn, and when penalized 30 seconds to gain a sense of what had happened they didn't make LGA.
There were other options too...there is major freeway called Interstate 80, that if followed would sort of lead to Teterboro airport...but a landing on the freeway might have been accomplished (but again, more risk to innocent New Jersey drivers...if there are such things).
Also, ATC offered sully an entry into the downwind instead of directly to the end of the runway nearest his position at Teterboro.
I do recall sully saying something like: the people of new york had suffered too many plane crashes with the 911 attacks...how this influenced the decision making process might be quite important.
Looking out the window is a good idea...when you can see something! Always know where you will ''put her down'' is a good idea too.