After what feels like the longest, strangest winter (no snow?) Spring is here at last. You can feel the excitement on campus as the temperature rises and the sun peaks out from behind the clouds. There’s no better feeling then going to bed with your window open and laying out on the quad in nothing but a short sleeved shirt. I believe it’s the most anticipated season of the year, especially living in New York where winters seem endless. Now that the weather is getting warmer, there are so many more exciting things that you can do outside! Read these options for Spring activities, and then head out and get your Vitamin D (with SPF of course)!
Plan a picnic in Central Park.
There is really no place more beautiful then springtime in the City. As the leaves get greener and the flowers start to bloom, Central Park gets more and more visitors looking for places to enjoy the fresh air. Don’t waste your cash on lunch at an expensive NYC restaurant. Instead, pack a lunch in a picnic basket and bring along an old blanket. Set up a picnic in the park and soak up the sunshine with a group of friends or a date. Central Park is a great place to people-watch and toss the Frisbee around a bit. Don’t forget to bring some extra bread to feed the ducks (á la Blair Waldorf and Dorota).
Skip the gym and do your workout outside.
Warmer weather almost automatically means hitting the gym harder. (Bikini season is just too close!) But why head to the sweaty, crowded gym when the weather is so beautiful? Head outside for a run with a friend! Jones beach is an excellent spot to run for a few miles, and the resistance from the sand will be great for your leg muscles. If you’re a yoga or Pilates fan, bring a mat to the beach and do your stretches there. The relaxing sounds of the waves will provide you with a beautiful, stress-free and oh-so-Zen feeling of relaxation.
Treat your toes to a pedicure!
You deserve it. Your feet have been trapped in boots for so long; it’s time to flash those cute, new strappy sandals! But you can’t do that with your toes looking “blah”. Treat yourself to a pedicure at a salon (there’s one right on campus!) and you’ll usually get a nice foot massage as well. Or, if you don’t feel like spending the money, have a spa night with your girlfriends and paint your toes in fun, spring shades!
Shop, Shop Shop!
Okay, so maybe this one doesn’t include heading out into the sunshine. But with all of the cute new spring lines out, it’s too tempting not to head to the mall! Styles that are big right now…fun, backless dresses like this one from Lulu’s, and colorful wedge sandals like these from GoJane. And if you want to incorporate the nice weather, head out to the courtyard, lay out a blanket, play some fun music and get your online-shopping on while enjoying the weather!
Experience Coney Island!
Coney Island is a neighborhood in southernmost Brooklyn that includes around 50 rides, a beach and a boardwalk! It is a fun place to take a day trip to, once the weather is warm enough. There is so much to do and it’s only about a 45-minute trip on the subway from Manhattan. In addition to the rides, there are many other shows and attractions. It’s something that every New Yorker must experience; so add it to your to-do list for this Spring! (There is more information on www.coneyisland.com).
What are your Spring plans?