As summer comes to a close, many New Yorkers are trying to get in their final family trips and Hamptons vacations. The city can be the hottest place to be in August. Summer can still be a great time to find new seasonal spots right on the water!

One of my favorite activities is to go kayaking on the Hudson (and it’s free). You can sign up, rent a kayak, and have awesome views of the city. Also on the water, is Seaport located downtown on the East side. Seaport is a bustling area with lots of fun pop-ups, bars, and restaurants.

With summer comes the peak of rooftop season in New York. Spots like the Sandbar, a Hamptons themed rooftop have a summer and beachy feel, right in the heart of New York City. The press lounge is a great rooftop at sunset, because it sits right near the Hudson. If you want to impress your out of town guests, 230 Fifth is a fun rooftop with great views of the Empire State Building.

All along the West Side Highway different outdoor bars and restaurants open up in the summer. Downtown Mezze, a Mediterranean restaurant, has great views outside at sunset. Places like City Winery are great all year, but being able to sit outside on the water is refreshing.

Summer is a great time to catch a show or a game. August brings the US Open to NYC. The signature drink, while quite pricey, is a must try. August also brings events like Shakespeare in the Park, Bryant Park movie night, Yoga in the Park, Central Park concert series and baseball games.

So even though New York City can be quite hot in August, the pros of being here still outweigh the cons!

There really is something special about New York in the summer. The warm weather excites everyone, and the city feels completely different. Restaurants have outdoor seating (that doesn’t require several heaters), stores have sidewalk sales, and rooftop bars have spectacular views when there is no covering on them.

One of my favorite spots to visit in the warm weather is Central Park. Most cities have their own parks, but not many have as much variation as Central Park. Central Park offers a little oasis in the middle of the big apple. One of my personal favorite finds within Central Park is Tavern on the Green. This beautiful restaurant has magnificent floor to ceiling windows and lots of outdoor seating. Whether you visit for brunch or for dinner, the restaurant is a great hotspot in the warm weather.

Another great spot with outdoor seating is PJ Clarke’s located in the Financial District. This restaurant is a classic in New York and has several locations throughout the city. The one in the Financial district sits right next to the water and has great views. I highly recommend stopping here for a burger or just for drinks with friends.

My final recommendation will be a rooftop spot with great views of the Empire State Building. If you have not been to Magic Hour Rooftop Bar, I highly recommend checking this place out! The restaurant offers fun decor with a pink theme, completed with a moving carousel. The food at the restaurant was somewhat pricy, but the views and the quality of the food made up for the price.

Whether you are taking your family trip to the City for Christmas or visiting all the new bars during the summer, New York City is the best place to visit at any time of year. You wake up in a city that never went to sleep and are immediately greeted by bustling streets, cars honking, people running to work, and stores that have been open for hours.

In the summer time you can stroll down the streets of Soho and Chelsea during the day to shop and grab a bite to eat. At night you can find yourself slipping into a speakeasy or club with a view of the city. If you are downtown you may find yourself at Mr. Purple with a great view of the Freedom tower. Some of the best talent in the US is located in New York, so I recommend visiting a show on Broadway or a Comedy Club. Shows run at various times and typically have several locations. Comedy shows are typically lower in cost and they can run later at night.

If you are looking for some touristy views of the city you can visit the top of the Empire State Building, One Vanderbilt, or The Edge in Hudson Yards for 360 views of the city. These touristy spots can get a bad reputation because of their average customers, but the views definitely do not disappoint.

If you are in town for the holidays and want to see all the traditional holiday sites, then you will find yourself in Mid town. You will visit the Rockefeller tree, The Sax Fifth Avenue Light Show, Bryant park, and The Rockettes Holiday Show. If you are willing to go a little further south you can visit Rolf’s German bar which is a Christmas themed bar with thousands of ornaments and decorations hung up. If you are willing to leave Manhattan, Dyker Heights is a great place to see beautiful homes decorated for Christmas. Be sure to bundle up as it can get pretty cold when the sun goes down!

FOOD… the most important part of course. Regardless of the time of year, you will always need to eat. And what is New York known for? If you guessed pizza and bagels you are correct. Something to be cautious of is almost every pizza place in NYC will say something like “Original” or “Famous” pizza, so be sure to do some research if you really are looking for the best slice. Many tourists will find themselves at the famous “Joe’s Pizza”. There are several locations, but if you don’t want to wait in a long line, then I would recommend picking a location that is NOT in midtown. If you are looking to try a different type of pizza than your standard cheese slice, then I recommend trying a pizza slice with vodka sauce. Village Square has a great slice of vodka pizza.

Back to the other famous part of New York.. the bagels. Similar to the pizza, you can find many bagel options, but you need to do your research to find the best quality and price. Thompkins Square Bagel in the East Village typically has a line, but this line is not because this is an overrated tourist trap. Thompkins Square Bagel has great bagel sandwiches (not as common of a find in NYC) as you might think!