How to Spend Your Summer Vacation
School days are dwindling, sleep is at an all-time low, and, between us all, we have no doubt written over a thousand pages of essays in the span of these last few weeks. All of these things combined with the encroaching heat are undeniable signs that summer vacation, so far away only months ago, is here.
Although the first few days of summer are always exhilarating, the initial rush of freedom begins to inevitably slow by around the second week of break. No matter if you have 10 internships lined up, 20 summer courses to take, or 30 beaches to visit, the unavoidably underwhelming days, or even weeks, of boredom that are a trademark of summer vacation are approaching more quickly than you realize. So, to reduce the sentence of your summer slump, enjoy these low-expense options that will help you avoid 8+ hour marathons of OINTB:
Summer Stage
Price: Free! (…usually)
Located in Central Park at about 72nd street, Summer Stage hosts a wide range of performances including rap, Yiddish folk, ballet, opera, rock, and even a performance by a full Broadway cast. Most events begin in the evening, and all are open to the public on a first-come-first-serve basis. Most events are also free excluding some special exceptions. The lineup for this summer as well as more details about pricing can all be found on the Summer-Stage website.
If all of that wasn’t good enough, Summer Stage hosts Smorgasburg, a renowned NYC food fair.
Stargazing with the Amateur Astronomers Association
Price: Free!
Ever seen a full sky of stars from NYC? Well now’s your chance. Disproving the myth that stars can’t be seen above the glare of Times Square, not-so-amateur members of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York bring high powered telescopes to answer the questions of real amateur astronomers like you. The AAA has events in all five boroughs as well as New Jersey. To check if they have events closer to you, check out the page entitled “Observing” on their website.
Flea Markets
Escape musty-smelling thrift stores for the season and turn to your summer alternative for discounted and one-of-a-kind items: flea markets! Combining fresh food, undiscovered artists, and vintage clothing, there’s no way to go wrong. Some of the city’s best flea markets are Brooklyn Flea (Dumbo), Grand Bazaar NYC (Upper West Side), LIC Flea and Food (Long Island City), and Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (Midtown).
Luna Park/Coney Island
Price: both all-park passes and individual ride sales offered
Just a (long) train ride away from Manhattan, Coney Island is a great place to fill a summer day. From the Boardwalk to the Cyclone, Coney Island provides the feeling of a sunny beach with the added bonus of being only a 45 minute drive from Manhattan and a little over an hour if traveled to by train. Luna Park, the amusement park on Coney Island stays open well into the night leaving the opportunity for a movie-worthy summer night riding some of the 30 different rides offered at the park. Although not the cheapest option to fill a day as ride costs and all-day tickets can add up, at least one trip to Coney Island this summer is definitely worth the price.
Theatre… Outside!
Price: Free!
New York City is famous for its theater, but beyond Broadway and The Public, there are many other (cheaper) options to see professional theater around the city. One of the more entertaining options is provided by The New York Classical Theater. Located in parks all around the city, their repertoire for this summer will include Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth and “The Rivals” by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. The most enticing aspect of their performances is that as the play moves through scenes and acts, the show itself moves to different locations in the park. This informal arrangement combined with the fact that the actors often insert interactions with audience members into their roles as well as modern day references make well-told stories of plays like “Midsummer Night’s Dream” into a completely new experience.
Activities in Hudson River Park
Price: Free! ….except for mini golf
Located around the lower 20s on the Hudson River, Hudson River Park has a variety of activities that are perfect for filling a couple hours during the summer. With beach volleyball courts, an 18-hole mini golf course, and a skate park, a low-expense afternoon would be well spent at this fairly new water-side park. The park also has some great casual food options and some lounge chairs at the end of the pier for those recovering from an intense game of mini-golf. Although difficult to reach by train, this riverside park is well worth the trip.
Smorgasburg
NYC’s very own food festival extravaganza can be found at Smorgasburg every weekend in Williamsburg on Saturdays and Prospect Park on Sundays. Vendors at Smorgasburg represent the best of casual New York gastronomy from ramen burgers to jerk chicken dumplings. Wandering through the endless options of fantastic food, there is arguably no better way to fill an empty summer afternoon.