Spray Showers In City Parks
Tons of city parks and playgrounds have spray showers, which
are a great and easy way to let your kids cool down and let loose in the summer
sun. For a list of the spray showers nearest you, click here.
great destination for off-shore fishing,
for rent; prices range from $24-40.
Steeplechase Pier,
land, head to
fish all year. If the fish aren’t biting, Nathan’s hot dogs make for a tasty
Plan B.
Don’t Forget! If you and your family are first-time fishers,
study up on
regulations before you hit the shores.
Kayaking
The Downtown Boathouse: Begin your free kayaking adventure from one of the Downtown Boathouse’s
three locations (Pier 40, Pier 96 and
Street
nights for first-timers.
Manhattan Kayak Company: Located on Pier 66, this school offers safe kayak instruction, a wide
variety of tours and even off-season storage. Tours vary in level of difficulty
and range; prices range from $35-$225.
The New York Kayak Company: Another great option for kayak beginners, The New York Kayak
Company sells apparel and gear (as well as lessons and tours) at its Pier 40
location. Looking for a challenge? Try a stand-up paddle board class.
Boating
Circle Line Sightseeing: Hop on The Beast Speedboat Ride for
an exciting 30-minute trip through the
and the Statue of Liberty at a whopping 45 miles per hour!
New York
Taxi: For something a bit more
relaxing, New York Water Taxi offers a variety of sightseeing cruises,
including the Audubon eco-cruise and the hop-on/hop-off boat.
Staten Island
across the harbor will get you great photos of the Statue of Liberty,
Island
cost you a penny!
Sailing
Blessing Of The Fleet And Opening Day In New York Harbor: This Friday (6/4), watch hundreds of white-sailed vessels pass by and receive an official blessing as a start to the sailing season! (6:30-7:30 p.m., North Cove, Battery Park). Then, on Saturday (6/5), watch a fleet of up to 100 sailboats and yachts head past the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River, sporting festive flags and competing for various prizes! (1 p.m.-4 p.m., in and around NY Harbor and the Hudson River).
Offshore
two-hour excursion on the water) and courses (a 3-5 day course to get your
sailing certification) from Chelsea Piers.
Hudson River
Learn about the
water, and listen to music on a three-hour public sail.
Beaches
It goes without
saying, there’s nothing like the beach—especially right now! These
local beaches are all within an hour of the city and are reachable by
car or train:
Jacob Riis Park, Queens.
Jones Beach but closer. This beach-park offers a mile-long stretch of
surf kids can swim in, plus ball courts, miniature golf, a boardwalk, a
playground, and public grills. 718-318-4300.
Midland Beach, Staten Island. This
beach is great for swimming and boasts concession stands, a playground,
and the Sea Turtle Fountain, which has sprinklers kids can run around
in. It’s also close to South Beach, which is popular for its boardwalk.
718-987-0709.
Sandy Hook, NJ.
Only a 40-minute ferry ride from Wall Street, this beautiful, well-kept
beach-park includes seven miles of ocean beaches, salt marshes, and
hiking trails. If your family enjoys historical sites, visit the oldest
surviving lighthouse in the United States, Sandy Hook Lighthouse, which
can be visited on weekends from noon to 5 p.m. Also, be sure to bring
your bikes and take advantage of Sandy Hook’s amazing bike trails.
732-872-5970, sandy-hook.com. For ferry info: seastreak.com.
Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn.
Going east, first comes Coney, then Brighton, then Manhattan Beach,
which adjoins a community of private homes. There’s basketball courts,
paddle ball, tennis, a great beach shaped like a half-moon, and a big
public parking lot (get there early to claim your spot!).
Brighton Beach and Coney Island.
They share the same beach and boardwalk. Brighton has the infusion of
Russian culture and restaurants. Coney has, in case you haven’t heard,
rides, circus, Nathan’s, minor league baseball, and the aquarium.
Whichever one you land at, it’s easy to visit the other.
Water Taxi Beach at Long Island City, Queens.
Across from Manhattan, there are concessions and volleyball during the
day, and dance parties at night. A great view, a great place for a
family picnic.
Orchard Beach, Bronx.
Once heralded as New York’s “Riviera,” it’s still quite a gem, with
playgrounds, picnic areas, and more than two dozen sports courts—and a
nice big and long beach front.
Long Beach, Long Island.
Not to be confused with Long Beach Island on the Jersey Shore, Long
Beach on Long Island is a year-round home to some, a great summer day
to others. It has a Jersey Shore town’s mix of commercial stores and
restaurants and club, with a heavy infusion of city cool and artiness.
And a great beach.
Jones Beach, Long Island.
Hugely popular, lots of concessions, public swimming pools, a
performance venue for night concerts, basketball, tennis, shuffle
board, mini-golf, picnic areas, rustic hiking—but the crown jewel, of
course, is the big beach and delicious ocean.
Public Pools
For a complete list of NYC public pools in all five boroughs, click here.
