New York City Outdoor Activities
New York City Outdoor Activity Guide
From the East River to the Hudson, from the Statue of Liberty to the Bronx Zoo, New York City offers endless outdoor activities. With a wide array of world-class concerts and culture, NYC secures its place in the pantheon of great cities. The cozy size of most apartments encourages city-dwellers and tourists alike to get outside and take advantage of all this vibrant city has to offer.
During the summer months, the melodies from New York City concerts fill the night air and draw huge crowds to the various parks around the city. Looking for a chance to enjoy some alternative rock with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop? Head to the Williamsburg Waterfront in East River Park for some of New York City’s best concerts. Get there early to claim some green space, which is always at a premium.
To get a little closer to some of this spectacular city’s iconic sites, take one of the city’s fascinating tours. Wander over to the Manhattan Kayak Company at the Pier 66 boathouse, right near Chelsea Piers, and take a sunset kayak tour of New York City, or give the increasingly popular stand-up paddle-boarding a try. The trained instructors at Manhattan Kayak Company will give you enough instruction to make sure you look like a pro and stay safe while you paddle along the Hudson.
If longing for a more traditional and laid-back outdoor activity, take some time to visit one of the many New York City parks, such as The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan. Within this park, find a museum devoted to medieval European art and architecture, as well as serene gardens where pne can debrief their museum visit amidst the sweet smell of roses in bloom.
No matter the mood, New York City’s vast expanse of outdoor activities will get you moving and will remind you why this city is so spectacular.
Outdoor Activity Deals
Great New York Tours
- Greenwich Village
Two-hour walking tours start at Washington Square Park and include nine of New York’s most bone-chilling destinations
Brooklyn Boulders
- Boerum Hill
Visitors scramble on 22,000 square feet of bouldering and top-rope or lead-climbing walls
Seacoast Sailing
- The Waterfront
Sailing trips take passengers along the New York Harbor and river at noon, sunset, or nighttime for skyline views; snacks & drinks included
Entertainment Cruises (Spirit of)
- Chelsea
Aboard cruise ship, guests enjoy scenic views of New York's historic skyline and a gourmet buffet
Hudson River Community Sailing
- New York
Veteran skippers teach sailing basics during voyages along the Hudson River that supply stunning views of New York in the morning or evening
Recommended Outdoor Activities by Groupon Customers
The resident guides at Uncle Sam's New York Tours masterfully navigate the city to give sightseers a smattering of historic sights, hip bars, and chic shopping locales. Leisurely strolls allow tourists to savor the sights of each stop, as opposed to whizzing by on a tour bus or being launched past from a trebuchet. Engaging guides steer guests down Wall Street and dive headfirst into the Greenwich Village digs that have been frequented by creative geniuses for decades. After dark, pub crawls traverse the entrances of some of New York's most hallowed watering holes, and nightclub tours lend tastes of the New York nightlife, along with glimpses of reticent celebrities in rare chicken-dance performances. Uncle Sam's sightseeing sages also conduct private luxury tours, ferrying guests about town in private SUVs and stretch limos.
Miles into the Pacific Ocean, Harbor Breeze Cruises' captain tells a story. He speaks of Pacific gray whales making the journey from the Bering Sea in Alaska to Scammon's Lagoon in Baja California, Mexico, right when—as if on cue—a whale breaks the water's surface. Its blowhole fires a plume of water into the air as sightseers, spread across two decks, feast upon views of the majestic creature and their camera shutters snap furiously to capture the moment.
Up to 80-feet-long, Harbor Breeze's double-decker vessels allow groups to visit the habitats of a diverse group of marine wildlife; tours often spy whale species from blue to orca, dolphins as they leap into the air, and harbor seals as they sign traffic signals to passing boats. Aside from tours, Harbor Breeze Cruises also charters boats for weddings and memorials.
Green Flag Driving Experience deals in adrenaline. At its racetrack, novice drivers and advanced rubber burners alike get to feel the heady rush of epinephrine as they reach speeds in excess of 90 mph while manning the cockpit of a racecar. Drivers choose their rides from a fleet of Winged TQ Midgets or a selection of Legends cars, 5/8-scale replicas of autos from the Golden Age of American engineering when men were men and cars were powered by miniature locomotives. Before sliding behind their chosen wheel, each driver goes through an introduction and orientation that cover safety skills and handling basics. Then the Green Flag Driving Experience instructors keep watch as their pupils don provided helmets and suits, buckle up, and hit the pavement. Afterward, the instructors provide a thorough critique that helps the budding Andrettis maneuver with even more finesse on their next time around the track.
Tourists and natives alike perch atop rental bikes from Blazing Saddles’ impressive fleet, pedaling down New York City's Greenway Bike Path and thoroughfares on adventures that combine exercise and sightseeing. Cyclists select from an array of comfort cruisers, 24-speed performance hybrids, and mountain bikes outfitted with the thick tread and front suspension necessary to support their riders and the mountain goats that often cling to them. Complimentary helmets and locks accompany each rental, along with detailed maps criss-crossed with routes for self-guided tours. Alternatively, three-hour guided tours of the Brooklyn Bridge area or Central Park give bikers a more structured touring experience.
PacPlex dedicates its sprawling 200,000-square-foot facilities to sports, recreation, health, and education. At PacPlex, patrons can whip into shape in a TV-studded cardio-equipment area, on myriad weight machines, and throughout a schedule of fitness classes. The instructors lead kettlebell courses, Pilates core-strengthening workouts, and pool-aquatics classes, which help guests perfect their sea otter mating calls. Visitors flock to the vast grounds to work their bodies on racquetball courts, basketball courts, and an 18,000-square-foot indoor soccer field. At the two indoor and four outdoor swimming pools, guests can take a leisurely swim, play with water toys, and shoot down waterslides, or work on sculpting a chiseled bod by swimming laps.
Kids can take swimming lessons, and, for those who discover a hidden set of gills behind their ears, the staff also runs a junior swim league. When they're not splashing in the pool, kids can make new imaginary friends in preschool and daycare programs.
