Our Favorite NYC Summer Activities
Things to do this summer in New York City 2021
“When it’s 100 degrees in New York, it’s 72 in Los Angeles. When it’s 30 degrees in New York, in Los Angeles, it’s still 72. However, there are 6 million [now 8.4 million] interesting people in New York, and only 72 in Los Angeles.” – Neil Simon
We often take living and working in New York City for granted, but one silver lining of the past year is we are all ready to experience all that New York has to offer. We thought we’d shake it up a bit and share some of our favorite New York City Summer 2021 activities; we hope you’ll join us in celebrating the best city in the world.
Bike, the perimeter of Manhattan
The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, is a 31-mile bicycle route around the island of Manhattan where you can check out attractions such as the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit at Pier 36, the new South Street Seaport, the new Pier 26, a 2.5-acre ecologically-themed pier in Tribeca incorporating indigenous plants evocative of Manhattan’s ecosystem before human development (and equally as important, places where your kids can play while you relax for a minute), The Little Red Lighthouse, The Cloisters, and the historic LES Coleman Skatepark.
Get on/in the water
Hit the beach at Rockaway Beach (take the ferry and we’d recommend getting there early to check out Rockaway Surf Club and ride the waves). Grab your kayak and partake in free kayaking at Pier 26 In Manhattan or Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO. Jet ski or paddleboard in the Hudson River or East River (we’ve done this and dipped our toes in and lived to tell the tale, don’t worry). Take a ferry to Governors Island (where you can also glamp for the night), Staten Island, or over to Jersey City. Did you know there are about 180 humpback whales in and around New York Harbour? Go whale and dolphin watching!
Picnic in the parks
This seems obvious, but did you know there are 1,700 parks in New York City? Take your family, meet up with friends and try out some parks you may have never been to. We love Prospect Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Battery Park, Marsha P Johnson State Park, Flushing Meadows- Corona Park, Fort Tryon Park, McCarren Park, Astoria Park, Madison Square Park, Fort Greene Park, Inwood Park, Riverside Park, and of course, Central Park to name a few. More restaurants are offering drinks-to-go to add a little spice to your picnic (and we mean that literally – we’re big fans of grabbing a margarita to go at Del Frisco’s next to Brookfield Place and heading to the Battery Park waterfront to watch the sunset).
Hit the Cape without ever leaving NYC
Dine on fresh seafood at the iconic Lobster House, Crab Shanty or Seashore Restaurant and Marina, before or after checking out the Nautical Museum
Dine al fresco
Anywhere and everywhere. From outdoor seating and open streets in all five boroughs to dining on a docked sailboat sipping drinks and having oysters at Grand Banks or Pilot, to rooftop restaurants with a view (like the Time Our Market in Dumbo) or a movie projector to the myriad of restaurants along our waterfront, to tasting the city’s best bites at Smorgasburg, Queens Night Market, and all the street fairs that pop up throughout the summer, NYC has a reputation as a hot culinary destination for a reason.
Get up and dance
Miss rollerskating? Dress up and go check out Lola Star’s Dreamland Roller Disco at Lakeside at Prospect Park, Or head to JFK, yes, the airport, and skate around the TWA Hotel. Skating, not your thing? To help our music venues out after a rough year and a half check out some live music, including the renovated Irving Plaza, Summer Stage, Bowery Ballroom, Forest Hills Stadium, and City Winery, to name a few. And don’t forget the summer of 2021 is all about dancing, which you can do at Hot Honey Sundays, Midsummer Night Swing, all PRIDE events, and by yourself in the middle of the street. Why the hell not?
Finally, know who has the best slice
You have three months to try every slice in NYC to determine the age-old debate: who has the best slice? We’re ready for the quintessential ‘best slice’ debate when you are.
Lastly, check out a ball game
Both the Yankees and the Mets have ticket deals this summer if vaccinated. Bring the kids or leave them at home so you can hit the bars pre-game.
We hope to see you out enjoying New York City Summer 2021!
