Summer Time Sizzlers!

We asked our New York Guest Staff what their favorite summertime activities  are. See what they have to say!

A Typical Day at the Green Market in Union Square

My favorite Saturdays in the summer are those that I start at the Green Market in Union Square and peruse all those things green and fresh from all our local farms.  Laden with all my bags, I head over to Raffetto’s for some of the best homemade pasta in the city.  Armed with pasta, I needed to complete my other pantry items, so I head over to Bleecker Street and stop at Murray’s for cheese, Faico’s for pork products and Ottomanelli Brothers for meat and poultry.  Lastly, I head over  to Da Silvanos on 6^th Avenue to sit outside and enjoy some of the best Tuscan cuisine in the city!!  I have even had a few celebrity sightings there from time to time.  After my morning of shopping coupled by my 4 hour lunch, it’s time for me to head home for a long awaited siesta! Aren’t you full from reading that?

-Michael

Just a Pretty Day in a Boat at Central Park. Ahh This is the Life!

My favorite New York City getaway year round is Central Park. But during the summer there are so many more activities available to you. The one I most enjoy in the park are the row boats in the lake by the The Loeb Central Park Boathouse. If you enter the park on 72^nd street on the east or west side of the park it will lead you right to the lake. This is the perfect get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and a great place to hang out on a hot summer day. If you are afraid of the water and/or boats you can also rent bicycles at the lake and bike. The park offers a trail complete with bike lanes so there is no need to worry about those crazy cab drivers weaving in and out of traffic! Either way spending time in Central Park is always a nice getaway from the busy city lifestyle and highly recommended! I like to think of it as my own personal backyard (that I happen to share with just a couple of people)!

-Karissa

The Rooftop at the Standard Hotel

There is nothing that I love more than the summer time! My friends and I love to be outside enjoying the sun every chance we get on the weekends. At least once a month in the summer we meet up at the Standard Beer Garden in the Meatpacking District to de-stress from the week and catch up. The Beer Garden is a Bavarian Style rooftop bar, offering 3 German Beers on draft as well as typical German fare like (my favorite) a giant pretzel with delicious mustard dipping sauce. With gorgeous views of the Hudson River, there are even ping-pong tables on the rooftop for some friendly competition. This is a perfect spot to visit to enjoy some good drinks, food, laughs, and sunshine!

-Beth

Don't you want to hang out with him?

Summer Friday’s in New York mean 2 things for natives:  Either a chance to hang out in city without the crowds that are normally here or heading out to Long Island or the Jersey Shore where you join thousands of fellow city folks for some beach and after sun fun!

One of my favorite places to spend a weekend is in East Hampton.  Known to be a little less wild then it’s sister town (South Hampton),  East Hampton and Amagansett have shopping, beaches, restaurants and après beach happy hour venues.  My most absolute favorite summer spot is a beach bar located off of dusty Montauk Highway called Cyril’s.   The owner sits center stage every Saturday and Sunday, greeting old friends and meeting new ones. Dogs run freely and children are welcome at this afternoon party that reminds me of giant tailgate parties from my past.   On any given Saturday, you can find me, my friends, and some dogs, with Lobster Rolls in hand, while enjoying the Cyril house specialty, BBC (Banana Baileys Chocolate) with a rum floater.  There it is; my version of a little weekend paradise!

-Jeannette

  I like to think of summer as the time to enjoy things you can’t do year round. I love being outdoors. Luckily, my city has tons of outdoor activities to keep me busy all summer long. Have you ever been to one of the many free concerts NYC offers? SummerStage, New York’s largest free performing arts festival, brings over 100 performances to eighteen parks throughout the five boroughs. I have seen my fair share of concerts: Black Crowes, All Points West, The Black Keys and much more! Did I mention that they are free!? Of course, you can buy tickets to get the better seats. Or you can just bring a blanket, find some grass and enjoy the tunes! Check out their website for the 2011 lineup.

Do you have Bieber Fever? He will be performing here on June 4!

The Today Show also has many free performances all summer long. I have never had the guts to line up on the streets at 4 AM with thousands of people waiting to get a glimpse of the performing pop star. BUT I have watched it comfortably from home. If you are coming to town and want to check out some free music you can check out the Summer Concert Series schedule here.

-Lora

Spend Your Summer Days at the Met!

My favorite summer activity is going to the many amazing museums NYC has to offer.  While many people are out in the hot sun at the beach or park, I am usually taking the opportunity to meander my way around New York City’s vast cultural houses of art, history, and science.  I like to go to the museums in the summer because they are not as jam-packed with school and tour groups, making it very easy to spend as much or as little time as I want at each exhibit. The free air conditioning never hurts either! 

-Kelly

Best Day Trips from New York City

We asked the New York Guest team: what’s your favorite day trip from New York City?

Check out what these local New Yorkers like to do on their time off.  Do you have a favorite that’s not on our list? Tell us about your favorite day trips from NYC in the comments section!

