Now that the weather is finally nice in New York City, you’re probably thinking about how all the different ways you can take advantage of it. Here are some budget friendly, outdoor activities to help you unwind and de-stress during the last few weeks of school year and throughout the summer if you’re staying in the city.
1. Fun at Splish Splash
Who doesn’t love a spontaneous getaway? Pick a weekend or any day during the summer and head over to the Atlantic terminal and take the LIRR straight to Splish Splash in Long Island. Bring a couple of friends or family, some cash, your swimsuit and head there for some fun. What’s even better is that the MTA offers a nice package deal that includes a round trip, connecting shuttle bus, and admission ticket here.
2. Go to the beach
As obvious as this sounds, it isn’t just going to the beach. At Coney Island, there’s Luna Park (an amusement park), the boardwalk, a nearby aquarium, and much more. Although, rides may be a bit pricey, going there at least once is definitely worth it. For the summer, there’s also tons of free events such as the fireworks show that goes on every week starting July 4th.
There’s also Manhattan Beach for those who want to go somewhere less crowded. You can also have barbecues at this beach and play sports. And if your younger siblings need something else to do, there’s a park for them.
3. Head to a pool
If you don’t want to deal with the mess that comes with sand at the beach, then you should definitely grab a few friends and head to the pool. Make sure you bring a lock and towel along with your swimming gear. There are over 60 public pools in the city and they are completely free admission, just make sure that you check the pool schedule to get there on time. Depending on where you’d like to go, you’re bound to find one in that area. Some public pools in Brooklyn are Sunset Park and Red Hook. In the summer, there’s also a pop-up pool at Brooklyn Bridge Park!
4. Pack up a perfect park picnic
Central Park is an iconic spot in the city, but did you fully explore it yet? You can row a boat with a few friends; although it can be pricey, splitting it up among a few friends makes it a lot more affordable so that each person pays $3-4! You can also picnic here and play sports like frisbee or volleyball. Central Park also hosts free events such as concerts, which you’ll have to be on the lookout for.
Another park that is worth exploring is Battery Park. Here you can play mini golf, rent roller skates and rollerblades, or just enjoy walking around and taking pictures.
5. Walk the Bridge
If you never walked one of the bridges in NYC before, then it’s time that you do. Whether or not it’s the Brooklyn Bridge or the Manhattan Bridge, you can never go wrong with walking it with a group of close friends or family. Walking the bridge is completely free and open to the public, so why not take advantage of it? It will be a nice workout and photoshoot, especially if you need a new profile picture!
We hope that you will be able to take advantage of the things you can do in the city that we’ve listed above. It’ll definitely be a great way to have some fun and relax without worrying about major expenses. We hope that you make these plans and have fun!