More Ideas Of How To Spend Your Time
See a Broadway Show
Seeing a show on Broadway is a quintessential New York experience. You can book your tickets in advance, or buy them the same day through TKTS in Times Square.
Run in the New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is an awesome thing to add to your bucket list if you are a runner. In one day you will tour all five boroughs of New York, ending in Central Park. Afterwards, you get to eat all of the pizza and gelato and crazy sundaes at Black Tap you want. Tim and I did this in 1997.
Learn more about the race here.
The Real Good Tips For Summer Vacation 2021 In New York
Take the time to discover most of New York by foot but watch out for the heat.Make sure to stay hydrated, stay in the shade as much as possible, and protect yourself from the sun between the hours of 1 and 4 pm.You must know that during those 2 summer months, try to avoid the train since its extremely hot on subway platforms. Try to get on the subway if necessary, but dont spend too much time waiting for it, youll quickly lose weight! Heres a small tip, if you happen to see an empty subway car during rush hours, watch out! It probably means that theres no air conditioning in that particular car.At night, take advantage of the weather to walk around and see some of the summer festivals the city offers.If you want to tan, you should go get some sun in Central Park.Otherwise, dont hesitate to go for a swim. Its true that we often think of New York as a city and not as a beach resort, but you can swim in New York! Its a really good tip since the beaches are very large and beautiful. You can even take the train to get there from Manhattan. All the details are here: Where are the best beaches in New York?If you prefer swimming in pools and dont leave Manhattan, check out my top public pools in New York.
What To Do In Nyc: Day 3
Stroll around Central ParkThe perfect way to relax in the city and leave the crowds behind is to spend the day in Central Park. Its free, there are lots of paths to walk , bike lanes, lakes to row in, and a zoo. Since the park covers over 150 square blocks, its easy to spend hours wandering around. During the summer months, there are often free concerts and theater productions . From the late spring to the early fall, there are free guided walks run by the parks service on Saturdays at 11am. Im a big fan of laying out in Sheeps Meadow on a hot, sunny day with a book, some food, and a bottle of wine.
Several excellent museums can be found in or on the edges of Central Park too .
Visit the The Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe Met is one of the biggest museums in the world, and if you only see one museum in New York, I recommend this one. It has a wide array of art, historical artifacts, photographs, and other exhibits. I like its expansive Impressionist and Greek exhibits. Its chaotic and filled with people, especially on the weekend, but since it is so big, you can usually find some quiet spots away from the crowds. Budget at least a half-day here as a few hours wont do this place justice.
1000 5th Avenue, Central Park, Upper East Side, +1 212 535 7710, metmuseum.org. Open SundayThursday from 10am5pm. Admission is $25 USD .
Central Park W. at 79th Street, Upper West Side, +1 212 769 5100, amnh.org. Open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am-5:30pm. Admission is $23 USD .
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Summer Fun At Coney Island
Visit Coney Island and find out just how much there is to do at this legendary New York seaside spot.
You can go to Luna Park, one of the best amusement parks in the NYC area. Ride the Thunderbolt, a 115-foot-tall roller coaster that reaches up to 55 miles per hour.
Don’t worry there are plenty of rides for those weak of heart and toddlers like water rides and the classic Steeplechase.
Afterward, walk along the Boardwalk to the New York Aquarium, where you can see penguins, harbor seals, otters and more.
TIP: Luna Park is included with the NY Pass, while both Luna Park and the Aquarium are included in the Sightseeing Pass.
Free Summer Sports And Fitness Around Nyc
Think the US Tennis Open is expensive? Think again! The FREE Qualifying Rounds at the US Tennis Open are a fantastic way to see the worlds greatest tennis players practice and compete completely free and take place every year from Tues-Fri, the week before the start of the US Open.
You can also catch the AVP New York City Open in June and General Admission is free.
Rather be active? Summer sports, fitness classes, bootcamps and more abound throughout the city. Catch some yoga, running, training or bootcamp every Thursday at Fitness in the Square. Check out Yoga, Tai Chi, Circuit Training, Tennis and much more at the NYC Parks Calendar for FREE Fitness Activities all over NYC, including NYC Summer Streets, when you can walk, bike, run or blade from Central Park to Brooklyn Bridge on Park Avenue. Prefer to be active along the water ? Then Healthy on the Hudson is for you. More free workouts: South Street Seaport, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Free Yoga.
Did you know there is Free Kayaking on the Hudson and free Beach Volleyball every weekend all summer long? There are so many awesome activities all along the West Side Highway all summer. Once youre on a bike, the WSH is one of the best ways to see and experience NYC.
