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New York City has reopened for tourism and the great city is ready to welcome Americans back. This spring and summer locals and tourists will enjoy outdoor recreation in the greatest city in the world. Here are the top 10 things to do outdoors in New York this summer.
Top Things to Do Outdoors in New York
Get Your Move on In the Parks
New York City has over 1,700 public parks and recreation areas over its five boroughs. If you are a power walker, jogger or biker there are many green open areas here for exercise. In midtown Manhattan, Central Park and Bryan Park have ample pathways and open spaces for your daily workout. On the west side, The Highline is an elevated train track that runs for 1.5 miles and is ideal for a walk or jog. Also on the west side is the Hudson River Greenway, a biking and pedestrian path that runs right along the Hudson River.
Whale Watching in New York City!
New York City would not be an obvious choice for travel if you wanted to do whale watching. Surprisingly, you can actually book a whale watching excursion with the urban background. The peak season to get a glimpse of these massive mammals near New York is from the months off April through December. The cruises leave from a few points at both New York City and New Jersey. An added bonus is that you will have great photo opportunities on the cruise as you will also see iconic landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island, Ellis Island and Governors Island.
Zip Line at Governor’s Island
Head to Adventure Zone on Governor’s Island for some outdoor fun. The Flywire Zip Line will have you soaring through the air with an awesome view of the Statue of Liberty as your backdrop. The adventure Zone also has a 3D Climbing Challenge, the Amazen’ Maze, and even slides for adults!
Kayak on NYC Waterways
Kayak enthusiasts can have a blast this summer on New York City’s waterways. This summer, New Yorkers and tourists can Kayak for free on the East River or the Hudson River. A few places for free kayaking include Downtown Boathouse on Pier 26, Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, Red Hook Boaters and LIC Community Boathouse.
Catch a Live Show at SummerStage
The summer is coming and so are the NYC outdoor concerts. After a year without live music, SummerStage is returning with a full schedule of events. Music genres featured in this concert series will include hip-hop, indie rock, Latin, jazz and contemporary dance performances. The summer concert schedule is not set yet, so check the website for show announcements and ticket sales.
Climb Boulders in Central Park
In the south end of Central Park, there are a few boulders that are very popular with boulder climbers. The most popular climbing boulders in Central Park are Rat Rock, Chess Rock, Cat Rock and Worthless Boulder. There are even tour companies in the city that have special rock climbing excursions, such as sunset tours.
Hang out in Your Private Backyard at The Greens
The Greens on Pier 17 are returning this summer to the delight of New Yorkers. This waterfront site has 32 mini lawns on the rooftop that can accommodate up to eight people each. Each area has an umbrella, sun chairs and a love seat. Guests can order food and cocktails through their phones for delivery to their lawn. This year guests will be treated to live music and DJ sets.
See the Unbelievable View From the Roosevelt Island Tram
The ride on the tram offers the spectacular photograph opportunities of the New York City skyline. From the Roosevelt Island tram, have your camera ready to snap some awesome shots of East Midtown from above.
Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge
An awesome outdoor New York City activity is the marvelous view while walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge is a bucket list New York City experience that every visitor should do. The bridge can be packed on the weekends with great masses of tourists and locals making their way across. It is best to do the bridge crossing on weekdays to ensure the best experience.
Explore the Trendy DUMBO Neighborhood
On the other side of the East River lies the artsy Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass (DUMBO) neighborhood. As you stroll the cobblestone streets, take some time to explore the art galleries, artists warehouses and the street art. When you visit the DUMBO Historic District, you will see the 95 buildings that are part of the National register of Historic Places. You will also see some great views of the Manhattan Bridge and the city skyline from the DUMBO area.
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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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Tuesday 1st of June 2021
Visit the Intrepid.