Summer in NYC

New York City. The Greatest City in the World! I might be biased because I lived there but it truly is an amazing city, with so much to see and do. While the weather may not be the best because hey, who really likes to walk around in 20 degree wind and snow in the winter months or 95 degree heat while waiting underground for a subway with no AC in summer months but all that aside, no matter when you go to NYC you are bound to have the best time! Here is my guide to some not so typical thing to do in the summer, or really just non-winter months, in NYC!

1. Climb the Vessel: I say to do this in warmer months because from experience, it will get very cold and windy at the Vessel as it is located on the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan. If the winds are too strong, they will close the Vessel or only allow you to climb a few stories up and that takes away from the experience.

2. Walk the High Line: Although it may be hot in the summer, it sure beats being up high in the cold, windy during the winter. Visit Chelsea Market for lunch and take a stroll along the High Line. While on your walk, you are sure to find a fresh popsicle stand to help cool you off!

3. Get drinks at the Frying Pan: The Frying Pan is a historic boat docked at Pier 66 on the West Side of Manhattan. It is only open seasonally in the warmer months but when it is open, you can enjoy cocktails and food while sitting on the non-moving boat and watching over boats go down the Hudson. If possible, you should definitely check it out in the evening for sunset!

4.Smorgasburg: If you want to venture outside of Manhattan, head to Brooklyn on Saturday or Sunday afternoon for Smorgasborg. This open-air food market filled with hundreds of vendors and attracts thousands of people every weekend. On Saturday, the market is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn along the water with great views of the city and on Sunday, the market is in Prospect Park. You will find eclectic treats all over this food market.


5.Walk the Brooklyn Bridge: For great views of the city, take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge is approximately 1 mile long. You can walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn and back or do what many tourists do, hop on the train back to Manhattan!

6. Staten Island Ferry: Another free way to see awesome views of the city. Hop on the Staten Island Ferry and take a round trip ride. You will get views of the city, the bridges and Statue of Liberty, all for free! The ferry is how residents of Staten Island commute into Manhattan each day for work, so you'll really get a feel for city-life!


7. 9/11 Memorial: It would be very hard to take a trip to NYC without visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Reflecting Ponds. The Reflecting Ponds are located where the Twin Towers stood and have the names of all those lost in the attacks. It is free to visit the ponds. If you want to go into the Museum, you will need to buy tickets which you can get online in advance or at the ticket counter. You can chose to do a guided tour of the museum or a self-paced tour. Whichever open you chose, the museum is very touching and pays a great tribute to those lost on 9/11/01.


8. Catch a Yankee or Mets Game: Head to the Bronx and visit Yankee Stadium or Queen to CitiField to see the Mets play. Both stadiums have  delicious food and nothing says summer in NY like eating food, drinking beer and watching baseball!


While this is only a tiny list of things to do in NYC in summertime, I tried to stand clear of the typical tourist spots so you can explore the city without the crowds and explore places most blogs and travel agents don't tell you about! 

Of course, no NYC trip is complete without seeing a Broadway Show, walking through Times Square and Central Park, eating in Little Italy and Chinatown, shopping in Soho, but I am sure those are already on your list!

Check out my Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/lmandel04/travel/




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