Spend a few hours out of town that will nourish you while also reminding you what it is you love about the big city.
Let’s face it: August in New York can be tough.
The heat typically rises. The humidity becomes stifling. At times — particularly on weekends — it can feel like the city has emptied out, as those with the means to do so throw on their out-of-office messages and decamp to second homes or rentals outside the city.
This newsletter being what it is, Julia and I will keep offering ideas for how to spend your August. You can always check out past newsletters for evergreen suggestions.
But even the most dedicated city dwellers can feel this inexorable pull toward elsewhere, or the need for a break from a routine. Enter the magic of the day trip: a quick journey to fulfill one’s wanderlust that offers the chance to be home in time to enjoy city nightlife.
Day trip options from the city abound, but I’m focusing this week on places you can get to without cars, because so many New Yorkers are vehicle-free. (Also, because you’ve emailed us and asked for these! And please, keep the thoughts coming to summerinthecity@nytimes.com.)
If the city’s beaches aren’t doing it for you, maybe Long Island’s will do the trick. Many of the beach destinations are accessible by the Long Island Railroad, perhaps none more than Long Beach, east of the Rockaways off Long Island’s southern shore, and just an hour from Penn Station.
The city’s beach and boardwalk are a fairly short walk from the train station. You’ll need to pay $15 for a beach pass, though the Metropolitan Transportation Authority offers ticket packages that include discounted admission. Weekends get crowded, but the streets are lined with cute bungalows that are a nice change of pace, and a number of businesses that keep beachgoers fed and hydrated.
Jones Beach and parts of Fire Island are also reasonably accessible via the L.I.R.R., but require an additional bus trip or ferry ride. Having done Fire Island as a day trip — it takes about three hours — my advice: plan ahead, check schedules ahead of time and bring snacks.
Just a bit south, the Jersey Shore, famous from Bruce Springsteen’s back catalog and a reality TV franchise, is also an easy trip by train. Asbury Park typically gets all the attention, but don’t sleep on Long Branch, about an hour-and-a-half from Penn Station on New Jersey Transit.
After Hurricane Sandy, the boardwalk and beach were rebuilt and restored, and there are a number of restaurants at varying price points that are mere feet from the Atlantic Ocean. Beach passes are $7 on weekends and $5 on weekdays.
Not a beach person? Greenport, on the North Fork of Long Island, is a charming waterfront village that offers incredible views, farm-to-table restaurants, local shopping, a century-old carousel and oysters so fresh you’ll wonder if they were just pulled out of the water. It also has a station on the Long Island Railroad, though the journey is just under three hours, so you’ll want to get an early start. (Pro tip: Nap on the train!)
For a bit of a hike, take the Metro-North Railroad from Grand Central Terminal to Garrison, N.Y., an 80-minute trip that largely travels along the Hudson River. The trailhead of the Arden Point and Glenclyffe hike is just by the station’s parking lot; from there, you’ll travel just under four miles, snaking past a waterfall and intriguing old ruins.
These are just a few ideas for day trips, and The New York Times has got more, as does the M.T.A. But the gist remains the same: spend a few hours out of town that will nourish you while also reminding you what it is you love about the big city.
We Want to Hear About the Summer Gems in Your Neighborhood
What are the spots, people and events in your neighborhood that make the summer great? Maybe it's a local watering hole, a special bookstore or an overlooked park. Perhaps there's a street vendor or performer who everyone knows by name. Is there a neighborhood block party or weekly event you'd hate to miss? Tell us in the form below.
A few more ideas:
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Free fun: Every borough is getting a free concert to celebrate New York’s reopening, but I’m most intrigued by Monday’s at Orchard Beach, in the Bronx. Remy Ma! KRS-One! A view of Pelham Bay! Check online to get tickets and learn about shows in the other boroughs.
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With friends: Those in desperate need of a laugh can head to Chelsea for Uncle Function’s comedy show, a mix of sketches and musical performances.
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Date night: Head to La Plaza on the Lower East Side on Saturday night for a “Bawdy, Naughty Puppet Cabaret” that is sure to spark some conversation with your special someone. (Not ready for that? The International Puppet Fringe Festival, has a number of other events.)
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In Manhattan: Broadway’s coming back in fits and starts, but if you need a quick fix, the Broadway Buskers series is bringing actors and composers to Times Square for musical performances every Friday at 6 p.m. This week’s performers are Jaime Cepero, from the NBC show “Smash,” and Dru Serkes.
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With family: Bring the kids to the Williamsburg waterfront for mini-golf with a message. Putting Green is an 18-hole course pop-up built to highlight pressing climate change issues. In other words, it’s competitive, educational and fun.
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In Queens: Channel your inner surfer at the Rockaway Beach Surf Music Festival on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Six surf bands from the Northeast will bring out the tangy sounds of reverb-heavy electric guitars at the Rockaway Bazaar on Beach 97th Street.
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In Brooklyn: Fight the Sunday scaries at Ty Tea, the weekly outdoor dance party thrown by the D.J. Ty Sunderland in the enormous backyard at 3 Dollar Bill in Williamsburg.
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What do you want to hear from us this summer? Are there events or venues we should know about? Send us a note at summer@nytimes.com, or let us know in the comments.
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August 11, 2021 at 04:00PM
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Get Away for a Day, No Car Required - The New York Times
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