Pepsico Gardens

Pepsico Gardens, Purchase NY- 45 Minutes from NYC
The site of Pepsi Co.’s main headquarters, this facility holds a wide open park that is completely accessible to the public. On a nice day, Pepsico Gardens is one of the prettiest places to visit just outside of New York– a perfect place to have a picnic. If you head in early enough, make sure to stop at Purchase Deli on Anderson Hill Road on your way, and grab one of the best breakfast sandwiches you can get for your dollar. After you arrive at the Garden, make sure to take advantage of the beautiful walking paths that lead you in and around the park. At the center of the Garden is a large pond with many different species of fish and bird. If picnicking is not your thing, the garden still holds a variety of modern sculptures (ranging from small to large) and wildlife to check out. Pepsico Gardens is a great place to start a day-trip out of the NYC to White Plains or if you’re headed up north to Woodbury Commons or Connecticut. Getting there is easy as well; a simple train ride to White Plains on the Hudson line of Metronorth from Grand Central, or a 45 minute drive up I-95 to the Hutchinson River Pkwy.  – Bryan, Concierge

Nissequogue River Canoeing

Nissequogue River in Smithtown, NY – 1.5 Hours from NYC
One of my favorite side trips is to Long Island to Nissequogue River in Smithtown, It’s about 90 minutes From Penn Station and then a quick walk or cab ride over the start of the river. The river goes about 6 miles and there are some sandy beaches at the mouth of the river where you can have swim or a picnic lunch. It is kid friendly and a great way to escape from the hustle of the city – Jeannette, Director of International Sales

Stony Brook Village Green

Stony Brook, NY - 1.5 Hours from NYC
Stony Brook, NY, is located on the north shore of Long Island and is easily accessible by Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) or by car. It is about an hour and a half drive from Manhattan. Stony Brook has many attractions and activities for the entire family. It would also make for a lovely romantic getaway for two! The main Village Green, which looks out onto Old Stony Brook Harbor, includes a historic post office and several quaint little shops and restaurants to explore. Across the street, is the Three Village Inn, a perfect spot for an afternoon brunch. Other sites to visit while in Stony Brook include the William Sydney Mount House, Stony Brook Grist Mill and the historic St. James Chapel. The town is also home to the Long Island Museum of American Art, History and Carriages, which is a quick walk from the Village shops. In the summer months, the “Village Green” is host to many festivals and free evening concerts. The local residents gather on the main lawn with their chairs and blankets to enjoy the live music and watch the beautiful sunset over the harbor. Of course, one cannot mention the summer concerts without mentioning the Brook House Restaurant, which serves delicious ice cream cones! This is the perfect place to place to get away from the busy sidewalks of NYC! While you have made the trip out east to visit Stony Brook . . . you might also want to take a quick drive over to Lower Port Jefferson and walk around that harbor as well!  – Alicia, Concierge

Lora and her family at Hunter Mountain

Hunter Mountain – 2 Hours from NYC
I love adventure. Ever since I was little my family has gone camping every year. It’s a great tradition and we have the best time. I also love to snowboard. Hunter Mountain which is located just 2 hours north of New York City has both! They just launched a new zip lining course which can be done year round and you can ski or snowboard in the winter! I went zip lining and camping with my family last September, but you can certainly make it a day trip with buses running directly to Hunter Mountain from Port Authority. And in the winter you can take the same bus for a day filled with fun on the slopes!  — Lora,  Associate Manager

Providence, RI

Providence, Rhode Island - 3 Hours from NYC
My favorite city to escape to is Providence Rhode Island – although I always drive you can easily hop on a bus from Port Authority and be there in just 3 hours. The best place to visit while in Providence, besides their awesome mall, is their water front park right in downtown Providence – They have the Providence River that runs right through the city with multiple benches to sit and enjoy the views, drink some coffee and people watch.  There are multiple colleges in the area including Johnson and Wales, Brown University, and Rhode Island School of Design so there are always things happening in the city. A few other places of interest are Thayer Street which is booming with college students roaming the streets and hanging with friends. Thayer street is full of cute little boutiques and some shopping and used bookstores and also has the Rhode Island School of Design Museum near by. Another point of interest is Federal Hill which is equivalent to a “Little Italy” in New York but with nice upscale Italian Restaurants.  I love to visit Providence, Rhode Island because it’s a nice small quaint city that will allow you to see plenty of attractions in a small amount of time.  – Karissa, Reservations Manager

The Hamptons

The Hamptons, NY – 2 Hours from NYC
One of my absolute favorite day trips outside of New York City is the Hamptons. Known for its great beaches, restaurants, and shopping, it’s a fantastic place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the City. And it’s not just for the summer season! I recently went out to the Wolfford Estate wineries with friends in January and had a great time sampling some of the East Hamptons’ finest wines. The best way to get there from NYC is with the Hampton Jitney bus service– at just $24 it’s a real bargain and it takes a little more than 2 hours. While in New York City a trip to the Hamptons is a must and bring your camera since it’s possible you might see a celebrity or two while you are there!  – Beth, Travel Advisor

Christmas 2007 in Mystic, CT

Mystic, CT - 2.5 Hours from NYC
A quick a beautiful train ride from NYC takes you to Mystic, Connecticut. New England is very close to my heart, so I love to travel to the small towns of coastal Connecticut to take in the sights and have some great seafood. Mystic is a perfect little gem of a town. A sweet Main Street lined with shops, a beautiful harbor area, great restaurants (hello steamer clams!) and attractions like the Mystic Aquarium make it a very worthy break from New York City during any season of the year. Go with a car in the summer and you can also check out the nearby beach areas as well.  – Terra, Director – Client Services

The New York Guest team would love to help you plan your NYC vacation! We’ll help you see the many sites of New York City and can help arrange some of our favorite day trips. Just give us a call at (212) 302-4019 or email us at info@newyorkguest.com