10 Places to Check Out This Summer in NYC

1. Coney Island

Coney Island has been around for a loooong time and as a history major I know quite a bit about its history, but I rather not bore you with those details. If you're going to be staying in NYC this summer, you definitely need to check out Coney Island. It's a fun place to check out both day and night (or both!) and the closest you'll get to a grand scale amusement park in the concrete jungle. I have to admit though, I've never been here. Shocking, I know. But, it's on my "absolutely must-happen this summer" list. Check out more pictures of Coney Island here.

2. The Cloisters

The Cloisters museum and gardens is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and showcases the art and architecture of Medieval Europe. You are sure to find tons of beautiful works of art and architecture here. Just the gardens alone are worth the trip. If you're a fan of art or art history, this is a must see. Check out more information here. 

3. Central Park

This one is pretty much a given. It's probably one of the most famous spots in NYC. You can simply take a stroll through the park and people watch. Go for a run around its many paths. Take a picnic on one of its huge lawns. Lay out and read a book. Boating on the lake. There's also a zoo somewhere in there (although I do not encourage going to the zoo because I'm anti-zoos, but that's besides the point.) Central Park is a huge staple of NYC (and its huge itself) so if you don't check it out while visiting/staying in NYC then I guess you're just cray. Check out the official Central Park website for more info.

4. Washington Square Park

Washington Square Park, which is located right near the NYU campus, is a pretty great spot for people watching. There's usually always something interesting going on there. Also, there's a small dog park if you want to check out cute puppies running around. There's frequent concerts that take place here, so check out it's official site for info on upcoming events. 

5. Williamsburg Flea

This flea market is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has around 150 vendors, so you're sure to find something that sparks your interest. Vendors vary from vintage items to more high-end items and there's also food (who doesn't love food.) As an avid thrift shopper, I am also a big fan of flea markets. You just never know what you'll find. So this flea market is definitely worth a visit. For more info check out this site, which also provides information on other Brooklyn flea markets.

6. Smorgasburg

Another Brooklyn flea event, the Smorgasbord is allllll about food. 100 vendors showcase their fabulous food every weekend from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in two different locations (depending on the day.) You can literally find every type of food here. How can you NOT check out a food festival?! For more info and a list of all its vendors, check out the Smorgasburg site here. 

7. Bryant Park's free Monday movie night

As you can see, it gets pretty packed, so the earlier you arrive the better. These free movie nights in the park happen every Monday night from 5 to 11 p.m. starting on June 16th. Check out the movie line-up here. Some notable movies worth checking out are National Lampoon's Vacation (July 21st) and The Shining (August 18th.) 

8. Beer Garden

Okay, so there are tons and tons of beer gardens worth checking out in the city. I don't necessarily have any recommendations, but if you're a craft beer fan, try checking out a few throughout the summer and find your favorite one. Just search for beer gardens on Yelp and you can check out the reviews and what people have to say about each of them. 

9. Bryant Park free yoga classes

Another cool event worth checking out this summer at Bryant Park are their free yoga classes! They happen every Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. and Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. This year they have awards for the frequent yogis who attend up to 12 classes. Check out the scoop here. 

10. Summer streets in August

In August, the city closes off a few streets to cars which allows people to stroll through the streets or bike ride. There's "rest stops" along the way with activities and art performances. The dates for this summer are August 3rd, 10th and 17th from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (so you might need to be an early bird to fully enjoy this experience!) Check out this site for upcoming information on the activities, etc.

These are only a handful of fun things you can do in the city this spring/summer! Search the net for more fun events because in the city that never sleeps, you're sure to find plenty to do ;)