Children in New York City will be returning to school on Sept. 7, which means that there is still plenty of time left for them to enjoy what the Big Apple has in store for them. From visiting world-famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty to getting up close and personal with wild animals at one of the city's zoos, NYC has something for everyone. If you are making an end of summer bucket list and need a few ideas, this article could be just what you are looking for.
Things to Do in NYC in Summer Before Schools Starts
There are countless things to do in NYC in summer, so you won’t be short of options no matter how young or old your kids are. There are end of summer activities that will take up a whole day, and there are fun things to do that can fit into a morning or afternoon. Some NYC summer activities are best suited for older children, but many others would provide a great experience for kids of any age.
1) Take a Boat or Small Yacht Tour
A boat or small yacht tour will allow your kids to see the sights that have made New York famous from a completely different perspective. You can circumnavigate Manhattan, or you can take a downtown loop tour. Our boats have expansive open decks that provide a great view of landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and, Empire State Building, and their sturdy railings will keep your kids safe. Private charters are available for small and large groups, and tour departures start at 10:00 a.m.
2) Visit the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is New York’s most famous landmark, but many Big Apple residents have never visited it. A gift of friendship to the United States from the French people, Lady Liberty is a colossal copper statue that provided millions of immigrants with their first glimpse of America. The ferry you will take to reach the statue costs $12 for children under 13 and $24.50 for adults, but audio tours are included, and ranger tours are free.
3) See the City in Full Bloom
Seeing amazing plants in full bloom at the New York Botanical Garden or the Queens Botanical Garden is one of the best end of summer fun things to do in NYC. The NYBT does not charge city residents an admission fee on Wednesdays, and the QBG offers free admission on Sunday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. Your kids will be able to see more than a million plants from all over the world, and there is a 50-acre wetlands area with a beautiful cascade waterfall.
4) Enjoy Thrills at Luna Park
New Yorkers have been flocking to Coney Island for amusement park thrills since the world’s first roller coaster was built there in 1884. People travel to Coney Island today to visit Luna Park, which features two roller coasters, a scream zone and more than a dozen kid-friendly attractions, including a carousel and tea party ride. A wristband that provides unlimited rides for four hours costs $65 for adults and $43 for children shorter than 48 inches, and you can leave the car at home because the D, F, N, and Q trains all make stops at Luna Park.
5) Experience the Tropics on the East River
There was a time when New Yorkers had to get on a plane to experience what life is like in the tropics, but not anymore. Pier 15 on the East River has been transformed into a tropical paradise with palm trees, cabanas and tiki décor. Weekly highlights at Watermark Beach include Game Day on Wednesday and Latin Night on Friday, and there are regular concerts and special events.
6) Visit a World War II Aircraft Carrier
A visit to the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum Complex is an exciting and fun way for kids of any age to experience history. The aircraft collection includes fighters and bombers that defended freedom in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, and your kids will also be able to see a Space Shuttle and one of the last remaining Concorde supersonic airliners. Admission fees are $33 for adults and $24 for children.
7) Watch the World's Best at the U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is one of only four tennis Grand Slam events, so all of the world’s top players visit New York every August to play in it. The tournament opens on Aug. 23 and concludes on Sept. 10, but you would be wise to book early as matches sell out quickly. The event is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, and the biggest matches take place in the 24,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium.
8) Enjoy a Delicious Day Out at the Museum of Ice Cream
If you are looking for a fun and educational day out that kids of all ages will enjoy, you should plan a visit to New York’s Museum of Ice Cream. There are friendly guides, interactive exhibits and a sprinkler pool for kids to play in, and the price of admission includes unlimited ice cream. Highlights include a pink subway car and a three-story slide, and admission costs only $25 on weekdays.
9) Grab a Post Movie Snack at the Malibu Barbie Cafe
Summer is blockbuster movie season, and “Barbie” is expected to be one of this year’s biggest hits. If you take your kids to see “Barbie,” a trip to the Malibu Barbie Café would be a great way to add to the fun. This Seaport eatery looks just like one of the sets from the movie, and its full-size doll box is a great place to take selfies. The menu at the Malibu Barbie Café is filled with California-inspired drinks and desserts, and children who love swag will have a wide range of Barbie merchandise to choose from.
10) See Amazing Animals at the Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is one of America’s oldest zoos and its largest by area. Major attractions at this NYC landmark include Butterfly Garden, Congo Gorilla Forest, JungleWorld, and Madagascar, and there is a children’s petting zoo with goats, monkeys, llamas, and turkeys. Admission costs $37.75 for adults and $28.75 for kids under 13, and you can get to the zoo by taking the 2 train to Pelham Parkway.
11) Watch the Mets or Yankees Play Baseball
The Mets and Yankees have several homestands before schools reopen in September, and both teams play afternoon games that are perfect for kids. Yankee Stadium and Citi Field are easy to reach by car, bus or subway, and both stadiums are state-of-the-art. Yankees and Mets tickets start at about $15, but games with division rivals tend to sell out quickly.
End of Summer Activities
New York offers parents and kids an almost endless list of things to do before school starts. There are parks, museums, and interesting neighborhoods to visit, and several great beaches are just a short drive or train ride away. You can sit back and relax or fill your time with places to see and things to do, and no two days will be the same. Here are some of our picks for the best things to do in New York during the last days of summer.
