12 Fun Things to Do on a Return Trip to NYC in the Summer
Join Lisa as she shares some of her favorite discoveries from her latest trips to New York City! From Broadway shows and the US Open to hidden gems like a Chinatown blowout and the immersive Masquerade experience, Lisa shares plenty of ideas for your next NYC adventure. She also talks about some of her favorite places to eat, including New York bagels and 4 Charles Prime Rib, plus classic stops like the American Museum of Natural History and The Edge. Whether it’s your first trip or your tenth, you’re sure to find something new to add to your New York City bucket list!
I have been to New York City many times, but somehow every trip still gives me new things to discover. On my most recent visit, I tried several new restaurants, activities, and experiences that I absolutely loved, along with a few classic New York favorites that I always come back to.
Here are some of the highlights from my latest trip that I think you should add to your next New York City itinerary!
Rowboats in Central Park
One of my favorite summertime activities in New York City is getting out on the rowboats in Central Park.
This is such a fun way to enjoy the city during the warmer months.
It is a great activity to do when you want to slow down and experience a different side of New York.
It is also relatively inexpensive compared to many of the other attractions in the city.
If you are visiting New York in the summer, I definitely recommend adding this to your list!
Go to the US Open
Another summertime activity I highly recommend is going to the US Open, which takes place at the end of August and beginning of September.
I actually don't think you have to be a huge tennis fan to enjoy this event. The atmosphere is so much fun, and it is such a unique experience to have while you are in New York City.
I also recommend looking into buying tickets the day of. That is what I suggested to my family, and it can be a great option if you want to be a little more spontaneous.
Get a Blowout in Chinatown
One of my favorite things to do on a girls' trip to New York City is head to Chinatown for a blowout at Lee Ren Beauty Salon.
I have actually done this twice now, once in January on a girls' trip and again this summer when I was traveling solo. I had fun both times, but I have to say it was even more fun when I was there with a group of girls!
Blowouts start at around $35 and are priced based on the length of your hair.
You can walk in and see if they have availability.
The hair wash includes an amazing head scrub.
They also give you a little neck massage.
The blowout itself is such a fun experience.
They use a bunch of round brushes and let them sit in your hair while they blow dry it, adding tons of curl and volume. You can end up with what feels like 10 round brushes hanging from your hair!
It is such a unique experience for the price, and I think it would be a perfect addition to a girls' trip itinerary.
Visit the Morgan Library
Another new experience for me this trip was visiting the Morgan Library.
Admission was around $25, which I thought was a little pricey, especially since we only spent about 30 minutes there. But I really did enjoy it.
The library dates back to 1906 and has beautiful Gilded Age architecture. I had actually read a book called The Personal Librarian, which made visiting even more interesting for me because of its connection to the library.
Our kids were with us, and they were able to get a student discount with their college IDs, bringing their tickets down to around $10.
I would especially recommend this if you love:
Libraries
Old books
Historic buildings
Beautiful architecture
New York history
I probably wouldn't make this a priority if you are traveling with young kids, but I really enjoyed it!
See Masquerade
One of the biggest highlights of our trip was seeing Masquerade.
This is not an on-Broadway show. Instead, it takes place inside an old warehouse that has been completely transformed into multiple rooms where you become part of the performance.
And it was incredible.
When you arrive, you are asked to dress in black, white, or silver. You are then given a masquerade mask to wear throughout the show.
A few things to know before you go:
The show lasts about two hours.
You will be standing for most of the experience, so wear comfortable shoes.
You receive champagne or a non-alcoholic beverage when you arrive.
There is live violin music.
The performance moves through multiple rooms.
There are dancers, singers, and incredible costumes.
Performers interact directly with the audience.
Audience members can even be pulled into the performance.
It is essentially a reimagining of The Phantom of the Opera, but you are actually inside the story instead of sitting in a theater watching it from your seat.
The singing, dancing, costumes, and production were all 10 out of 10. I was completely blown away.
Tickets are around $200 per person, so it is definitely a splurge, but I thought it was worth it for such a unique experience. This is one of those things that feels very special to New York City.
Visit The Edge
I have been to quite a few of the observation decks in New York City. I have been up 30 Rock, the Empire State Building, and the Freedom Tower, but this time my daughter wanted to visit The Edge.
Tickets were around $42 when we visited, although they can be cheaper if you book about two weeks ahead.
The Edge is the highest outdoor viewing platform in the Western Hemisphere, so that is a pretty fun fact to know before you go.
We went in the morning, and it happened to be cloudy and a little windy. I was initially worried that the weather would ruin the views, but it actually worked out really well for us. The views were still fantastic, and I think the weather helped keep the crowds down.
If you want to avoid the biggest crowds, I would consider going in the morning. Sunset would obviously be beautiful, but I have heard that it can get extremely crowded.
There are also some fun interactive exhibits and photo opportunities inside, so we spent about an hour there enjoying the views and exploring.
I don't know that I would necessarily go back on every trip now that I have done it, but I would absolutely go again if someone I was traveling with wanted to experience it.
See a Broadway Show
I don't think you can come to New York City and not see a Broadway show! I have done this on every trip, and I always think it is worth it.
