Summer Activities in Greater New York

1. Walk the High Line
Take the scenic route through Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, Chelsea, and the Lower West Side on this 1.5-mile elevated linear park built on a historic freight rail line.

2. Take a stroll through Central Park
As one of America’s greatest works of art and the nation's first public park, iconic Central Park has become the most famous and beloved urban park in the world. The park is open daily from 6:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m., with free admission for all since 1858.

3. View contemporary American art
Visit the Whitney Museum of American Art – in its remarkable new building – for an in-depth look at 20th- and 21st-century American art. Of course, there’s also the venerable MOMA, New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

4. Experience American history
Take the ferry from lower Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty Monument and to nearby Ellis Island, once the gateway for millions of immigrants to the U.S.

5. Explore the Catskill Mountains
The new Kaaterskill Clove Experience includes a series of self-guided road trips in the gorge area that inspired Hudson River School painters, with itineraries ranging from adventurous to cultural.

6. Go to a Broadway (or off-Broadway) show
If you’re in New York, you owe it to yourself to take in a show. Whatever your taste in theater, there are plenty of wonderful performances to choose from – both new and classic.

7. Take a trip to Lake George
Dozens of beaches and parks give you access to New York state’s “Queen of American Lakes,” where you can swim, sail, and fish with views of the Adirondack Mountains.

8. Marvel at Niagara Falls
Hop on the boat tour, Maid of the Mist, for a close encounter with Niagara from the basin of these impressive falls.

9. Walk among giant sculptures
At Storm King Art Center, one hour north of New York City, you can see more than 100 sculptures created by leading modern American and European artists and placed on fields and rolling hills.

10. Volunteer in your local community
Whether you prefer to walk the dogs at an animal shelter, serve food at a soup kitchen, or plant a tree with a conservation group, there are many ways to volunteer in your local community. You’ll find plenty of other opportunities at networkforgood.org/volunteer/ or volunteermatch.org/. Be sure to tag #cieegivingback when you post your photos!

We’d love to see and hear about your adventures on Facebook.