12) Enjoy a Day at the Beach
New York is known for its towering skyscrapers and concrete canyons, so you will have to do a bit of traveling if you want to hear the sound of waves lapping against the shore and feel sand between your toes. You won’t have to travel very far though as there are 17 great beaches close to the city. Many of them feature ample parking, outdoor showers, grills, and picnic tables, and some even have scenic lighthouses to explore.
13) Experience Shakespeare in the Park
For more than 45 years, New Yorkers have been able to enjoy some of the greatest plays ever written in Central Park. You and your kids can enjoy a modern costume version of Hamlet, which is arguably the bard's best play, until Aug. 6, but there is only one performance each day. This means free Shakespeare in the Park tickets will be even more difficult to come by in 2023, so it would be wise to book well in advance. Plays are staged in the outdoor Delacorte Theater, which is in the northern part of the park near Belvedere Castle, the Great Lawn, and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.
14) Visit the Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West holds one of the world’s largest collections of dinosaur fossils. If your kids enjoy the “Jurassic Park” movies, they will love seeing a T-rex, stegosaurus and triceratops up close. The museum has 45 exhibition halls in 20 interconnected buildings, and Central Park is right across the street. There is no set admission fee, but reservations must be made online.
15) Splash Around in a Water Playground
If your kids enjoy splashing around on hot summer days, you won’t have to open a fire hydrant to give them the fun they crave. That is because New York has more than two dozen water playgrounds and play fountains that will provide them with all of the aquatic entertainment they can handle. There are fountains to splash in, water canons to play with, and some city water playgrounds even have full-sized swimming pools. There are water parks scattered all over the city, but the most popular are on the Upper West Side in Hudson River Park.
16) Watch a Fireworks Show
No New York summer bucket list would be complete without a great fireworks show. Luna Park is the city’s go-to destination for amusement park excitement, and it puts on an amazing fireworks display every Friday evening during the summer months. The shows start at approximately 9:45 p.m. and last for about 45 minutes, and they can be viewed from vantage points all over the city. The final show of the 2023 season will be held on Aug. 25.
17) Go Kayaking on the River
If you are for a late last day of summer activity, why not go kayaking on the Hudson River and East River from the Pier in Dumbo? The activity is free, and you can book your kayaking outing several times each month for several days of the week until the end of August. You have options to embark from the Manhattan Community Boathouse, located at Pier 96 on the Hudson River, or the Brooklyn Bridge Park, situated between Pier 1 and Pier 2. Seats for the popular event full up fast, so act fast to reserve your date of choice.
18) Meet a Sea Lion at the New York Aquarium
The New York Aquarium on Staten Island covers 14 acres and is home to 266 species of marine life. There are indoor and outdoor exhibits to experience, and there are sea lions to meet and feed. Younger visitors are drawn to the aquarium's 4D theater and Aquatheater shows, but older kids tend to head straight for Ocean Wonders: Sharks! Off-peak admission costs $29.95 for adults and $25.95 for kids.
19) Take a Dip in a Rooftop Pool
Many of New York’s most exclusive hotels have amazing rooftop pools that are open to the public. These pools are usually next to cafés and open-air bars, and some of them even have DJs or live bands. Spending the day next to a luxury hotel’s rooftop pool will make you feel like a movie star, but you can expect to pay at least $100 to enjoy the experience.
20) Watch a Free Show in Times Square
Times Square is the beating heart of New York, and hundreds of performers and artists visit the area each year to put on free shows for the public. The 2023 Times Square Live season is the biggest ever, and shows will be held until Sept. 29. If you are looking for something fun to do in New York and you don’t want to break the bank, you should head over to Times Square.
21) Go Skating at Rockefeller Center
If you are looking for more last day of summer ideas, roller skating is always a hit! Rockefeller Center is an Art Deco masterpiece, and its skating rink has been one of New York’s most popular attractions for almost a century. There is plenty of space for skaters of all skill levels to get around, and tickets start at just $20. Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace opens in April and closes in October, and entertainment is provided by live DJs.
22) Enjoy a Picnic in Central Park
Central Park is an 843-acre oasis in the middle of Manhattan, and it’s a great place to spend a day and enjoy a picnic. You won’t have to prepare any food yourself because the park offers premade picnics to go, and a kid’s picnic costs just $12. After you eat, you and your kids could take a boat out for a row on the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir or see animals like grizzly bears, snow leopards, and penguins at the Central Park Zoo.
23) Walk the High Line
Built on a former elevated railroad and opened in 2009, the High Line is a city park that runs from 34th Street to Gansevoort Street. The park opens at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 11:00 p.m. during the summer months, and elevators are located at every entrance. The High Line is known for its beautiful plantings and inspirational works of art, and more than five million people visit it each year. If you want to take the subway to the High Line, you should get on a 7, A, C, or L train.
The Perfect Way to End a New York Summer
There are plenty of things to do in New York as the summer draws to a close, but few of them check as many boxes as a New York Harbor Tours boat tour. Our boats are modern, safe, and comfortable, and they will give you a view of the city that you have never seen before. You can call us at (718) 230-0136 to make a reservation, or you can visit our website to book online.