20 Things to Do Around NYC This Summer

Summer officially begins on Sunday, but let’s be real — I’ve been working on a list of things I want to do since about January. Most New Yorkers escape the city every weekend, but since we’re saving up for our honeymoon in a few months, most of our adventures will be local. So to celebrate the season, I put together a list of 20 things to do in and around New York City this summer. Whether you’re visiting from out of town or have lived here for years, the best part about summertime in NYC is that there’s always something to do!

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Things I’m Dying to Do

Spend a day at Coney Island. This one’s a little cheesy, but I’ve always wanted to go to Coney Island, grab a hot dog and walk the boardwalk. It’s an iconic part of summer in NYC and has to be experienced at least once! Plus, the vibrant street art on display as an outdoor exhibit is all the more reason to go!

Brunch with a side of laser tag. This is no joke. Every Sunday this summer, the Highline Ballroom is converting their venue space into a laser tag arena where you can play a round, grab a drink and then enjoy brunch bites.  It’s like the best of your childhood and adulthood wrapped in a Sunday afternoon.

Grab drinks on the Frying Pan. Cocktails on a historic boat along the Hudson River? Enough said.

Visit MoMA. I say this every year, but I really want to visit more museums. At this point, I’ve only been to The Met and the American Museum of Natural History.  MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art) is next on my list and I’m sure will be incredibly inspiring.

Take a SoulCycle class. After living in NYC for almost three years, I can’t believe I still have yet to take a SoulCycle class. It has basically achieved cult status here andI’m curious to see what all the hype is about. I also really want to take a class with Hallie before she moves to Chicago.

Rent a row boat in Central Park. And by rent a row boat, I mean make James do all the paddling.

Take a trip down to the Jersey Shore. Years before we moved here, our perception of Jersey Shore involved rowdy night clubs, t-shirt shops on the boardwalk and a lot of fist pumping. I assume most of the Shore is not like that and I’m excited to experience the local beachtown vibes. We’re checking this one off the to do list this weekend and taking a trip to Asbury Park!

Outdoor movie night. From Bryant Park to hotel rooftops, there are so many outdoor movie nights to choose from! LOFT is also hosting a movie series along the East River and they’re playing Bridesmaid on June 30! Done and done.

Visit The Cloisters. Another cultured moment for you. The Cloisters is an extension of The Metropolitan Museum of Art all the way up on 190th Street. It’s dedicated to the art and architecture of medieval Europe and would make for the perfect escape out of the city and out of this time period.

Bike down Summer Streets. Some of you know that I’m an avid CitiBike rider. I bike around town and to/from work whenever I can. I’m really excited about Summer Streets, where the city will close seven miles of Park Avenue every Saturday morning in August for people to play, walk, run and bike.

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Things I’d Do Again and Again

Rooftop happy hours. I don’t think this one needs much explanation. If it’s nice outside, you can probably find me on a rooftop somewhere. Some of my favorites include The Refinery in Midtown, Gallow Green in Chelsea and Berry Park in Greenpoint. You can also see more of my favorite NYC Rooftop Bars by clicking the story in my sidebar!

Smorgasburg. I don’t consider myself a foodie, but damn, do I love to eat. Smorgasburg is one of my favorite summer highlights. It brings together hundreds of local food vendors (from restaurants to food trucks to farmers) and is a great way of tasting ALL OF THE FOOD that New York has to offer.

Take the East River Ferry. For a stunning view of the NYC skyline, hop on the East River Ferry at 34th Street and take it all the way to Williamsburg. It’s only $6 for a one way trip on weekends and drops you off right in front of Smorgasburg. That’s a win/win.

Eat all of the ice cream. One of the reasons why we had our wedding at the beginning of summer: so I could enjoy all of the ice cream without any of the guilt. Mister Softee ice cream trucks are an NYC classic, but I also love Big Gay Ice Cream in the East Village, Popbar in the West Village and Ample Hills Creamery in Prospect Heights.

Bike down to South Street Seaport. Biking from all the way to the southern tip of Manhattan on a hot summer day is kind of grueling (James is going to kill me), but it’s totally worth it once you get to South Street Seaport. They have a bunch of cute shops, restaurants, live entertainment and food trucks. There’s always something new to explore when you get there.

Walk the High Line. This is the one place I always take guests to when they’re visiting. The High Line is an elevated park built on a history freight rail line (you can actually see some of the original tracks through the park).

NY Botanical Garden. I recently went here with Tracy to see the Orchid Show. We only had time to explore the greenhouse for the exhibit and I’ve been meaning to go back to see the expansive grounds.

Rooftop at The Met. Did you know that there’s a rooftop bar at the top of The Met? I didn’t until last summer! Just ask a staff member to point you in the right direction and you’ll find yourself a glass of sparkling rosé and the most gorgeous view of Central Park!

Picnic in Prospect Park. Don’t hate me, but I think Prospect Park is way better than Central Park. It’s much less crowded and any place that has less tourists is a place I want to be. It’s a bit of a trek into Brooklyn, but it’s worth it when you see the sprawling green lawns. It’s also a quick walk from my favorite ice cream shop of all time.

Explore Queens. James and I recently visited friends out in Astoria and I have to admit, the neighborhood has an off-beat charm about it. We brunched at Queen’s Comfort (eccentric environment, AMAZING food) and visited the Studio Square Beer Garden, which is huge. I feel like there’s so much more to explore and we’ll definitely be back this summer!

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So much to do, so little time. I hope you enjoyed my list of things to do in Manhattan in the summer and hope you get to experience them yourself! If you have any must-do activities, eats or sights that I missed, send them my way! I might just add them to my own summer adventures, which you can follow on Snapchat (username: SkirtTheRules) or Instagram with the hashtags #skirtthecity and #skirttheweekend. Happy weekending loves!