New York City Kids Summer Activities Guide
We're hard at work updating our Summer Fun Guide for the season! While many of the posts below are current, if you see any from 2012 don't worry: They'll be updated for 2013 soon. For some New Yorkers, the warm weather triggers a primordial urge to flee. But summer is an amazing season in the Big Apple. Families can take advantage of all the fun the city has to offer: beaches, pools, outdoor concerts and movies, boat rides, events and activities, much of it completely free, turning the town into one big summer-long fest—and we don't mean a "sweat-fest," either. There are a ton of ways to stay cool and enjoy summer in the city with your family.
Whether you're visiting New York City for the day, a week or hanging here with your kids the entire season, our Summer Fun Guide gives you everything you need know to have an incredible time with the kids.
Water Fun: Getting Wet and Staying Cool
NYC Beaches After Sandy: What to Expect at Rockaway, Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Others in 2013 
Free Summer Concerts and Festivals
Make My Day: Summer Outings
Victorian Gardens Amusement Park in Central Park: Rides, Games and Entertainment for Little NYC Kids
Summer Eating and Drinking Spots
Cool Things to Do Every Day of Summer
More Recent Summer Posts
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NYC Beaches After Sandy: What to Expect at Rockaway, Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Others in 2013New York City beaches open for the season this Memorial Day weekend despite the damage they sustained during Hurricane Sandy. The Parks Department staff, and sanitation and construction crews have been working nonstop to make sure they are safe and clean, and that the sand is back where it belongs...
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This Memorial Day weekend Governors Island reopens for the season. It's truly my favorite summer destination in NYC. Whenever I go I think to myself, if they built condos here, I would totally want to buy one. (Thankfully, the island is considered a national monument, so not even Trump can get...
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While Queens may not be chock-full of high-end gourmet creameries like Manhattan and Brooklyn, that doesn't mean we've only got Mister Softee. From authentic old-fashioned sofa fountains serving up insane sundaes to cool new ma-and-pa parlors like Long Island City's Malu, Queens has got...
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Even though Hurricane Sandy may seem so long ago, many communities are still recovering from all the damage done. One of the hardest hit areas in NYC is one of our favorite places to play in the summer: Coney Island in Brooklyn. While the Parks Department says the beach will be ready to welcome...
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Just because we live in a concrete jungle doesn't mean our kids can't enjoy a summer filled with great outdoor spots. And you don't even need to be a Hilton to afford them. New York City offers many opportunities for city kids to learn team sports and also try swimming, tennis, golfing...
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In our melting pot of a city, kids are exposed to lots of different languages, and the summer is a great time for children to try to pick up a new one. Whether your child yearns to master Chinese, French, German, Italian or Spanish, New York City is home to lots of language immersion summer camps....
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Just because it's not summer doesn't mean your kids can't learn how to swim. The New York City Parks Department offers free aquatic programs for children under 18 all year round. During the fall, winter and spring, the Parks Department's swimming lessons are held at indoor...
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Every year around this time, the annual summer camp panic sets in for parents. We suffer from a particularly acute case of it here in NYC, due to the overwhelming number of summer day camps available. It's difficult to know where to send your child for the best summer experience, especially...