The Best NYC Summer On a Budget
Union Square Farmers Market Flower Stand (ph: Azucena Melchor)
by Azucena Melchor
FOR YOUR HOT GIRL SUMMER IN NEW YORK CITY, HERE’S A FEW THINGS YOU CAN DO ON A REALLY TIGHT BUDGET.
photo: @dhbaethoven
PARKS + REC
Trips to the park are probably the most obvious summer activity that I could mention, but they’re also the most versatile! Bring a blanket and a book, watch an outdoor show or have a picnic with a view. I could do this every day! NYC park highlights include the Pier 2 Roller Rink in Brooklyn and a few billiards and table tennis areas dispersed along Rockefeller Park by the Hudson River.
*photo: @sarahbelleelizabeth
MARKETS
Before you hit the park, stop by one of the many outdoor markets in NYC for a wide range of goods including clothes and household items (try Brooklyn Flea) and food to fuel your upcoming picnic (try Union Square Farmers Market). Not only will you find tons of unique stuff, you’ll support local makers. Win win!
*photo: @statenislandferry
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Hear me out, public transportation can be fun! One of my favorite things to do when I have the time is to hop on a citibike and take a ride along a river or across the Williamsburg Bridge. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s a great exercise and gets you places faster than anything else if you’re in a rush.
Another fav is the NYC Ferry, which is amazing on a nice day, even with no destination. If you do want to go somewhere (transportation, after all, is the ferry’s purpose), it’ll take you to Rockaway Beach for some sun or Astoria, Queens for some good eats, among other places.
photo: @galerieperrotin
Seeing art doesn’t have to be expensive. One of NYC’s wonders is its bustling arts community, some of which we can experience for free! Popular gems include the Lower East Side’s Galerie Perrotin which hosts around 50 exhibitions each year and Bowery’s The Hole NYC, which rotates shows twice a month. There are galleries everywhere, especially in Lower Manhattan, so don’t hesitate to stop and go in when you notice one.
photo: @lanatism
BEACHES
Going can be an all-day endeavor, but when you’re sick of the scorching city heat and need a breeze and some refreshing water to jump into, beaches are your answer. And there’s more good news; NYC has tons of beaches that you can actually swim in! These include the Rockaways, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach and more. All feel like a mini vacation and none involve the gross East River water that you might associate with NYC.
HONORABLE MENTION: TAKE A CLASS
If you’re down for a bit more of a scheduled experience, there are tons of drop in classes of all sorts in the city! Usually ranging between $20 and $30 per class, you can spend your time in an air conditioned environment learning Salsa or drawing— and then whip out those new skills at your next visit to the park.