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Enjoy Free Admission To The Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum
On select nights, you can visit this highly interactive and engaging museum for free between 5 pm and 9 pm .
This museum is housed on an aircraft carrier whose exhibits include a Concorde, a submarine, a space shuttle, and much more.
This is a fun way to spend an evening in NYC. This is also a kid-friendly activity. Plan your visit and learn about additional discounts.
Note: This opportunity may not be available in 2021 due to the pandemic.
For even more ideas, see our post, Things to Do in New York City at Night.
Phoenicia Festival Of The Voice
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Phoenicia Festival of the Voice presents musical performances honoring the African-American culture. The celebration kicks off with the 10-Year GalaDecade of Opera Favorites, featuring fan-favorite arias from “Madama Butterfly,””La bohème,” and more. Throughout the festival, attend lectures, experience impressive operas, listen to culturally connected songs, and participate in music workshops. The three-day festival wraps up with a closing gala that features performances from a range of genres including classical, jazz, Broadway, and rock. Stay for the dance party with DJ Skoob E that night.
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And Check Out Nycs New Fairy Tale
The newly opened Somewhere Nowhere NYC is a fairytale two-level rooftop lounge & pool located atop the Renaissance NY Chelsea Hotel on the 38th & 39th floor, that is sure to be double the fun! Its magical secret garden theme stretches across 5,516-square-feet and will transport you to a wonderland away from the city. Find out more here.
Your Concise New York Art Guide For August 2021
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The New York art world is bringing the heat this Leo season. From Wu Tsang and Beverly Glenn-Copelands healing sonic cocoon at the Guggenheim to Martine Gutierrezs iconic photographs at bus shelters across the city, theres a lot of strong work to see and celebrate. Check out our selection below, and dont forget your mask!
Cassie Packard
When: through September 25Where: Bridget Donahue
Drawing inspiration from a sale of Janet Jacksons personal belongings, Loot Sweets expands upon transdisciplinary artist Martine Syms explorations of the ways in which Black identities are articulated online and off. The works on view are characterized by a chaotic, dense, multilayered appearance that reflects a contemporary internet aesthetic and frame of mind. A video in which an animated avatar based on the artist continually dies and springs back to life, and a merch table topped with a bronze cast hair weave, suggest ambivalence around late-stage capitalism and highlight the demands that it places upon certain bodies.
When: through August 20Where: Jack Shainman Gallery
When: through August 25Where: CUE Art Foundation
Gregg Bordowitz: I Wanna Be Well
When: through October 11Where: MoMA PS1
With Pleasure: Pattern and Decoration in American Art 19721985
When: through November 28Where: Hessel Museum of Art, Bard College
Its a Summer Film!
When: August 20September 2Where: online and at Japan Society
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Experience Our Planet Is An Entirely New Visually Stunning Way At Arcadia Earth
You can explore the magic of our planet in a completely unparalleled way at Arcadia Earth in Greenwich Village. This interactive multi-storied, multi-sensory exhibit will take you through underwater worlds, forests and mystical caves. Not only will you get to experience Earths varying landscapes of texture and color through VR and AR technology, but youll also learn how to have a positive impact on the future of our planet! Get tickets here.
Days In New York: The Ultimate New York City Itinerary
With 5 days in New York City, you can visit the icons of New Yorkthe Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Central Parkand also have enough time to explore different neighborhoods, try new foods, and see a Broadway show. We put together this 5 day New York City itinerary to help you have the best experience here.
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First Time Guide To New York City 5 Day Itinerary By A Native New Yorker
Im so proud to be a native New Yorker and I love to help first timers plan their first trip to New York City. Ive made a five day itinerary for NYC with advice on what to see and eat mostly in Manhattan for all budgets.
This post may contain affliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases .
This is a local guide, so although I cover the famous sites, I encourage you to see the smaller neighborhoods/places that make New York special. The Big Apple has so much to offer year-round, so most of these tips can be also used over the holidays. Theres a FREE downloadable map with all the best places to see in New York City in 5 days.
FYI: This is a suggested itinerary for five days, so not everything may be your cup of tea. Feel free to pick from the days , but keep in mind that New York City is BIG, so you change up this itinerary, you might have a lengthy train or taxi ride between places.
How long to spend in NYC? 5 days in NYC is actually the perfect amount if its your first visit. You can spend 3 days in New York City, but its cutting it closeand youll need to come back again. If you have only one day in New York City, you can still see Manhattan!
Before you visit New York City: Download Google Maps & the FREE map at the bottom with all mentioned places as well as Yelp for food. Google has recently really improved their offers for food recommendations.
