Too soon to hit the beach. Too late to go ice skating. The perfect time to take an adventure.
When you’re planning a trip to New York City in the Spring, rest assured that there’s no shortage of things to do that will make people from your hometown jealous. Unconventional fun is to be expected here! Check out some of our favorite springtime activities in the city that never sleeps:
Take the Tramway to Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island is one of those places that most New Yorkers don’t go to unless they have a reason to. What most don’t know is that this small island nestled between Manhattan and Queens on the East River hosts a wide array of places to explore: the ruins of an old smallpox hospital, a beautifully designed park dedicated to FDR, and a Tramway journey that’ll give you a beautiful view of the city skyline. For more info, click here.
Step Through Gulliver’s Gate
Located on 44th near Times Square, Gulliver’s Gate isn’t a bad way to get some perspective on life. See over 50,000 sq ft of mini cities and locations from real places around the world (Abbey road, the Taj Mahal, and Machu Picchu to name a few). You can also get a 3-D printed version of yourself. For more info, click here.
Star Gaze with an Expert
From now until the beginning of Summer, Columbia Astronomy Public Outreach hosts biweekly stargazing sessions with top experts from the Astronomy Department at Columbia University. If the weather is nice, after a short lecture and a Q+A with the session leaders, they’ll take you to the roof to stargaze with advanced telescopes for the evening. And it’s free! For more info, click here.
Experience the 2019 World’s Fare
Step out of your culinary comfort zone. On May 18 and 19, Citi Field is hosting a throwback to the legendary World’s Fair of 1964 by showcasing diverse foods from around the world. Booths will feature artisans and culinary masters from dozens of different countries, live music will be playing throughout the whole day, and there will be no shortage of unbelievable foods to try. For more info, click here.
Join a Pillow Fight at Washington Sq Park
You read that right. Taking place on April 6, from 3:00pm – 5:00pm in Washington Square Park. The only rule for this is that your pillow can’t have feathers in it and it has to be soft. You’re going to want to film this. For more info, click here.
See the Central Park Conservatory Garden
This formal garden, delicately maintained by the Central Park Conservatory for year-round use, is one of the gems of New York’s Central Park. Go through the historic Vanderbilt gate between 104th and 105th, take in the trimmed hedges and crabapple trees, and see one of the city’s best kept secrets. For more info, click here.
Take Home a Souvenir from the Affordable Art Fair
From March 28 – 31, the Metropolitan Pavilion is hosting the Affordable Art Fair. This is the perfect opportunity to find a piece of art to take home (that you don’t have to buy off the street). Although tickets range between $10 and $70, this culturally diverse event is a great chance to see a deeper, more creative side of New York City and the beautiful people that congregate here. For more info, click here.