Summer is in full swing and one of the best places in the world to visit during this time is most definitely New York.
If you have tickets to attractions in New York and are heading to the Big Apple this summer then read on to find out how you can make the most of your summer, including the best activities you can do, attractions to visit and foods to try.
Summer events
New York has so many events to enjoy during the summer months and here are two of the best you should try to attend.
Watch 4th July Fireworks
Macy's 4th July fireworks has grown to become the largest Independence Day pyrotechnic show in the US.
This year is even more special as the Macy’s firework display will be celebrating its 40th anniversary and the two-hour long event, which is so spectacular that it is televised across the country, is expected to attract thousands of people.
In the past the show has seen performances from the likes of Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Taylor Swift and this year’s celebration will again play host to performances from some well-known musicians.
One performer that has already been confirmed is Kenny Chesney, a multiple winner of the Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year award, and he will be performing some of his 40 top 10 Billboard singles on the night.
Hosting the event will be Tamron Hall, a national correspondent for NBC News, alongside Willie Geist, the journalist, comedian and television personality.
The actual firework display is set to be around 25-minutes long and the United States Air Force Band will be performing during the event.
Central Park SummerStage
The Central Park SummerStage is the must-visit festival for music fans heading to New York as the City Parks Foundation-backed series plays host to a variety of concerts.
The event is celebrating its 31st anniversary this year and will be running from June to 23rd September.
This year there will be New York hip-hop, indie-rock bands and opera for crowds to enjoy as well as dance performances, live poetry and ballet.
SummerStage is also free to attend and visitors will get to see Central Park in all its glory during a typical New York summer.
Attractions to visit
There are so many attractions in the Big Apple that it is almost impossible to see them all. However, in the summer that are certain attractions that you just have to visit, so read on to find out which ones should be on your bucket list.
American Museum of Natural History
Being one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions makes the American Museum of Natural History one of the best attractions in NYC.
Formed back in 1869, the museum has become one of the most famous museums in the world and is renowned for its extraordinary exhibitions and scientific collections.
Some of its permanent exhibitions include the Hall of North American Forests, Hall of Reptiles and Amphibians, Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs, Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs, Hall of Primitive Mammals, Akeley Hall of African Mammals and Hall of Asian Mammals.
On top of these permanent exhibitions there are a variety of temporary exhibitions such as The Titanosaur, an exhibition showing off the cast of a 122-foot-long dinosaur, and a display called the National Parks Adventure, which is an off-trail adventure into the great outdoors of America’s wide-ranging national parks.
Jane's Carousel
Jane's Carousel is the perfect place to enjoy a typical summers day in New York as this classic attraction, located in the DUMBO section of the Brooklyn Bridge Park, has attracted visitors for many years.
The carousel was originally created in 1922 and was brought to New York in 1984. Since its reopening in 2011, a stunning pavilion has been erected over the carousel and New Yorkers have since been enjoying the attraction all-year round.
Jane’s Carousel is a magnificent attraction to visit during the summer as you can enjoy the sunshine and the incredible views of Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge.
The attraction has become so popular that at the Travel + Leisure Awards in 2012 Jane's Carousel won the Best Public Space award.
Top of the Rock
If you want to see what New York is really like in the summer then you need to experience the best view the city has to offer and that can be done by visiting the Top of the Rock observation deck at the Rockefeller Center.
Once at the top visitors can experience a dramatic view of New York City and the stunning panoramic views are unrivalled anywhere else in the city, which is why tickets to the Top of the Rock are hugely popular.
The Rockefeller Center itself is a hugely impressive building and its Fifth Avenue entrance usually boasts a display, which is currently a sculpture of Van Gogh’s Ear.
Food to try in New York
New York is famed for its food and here are just some of the foods you need to try during your visit to the Big Apple this summer.
Pizza
Whilst many establishments in New York serve pizza, there are only a few that offer traditional and delicious pizzas.
Visitors can taste the very best pizza New York has to offer by visiting EMILY, a restaurant in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
Diners need to try the “Colony" pizza with red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, pickled chili and honey for just $18 to see why pizza in New York is better than anywhere else in the world.
EMILY serve a variety of other New York-style pizzas and there is sure to be a pizza that will suit your culinary needs.
Burger
New York isn’t just renowned for its delicious pizzas as it is also known all over the world for its wide variety of burgers.
So if you don’t fancy a pizza then EMILY also serves an Emmy Burger, but beware there are only 25 of these served a night.
The Emmy burger is made up of pasture-raised dry aged beef, a Tom Cat pretzel bun, EMMY sauce, caramelized onion, Grafton cheddar, cornichon and fries.
Activities to enjoy in NYC
There is so much to see and do in New York over the course of the summer and here are some things you may not have thought of doing.
Have a drink at a rooftop bar
A hugely popular pastime with New Yorkers is to head for a drink at a rooftop bar at the weekend or after work.
230 Fifth boasts New York's largest outdoor Rooftop Garden and fully enclosed Penthouse Lounge and is THE place to go for a drink.
Open to the sky, the rooftop bar at 230 Fifth means you can enjoy a nice cold drink on a warm summers evening or can rest those weary legs and enjoy the views after a day of seeing the sights or visiting the shopping outlets in New York.
Visitors can expect great food and a plethora of drinks to enjoy at 230 Fifth. There is an upbeat lounge that plays music from the 80s and 90s as well as House music.
Take a helicopter ride
New York is renowned for its impressive skyline and one of the best ways to see it is by going on a helicopter tour.
Liberty Helicopters offer a variety of private tours and visitors will be able to get a bird’s eye view of landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and other iconic New York landmarks.
From the Big Apple tour to the New York, New York tour, there are plenty of options available to visitors.
Image Credit: Kent Miller Studios-Macy's Inc, ©AMNHS. Frances, Roland Halbe, EMILY, 230 Fifth.
