Planning To Head To The Big Apple This Summer? Here Are 10 Fun Things to Do

People use all kinds of adjectives to describe The Big Apple, but there’s a good chance “boring” isn’t one of them, especially in the summer. There’s international cuisine, a thriving theater culture and don’t forget the 24- hour bodegas where you can get your chopped cheese fix at 1 in the morning. New York City moves at a constantly frenetic pace, while areas upstate like Binghamton and Albany offer a slower pace of life and fresh air.

If New York is on your radar, here are ten fun things to do and places to visit.

Explore The Many Parks

Central Park and Prospect Park are great for a walk or jog. Also, there are plenty of green spaces to read a book or set up a picnic.

Bryant Park attracts local professionals taking a coffee or lunch break. It’s also a draw for tourists who bring their kids to ride the carousel.

The High Line is a walkway, a park and a public art space. Take in views of the city and the Hudson River.

There’s always something going on Washington Square Park. Demonstrations, live music, and there was body-painting and a mass pillow fight some years ago.

Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx is the third largest in New York City, and has the largest freshwater lake in that borough. It’s great for bike riding.

Sip A Lil' Something At Different Bars

From dive bars to swanky cocktail lounges, New York offers plenty of places to get your drink on.

Want something with a view? Try Monarch just by Herald Square or The Frying Pan, a docked boat on the Hudson.

If you like classic Hollywood, you’ll appreciate the decor of The Liberty. For some sexy, subterranean charm, have a cocktail at The Tippler in Chelsea. Harlem Hops is a love song to The Culture and has a great lineup of craft beers.

Grab a pint at one of the many Irish pubs such as Peter Dillions, Playwright and Jack Doyle’s.

Check Out The Nods To Black Art, Culture And History

The Schomburg Center is New York’s most prestigious resource for Black culture and is an absolute must see.

In Brooklyn, go to The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA).

Other museums featuring Black culture and art include the Bedford-Stuyvesant Museum of African Art, Weeksville Heritage Center and the Brooklyn Museum.

Get A Sweat Going At A Black-Owned Business Fitness Studio

Want to keep physically fit while on vacation?

Harlem Cycle is a spin studio that also offers mat-based workouts. The founder, Tammeca Rochester, wanted to create a community-oriented space, with a special nod to Black people.

There are now two locations- 138 and Adam Clayton Powell and West 125th.

Harlem Cycle hosts outdoor wellness events in the summer and fall. Be sure to follow the Instagram page for details.

Visit Some World Class Museums

When the weather isn’t so nice, why not check out a museum?

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will keep art lovers enthralled for hours. The Museum of Modern Art, The Guggenheim and The Whitney Museum of Art are all fantastic.

Go To The Street Fairs

Nothing like stumbling on a street fair that stretches for blocks. And they seem to spring up at random, which is part of the appeal.

Feast on funnel cakes, arepas and fried oreos.

On Pier 17 at South Street Seaport, the Hester Street Fair features crafts, fashion, food vendors and live DJs. It runs on June 11 and June 25 from 11 AM to 6 PM.

Watch Movies Outdoors For Free

If you’re looking for something free to do in town, take the family to see an outdoor movie. You won’t have to spend a fortune on refreshments, nor will you be criticized if you bring your own.

Bryant Park announced a great lineup of action and comedy flicks. Harlem River Park, Paerdegat Park and others will also be participating.

Find more information here.

Check Out The Summer Parades

New York has fantastic parades all summer long.

The Brooklyn Pride festival is June 11, and  consists of a street fair and then a march. There’s a ton of after parties, too.

The Coney Island boardwalk surges to life on June 18 with the 40th annual Mermaid Parade.

The Pride Parade in Manhattan on June 26 is filled with colorful floats and people from all over the world. Find out about other Pride related events here.

And of course, we can’t leave out the West Indian Day Parade that runs along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. It takes place on September 5.

Dance At Bella Abzug Park Courtesy of Vinyl Nights

Vinyl Nights is dedicated to the goal of keeping NYC dancing with funk, disco and early hip-hop classics.

It goes without saying that you’ll be hearing plenty of Black artists from The Brothers Johnson to A Tribe Called Quest.

The first Vinyl Nights event of 2022 took place in April. The next one will be June 2 from 6 to 9 PM.

You can take the 7 train to Hudson Yards, which is the closest station.

Unwind And Recharge Outside Of The City

New York is more than just the city. If time allows, set aside a day or two to explore upstate.

Even those who live in New York City need to leave the concrete jungle now and again to recharge in nature.

Driving is an option, but you can also take a Greyhound bus or Amtrak.