KC On The Go

Break out those white pants, Memorial Day weekend is here! You know what that means – it’s the unofficial start of summer! There’s nothing like a long holiday weekend especially when the warm weather hits. And this weekend in the New York area is set to be a great one. So, no better time to get out there and explore. Whether you fancy being adventurous and heading out of the city for a day trip or staying local is more your cup of tea, there are plenty of fun activities for the entire family. I’m here to help with 9 great ways to spend Memorial Day weekend in the New York City metropolitan area.

TOP GUN ON THE INTREPID

One of my favorite Memorial Day weekend activities is watching Top Gun on the flight deck of the Intrepid. It’s actually become an annual tradition – this year my friend and I are sporting t-shirts in honor of the event. Imagine sitting on the flight deck of the Intrepid with aircraft carriers all around you while the sun sets in front of you and the first chords of the Top Gun Anthem ring out. There’s nothing quite like it, that’s why we go back every year. As the name suggests, The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is an American military and maritime museum. Before the movie, you can take a tour of the museum and learn all about the history. Then, pick a spot for your blanket and break out your picnic as you wait for the sun to set.

A DAY AT THE BEACH

It may not be warm enough to go in the water yet but people in the tri-state area love to flock to beach towns Memorial Day weekend to get their first taste of summer. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut all being coastal states, there really are endless options for beaches in the area. Personally, I go to the Jersey Shore. One of my favorite spots is Asbury Park. A quick(ish) train ride from Penn Station in New York City, Asbury is way more than just the beach. A vast selection of top restaurants, venues for entertainment, cute indie shops and arcades are all there for the taking. If you think Asbury Park rings a bell, it just so happens to be the name of an album by a little know Jersey native by the name of Bruce Springsteen.  

FAMILY BBQ IN BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK

Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great little oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets. I’ll save you listening to me wax poetic about all the joys this park has to offer…for now, we have a BBQ to attend. Having a family barbecue can be a challenge in New York if you don’t have outdoor space. Thankfully, there are little gems in the city like Brooklyn Bridge Park. Head over to Pier 5, grab a picnic table under an umbrella and make use of the cookout grills set up in Picnic Peninsula. While you chow down on your burgers and dogs, enjoy the stunning view of lower Manhattan as envious passersby breathe in the heavenly scent of charring meat that fills the air.

A HIKE IN NATURE

A holiday weekend is a great time to reset and clear your head in advance of the busy summer ahead. A hike is a great way to do just that and late May is a great time of year before the stifling heat and humidity set in. We are very fortunate in the New York area, not only to be have access to amazing beaches but a quick ride north in New York state affords you your choice of mountains. Let’s face it, getting out of the city from time to time is necessary for our sanity. A great day trip from New York is New Paltz, a town not far from the Hudson River. Once there, you can head up to Mohonk Preserve which is part of the Appalachian Mountains with stunning views from the top. If all that physical activity works up your thirst, head on over to Robibero Family Vineyards for a tasting. That’s a well-rounded day.

CRUISE ON THE NY WATERWAY

I know it sounds silly and touristy but I love the NY Waterway cruises around the island. I’ve done a number of them in my lifetime, a few of them as an adult and it’s always a fun time. What’s so nice is that you get to see New York City in a way you usually don’t, add in the fact that you’re on a boat with the wind whipping through your hair and you’ve got a winner. They have a covered deck, they have an upper and lower deck in the open air. Needless to say, the upper deck is the place to be, if you can grab a spot that is. While you cruise along, a guide talks about the city and gives interesting little facts. One little nugget that I’ll never forget is a trick to remember the order of the East River bridges – going south to north they are Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg or BMW. Cool, right?

RENT A BOAT

If smaller crafts are more your thing, there are plenty of places around the city, or outside the city for that matter, where you can rent boats. From kayaks, canoes and rowboats to sailboats and motorboats. For a nice relaxing afternoon head over to the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park to rent a rowboat. Leisurely wade through the lake and enjoy a bit of serenity right in the middle of Manhattan. It always amazes people how peaceful Central Park can feel, even on a crowded weekend. Once you’ve worked up a proper appetite, head to the restaurant for a little lakeside re-fuel or grab a coveted spot at the outside bar and watch the boats float by.    

CATCH A BASEBALL GAME

There’s nothing quite like a sunny day at the ballpark watching America’s pastime. The atmosphere is buzzing with the cracking of the bat against the ball, the vendors selling treats, the fans root, root, rooting for the home team. The best part – anything goes at baseball games, you can eat that hot dog with fries and hell, throw in some ice cream. If you’re lucky enough to catch a night game on Memorial Day weekend, there’s usually post-game fireworks. As a Mets fan, I’d usually recommend a trip to Citi Field but I can’t in good conscience recommend you spend hard earned money to see the Mets right now. Don’t get me wrong, Citi is a beautiful park with great food options and definitely worth a trip, but the thing is, the Mets are so spectacularly awful. So, you know, there’s another team in town you can see. Can you hear my heart breaking into a million little pieces as I write this?

CONCERT IN GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY

It may sound macabre but attending the Memorial Day concert in Green-Wood Cemetery is actually quite lovely, it’s become a New York tradition and it’s free. Set in Brooklyn, Green-Wood boasts a bit of a history, it’s a Revolutionary War historic site, as well as some famous residents – Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed and Jean-Michel Basquiat to name a few. The grounds are beautiful with hundreds of acres of hills, and valleys offering views of the Manhattan skyline, ponds and striking 19th century architecture. In addition to the concerts, they have a calendar of events year round from tours, to wine tastings in the crypts, book signings and much more. The cemetery will have local vendors selling food and drink throughout the afternoon so all you need to do is pack up your family and a blanket then sit back and enjoy.

 

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK

I love Shakespeare, I love Central Park and I love live theatre, so this is a no brainer. Watching a play unfold before your eyes while surrounded by nature is an experience to behold. It’s such a New York thing to do too. I’ll be honest, the force has not been with me on snagging tickets to this but this is my lucky year, I feel it! And, it could be your year too. First up this season at the Delacorte Theater is my favorite of Shakespeare’s comedies – Much Ado About Nothing. The season finishes with Coriolanus starting in mid-July. Since tickets are free and in high demand, there are a few ways you can go about doing this: wait on line at select points throughout the city day of the performance, try the in-person lottery at The Public Theater and enter a digital lottery on TodayTix. This weekend is sure to have the perfect weather for alfresco theatre so waiting on that line may not be too arduous a task.  

*UPDATE: I am extremely happy to report that I finally made it to Shakespeare in the Park last night! We had perfect seats and the modern staging of Much Ado was not only brilliantly done but timely. How did I get so lucky? I have an amazing friend. So I can now highly recommend from personal experience making your way to Central Park and stopping by the box office on the day of the show, you may luck out too.

So, anyone have fun plans this weekend? I’d love to hear about them! Mine may include a few things on this list. Whatever you choose to do, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Until next time – cheers!