Free Summer Arts And Culture
While there are plenty of times throughout the year to see a NYC Museum Free, summer has some extra special bonuses for saving. You cant beat the Annual Museum Mile Festival in June, which opens up Museum Mile to the public for free. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is always a suggested donation for locals, but what better way to spend a summer evening than with skyline views, beautiful art and hand-crafted cocktails at the Met Roof Martini Bar? To reward those who so bravely serve our country, check out Free NYC Museum Admission for Military Families all Summer.
Interested in free, outdoor Opera? Grab yourself a blanket and picnic and head to the Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series and the Metropolitan Opera Summer HD Festival.
For the MOST quintessential, classic NYC experience every New Yorker should experience at least once, Shakespeare in the Park is a dont miss! Tickets are free, but do require waiting on long lines, unless you win the ticket lottery. Not to worry, for those willing to pay a reasonable line sitting fee, NYC Insider has you covered with guaranteed tickets.
Back to Topof Free Things to Do in New York in Summer
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Last Thoughts: Plan Ahead
New York is so large. I sometimes joke that you need about two weeks to just cover the major sights, which is true since I didnt even include Coney Island . I didnt even cover every borough here!
However, five full days in New York City is a perfect start to feel at home in New York. At a minimum, you should have the hang of the subway by the time that youre done. Below, youll find a free offline map with all the places mentioned here that you can download for offline use!
Nyc Hotels With Free Bicycles
If had to pick my FAVORITE way to explore NYC, it would be on bicycle! Don’t miss out on your choice of NYC hotels with free bicycles, allowing you to explore hidden nooks of NYC you can’t see any other way. Some of our top value picks include:
- – Top NYC Budget Hotel, Right on West Side Bike Path
Neighborhood Guide: Midtown West
Check out concept and future vehicles, ultra luxury sports cars and more. With their cool, new iPhone app, the Auto Show is better than ever. They were the first and largest attended Auto Show in North America, and one of the most popular events in New York City each year, receiving over one million visitors during its 10-day run. Filling the Javits Center with over 1,000 vehicles from major auto manufacturers and more, it is a must see for all auto enthusiasts.
Back to Top of New York City Events August Activities Calendar 2021
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Nyc Insider Print Map And Guide To Manhattan
Download over 100 pages of NYC maps, information and recommendations in less than 5 minutes! Our NYC Insider Printable Map Guide Book, Travel Planner and Bonus Map Guides include organized, easy to follow, color coded guides, detailed maps of every neighborhood, weekly chart of Free Museum Days and Times and free weekly neighborhood tours, Best of NYC Categories and lists by ALL native New Yorkers. Download everything you need to know NYC Like a Pro and make the most of your NYC vacation.
Loving the guide so far! Ive been studying it for our upcoming trip. My favorite part is that youve provided what to see and where to eat in each area! We will be taking our cheat sheets with us as we visit each place! Honestly, I am not sure what you could have done better it is so detailed, I love it!
Download over 100 pages of NYC maps, information and recommendations in less than 5 minutes! Our NYC Insider Printable Map Guide Book, Travel Planner and Bonus Map Guides include organized, easy to follow, color coded guides, detailed maps of every neighborhood, weekly chart of Free Museum Days and Times and free weekly neighborhood tours, Best of NYC Categories and lists by ALL native New Yorkers. Download everything you need to know NYC Like a Pro and make the most of your NYC vacation.
Back to Topof New York City Events August Activities Calendar 2021
Lincoln Center Restart Stages
Summer 2021
Lincoln Center Restart Stages is a collaboration that reimagines public space to create 10 outdoor performance and rehearsal spaces, helping to kickstart the performing arts sector and New York Citys revival. Restart Stages will feature free and low-cost events by organizations, including Lincoln Centers resident companies.
Enjoy a concert and cabaret series by Lincoln Center Theater, film screenings from Film at Lincoln Center, dance workshops from New York City Ballet, and performances by the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance , Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, Harlem Week and the Harlem Arts Alliance, Korean Cultural Center New York, Weeksville Heritage Center and many more. All offerings will occur outdoors with safety protocols in place for artists, audiences and staff.
Back to Topof New York City Events August Activities Calendar
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Cheap And Free Things To Do In New York City
Here is a list of my favorite things to do in New York City on a budget Some things have been covered in my 4 days in New York itinerary, but some may also need repeating!
You will be paying an arm and leg for food in New York even groceries cost more in NYC but with this list, you will be equipped to spend 4 days in New York without feeling like youre always pinching pennies.