The Best Things to do in New York in the Summer

New York is a hub of activity all year round and there is something to do in New York in every season from ice skating at Rockefeller Centre in the winter, to wandering through the crispy leaves in Central Park in the Autumn and chasing cherry blossoms in the Spring. This time we decided to explore summer in New York.

The warm summer weather made it perfect to be able to explore the city by foot and bicycle as much as possible. Locals and tourists came outside to enjoy alfresco dining and picnics in the park to make a great buzz to the already alive city.

Things to do in New York in the Summer

230 Fifth Rooftop for Sunset

Visit 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar for sunset on a warm summer night to enjoy New York’s largest all year round rooftop. You can enjoy food and drinks both indoors in the lounge and outside on the garden rooftop. The perfect time in our opinion is sipping on cocktails whilst the sun sets over the New York skyline turning a great shade of pink and purple.

Source: 230 Fifth

Sunset Sailing Trip on the Hudson River

Sail along the Hudson River on a sailing boat and watch as the crew operate a full sailing ship and set sail. Look on in awe as you pass landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge and The Statue of Liberty whilst sipping on drinks and watching the sun set over the horizon and the city. A very chilled way to look on at bustling New York.

Frying Pan

Explore a trendy local vibe by visiting the Frying Pan. An old Coast Guard Lightship now homes a very trendy bar scene packed with locals enjoying the summer vibe from May to October each year. Grab drinks from the selection of pop up bars and pull up a chair on the dock to enjoy the lively scene.

The Frying Pan is docked at Pier 66 Maritime on the West Side of Manhattan.

Source: Eater NY

Walk the High Line

Wander the 1.5 mile stretch of the High Line to take in the views and the vibe of new York City. The High Line is an elevated rail track train line that has been converted to walkway garden area to explore nature, art and design along the way. The High Lane takes you through Manhattan’s West Side with some excellent views along the way.

Ellen’s Stardust Diner

Ellen’s Stardust Diner in new York is a great way to see some musical theatre at a fraction of the price. Dine or burgers, fries, hotdogs and sip on milkshakes and cocktails as you watch aspiring Broadway musical stars perform the soundtrack to all the classics. The performance takes centre stage as actors and singers climb on tables and set the diner alive.

You cannot book Stardust Diner so be prepared to queue outside, but it is well worth the wait.

Source: Secret NYC

Chelsea Market

Head to the Meatpacking District in New York and take a wander through Chelsea Market. Known best for its amazing food and drink options to either dine at trendy restaurants and bars or takeaway. There are so many options for available and a great atmosphere to boot.

Take the Staten Island Ferry to see The Statue of Liberty

For a great free option in New York and free way to get out on the water take the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. The ferry’s sails through New York Harbor between Manhattan and Staten Island, with ferry boats making the trip in about 25 minutes. The best part of the trip is sailing past the Statue of Liberty and getting a close up look at this amazing landmark.

Source: Flikr

9/11 Memorial and Museum

No matter what season you visit New York the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero is an eye opening experience. It’s a somber affair visiting both the memorial and the museum but well worth a visit to commiserate the victims and pay tribute. Whilst harrowing at times it is an insightful look into exactly what happened on that day from the perspective of those involved in the tragedy. A great glimpse into how New York learnt about the terror attach first hand!

Source: Travel Awaits

Chinatown Rooftop Bar

New York has a great Chinatown and it is the largest populated Chinatown on that side of the globe. The bustling busy streets are full of Chinese restaurants, supermarkets and shops that you can spend hours sifting through and browsing. The food is great too and the perfect place to taste a variety of dishes and wash down with Chinse tea.

Top tip: Head to The Crown Rooftop located on top of Hotel 50 Bowery in New York’s Chinatown for a trendy and cool cocktail bar that has excellent views of the city. the inside is hip and cool with a variety of Insta worthy backdrops, whilst the wooden deck outdoor rooftop houses comfortable sofa’s to sip on cocktails and take in the view.

Brunch in Soho

The Soho area of New York is a trendy area packed with great bars and restaurants with a nightlife to boot, swanky shops and street sellers making a living as the crowds from this super busy area waft in. Art galleries are all the rage and a selection of various artistic galleries can be found. We recommend hitting up a weekend boozy brunch and dining among locals as they meet up with friends in chat the afternoon away. We sampled the Boqueria Soho brunch, but there are so many to choose from and a perfect way to walk in the shoes.

Source: 10 Best

Central Park Picnic

Absolutely no visit to New York in the summer would be complete without a wander through Central Park in the sunshine. This urban park is a famous hot spot from several movies, but it does not quite do it justice until you see it for yourself. The park is huge and you can spend hours upon hours wandering the pathways and exploring the unique bridges around every comer. Our favourite way to enjoy the park in the summer is with a picnic on the grass with the backdrop of green tree’s and high rises that signal new York in the background. The park is used by tourists and locals and the perfect place to watch the world go by.

Source: Hotels.com

Little Italy

The area of Little Italy in New York is located in Lower Manhattan and was home to the huge Italian population of New York. The area houses many Italian restaurants and pizza bars where you can enjoy traditional Italian food whilst sipping on wine. During the summer the pavements come alive as the tables and chairs are brought outside for diners to dine alfresco.

Source: Food Republic

Bicycle over the Brooklyn Bridge

Grabbing a Citi Bike from one of the docks and heading out for a cycle is in our opinion the best way to explore the Brooklyn Bridge. Cycle over just before sunset and reach Brooklyn to watch the sun set over the bridge for a great view.

 

Have we missed anywhere? let us know. We are always looking for new places to visit.