Many Irish fans of the Big Apple leave their trips until November/December, planning to do their Christmas shopping in the city that never sleeps. But, while there are certainly bargains to be had, there is so much more to NY than a centre of retail excellence.

If you visit New York in the summer, you’ll avoid the freezing temperatures the city boasts in the winter months, you can see the sights without bundling up like an eskimo, and you’re only a short trip away from beautiful beaches even when you’re in the centre of Manhattan. Plus, when you’re shopping all those mega-malls will be air conditioned anyway, so some retail therapy will be the prefect way to cool off!

As well as all the usual stop-offs, we’ve got the heads up on five things you simply have to do in New York when it’s sunny. Enjoy!

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A day in Central Park

In the biting chill of an NY winter you might make it in for a quick look, but during summer days you’ll simply love spending a day soaking up the magic. Visit the Strawberry Fields for the John Lennon memorial, where fresh roses are laid daily and sit for a while with the incredible Alice in Wonderland. Go ice-skating on one lake, or swimming in another. Chance your arm at rock-climbing, or take a pleasant ride on the famous Central Park Carousel. Keep an eye out for free open-air Public Theatre shows, and don’t forget to visit the famous zoo, inspiration for beloved children’s movie Madagascar.

 

Life on the Highline

The highline is a project that shows just what you can do with a little imagination. The one-mile linear park is an incredible outdoor space on the grounds of an abandoned railway line. Formerly a part of the West Side Line, it’s now an urban park in the sky that has spurred real estate development in its environs. Eagle eyed viewers of Project Runway will have spotted the park in the most recent series, and it’s open daily from 7am to 10pm, so when the holiday sight-seeing all becomes too much just settle down with a good book in this fabulous space and soak up some rays.

 

Coney Island Life

The inspiration for countless other seaside resorts and amusements parks across the word, Coney Island is something very special indeed. Travel to the tip of southwest Brooklyn to visit the favoured holiday destination of New Yorkers in the 1830s and 40s. Get an adrenaline rush on the cyclone, one of the oldest wooden rollercoasters in the US, and the Parachute Jump, which was the first ride of its kind when it was built in 1939. The beach sees sunlight almost all day, as nothing gets in the way of the rays, and there is no charge for use, which you may find with other NY beaches. The food choice is simple too – you must have a Nathan’s Famous… it's practically a law.

 

Ride The Beast

One of the most fun ways to see The Statue of Liberty, The Beast sails from May to September every year from Pier 83. Thirty minutes of fun, speeding across the Hudson at 45mph in a 70 ft boat takes some beating. You’ll see New York from a vantage point that can’t be equaled, and the pumping tunes and fellow happy tourists make for a very memorable trip indeed.

 

Take me out to the Ballgame

Take me out to the park! Admit it, you’re singing along. Throughout the summer you can make your way to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx or Citi Field in Queens to see the Yankees or the Mets in action. Get yourself a foam finger, a giant beer and a hotdog, and settle in for an evening of sporting fun. One thing to note though… you might want to get comfortable, these games go on for as long as it takes, and that can mean hours! 

 

For information on the deals on offer for New York and various other locations, check out the Flexibletrips website or call 01 514 0349.