You have several options when it comes to getting tickets:
Buy tickets ahead of time if you know exactly what show you want to see.
Check the TKTS booth in Times Square for discounted day-of tickets.
Use the TKTS app or website.
Look into day-of lotteries or discounted tickets offered by individual shows.
On this trip, we saw Six and Operation Mincemeat. They were very different from each other, but we loved both of them.
Honestly, I don't think you can go too wrong with a Broadway show. These are some of the best performers in the world, and seeing a show is such a fun part of the New York City experience.
Eat New York Bagels
Of course, you have to eat bagels when you are in New York City!
There is so much incredible food in New York that it almost feels silly to recommend specific restaurants, but we tried two new bagel spots on this trip: Bagel Pub and Apollo Bagels.
Apollo Bagels
I think Apollo Bagels was my favorite of the two, mostly because I loved the atmosphere.
It is a tiny, cozy spot where you can actually watch them making the bagels. I also loved how simple the menu was.
They had just a few basic bagel options, including:
Sesame
Everything
Plain
You could then add things like cream cheese, lox, or tomatoes. Everything was simple, fast, and delicious.
Bagel Pub
Bagel Pub was also really good!
I always love an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese, and we also had a breakfast sandwich that was delicious.
We have also been to Liberty Bagel multiple times, and there are so many little mom-and-pop bagel shops throughout the city that I would love to explore more on a future trip.
Have Dinner at 4 Charles Prime Rib
This restaurant deserves its own podcast episode because it was that good!
I had somehow never heard of 4 Charles Prime Rib until my son put it on my radar. After that, I couldn't stop seeing Instagram reels about it.
The tricky part is actually getting a reservation. We tried to get reservations through the Resy app, but eventually discovered that reservations can be very difficult to get. So we decided to try our luck with standby seating.
We went to the restaurant two hours before they opened for lunch and waited in line. We were about fourth or fifth in line, and we were able to get a reservation for later that afternoon.
We had heard that we really wanted to eat inside, so we decided to wait rather than take one of the outdoor tables. And I am so glad we did!
We had:
The famous $50 burger
Steak
Corn with butter and cheese
Shrimp scampi
French dip sandwich
Chocolate silk pie
Coconut cream cake
The burger was an experience all on its own. It came with bacon and an over-easy egg, and the server actually put on white gloves and sliced the egg so that it dripped over the burger.
Everything we ate was incredible!!!
The shrimp scampi came with buttery toast that we dipped into the sauce, and the desserts were amazing. I especially loved the chocolate silk pie, while my husband and son loved the coconut cream cake.
Everything was 20 out of 10.
So if you can manage to get yourself into 4 Charles Prime Rib, I think it could easily become one of the highlights of your New York City trip!
Explore Mercer Labs
Another new experience we tried was Mercer Labs. This is a really interactive museum with 15 immersive exhibits featuring lights, mirrors, projections, and other installations.
It is a great place to go if you are looking for:
Fun photo opportunities
Something interactive
An indoor activity
Something that kids and adults can both enjoy
We spent about an hour there and had a really good time. The only downside for me was the price. Tickets were around $57 per person, which felt pretty expensive for a museum.
But if you are looking for something unique to do, especially if you need an indoor activity, it is definitely worth considering.
Visit the American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is a classic New York City attraction, and I have been there many times. I absolutely love it!
If you love the natural world, you have to go here because there is something for everyone.
They have:
Animals
Dinosaurs
Rocks
Minerals
Gems
Beautiful habitat displays
Exhibits featuring animals from around the world
One of my favorite parts is seeing how beautifully each animal habitat is put together. The dinosaur exhibits are always fun, and I could spend forever looking at all of the different gems and minerals.
It is fascinating to see all of the colors and formations that naturally occur in the world.
You could easily spend three or four hours here, although we spent a couple of hours on this visit.
Get Levain Bakery Afterward
And while you are there, make sure you stop at Levain Bakery!
There are multiple locations throughout New York City, but the location near the Natural History Museum was the one that worked for us on this trip.
I was so glad we stopped because we got some of my favorites:
Chocolate Chip Walnut
Chocolate Chocolate Chip
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip
They are so, so good. I always have to get Levain when I am in New York City!
Ride the Subway
This one might seem obvious, but I really think riding the subway is part of the New York City experience.
It is also one of the most efficient ways to get around the city.
I love that you can simply use Apple Maps or Google Maps to figure out which train you need to take. You can also tap your phone to pay when you enter, so you don't have to worry about buying a ticket.
Honestly, it is just fun to experience the city this way! The subway is easy, convenient, and a great way to get around without spending your entire trip sitting in traffic.
Keep Exploring New York City
There is something about New York City that keeps me coming back. Even after so many trips, I am always finding a new restaurant, activity, show, or little experience that I haven't tried before.
From getting a blowout in Chinatown to seeing an incredible immersive show, eating the best bagels, or simply hopping on the subway and exploring a new neighborhood, there are endless ways to experience this city.
I hope this list inspires you to try something new on your next trip to New York City and make some memories with the people you love!