A Very Quick Guide for New York City in the Summer
Ben Ashby
New York City is a most magical place to spend the summer. The city truly comes to life. There is an energy that fills the entirety of the boroughs and becomes infectious. This is a very brief list of must stop summer stops in and around New York City.
A summer trip into The City includes a variety of stops, but it is imperative to spend as much time outdoors as possible. The shows, museums, and exhibits are the perfect rainy day and winter destination…but for the summer…use this time to walk The City. Our trip inside The City was a project for HotelTonight. The idea was that we’d explore our own city. We decided to stay at The Evelyn on 27th and 7th because of how close it was to being in the middle of all we wanted to do. A few short blocks from Macy’s, the Empire State Building, and several parks made it perfect.
When staying in Midtown a visit to the top of the Empire State Building is a must…but do it at night, like late. The lines will be short and you’ll get a magical view of New York at night.
While you’re in the area stop at Flat Iron for a building of New York’s iconic triangular building. The light is best here mid morning or at sunset. Earlier in the day will help prevent shadows from ruining your images. Run across the street for a quick tour with of Eatily, one of my favorite chain stores in the city. Modeled after Italian markets this place has everything from gelato and espresso to fresh vegetables, cheeses, and meats. The environment is so good at this location. You can also visit the downtown one for it’s views of lower Manhattan.
In the area you’ll also want to visit Macy’s. The largest department store in the world. Be sure to check out the special STORY store within a store on the balcony level. It features dozens of products by makers and changes with each season.
While you’re heading west and the avenue numbers are getting bigger take a moment to run in BH Photo Video. Its a wonderland of camera and tech gear. The staff will be able to answer and questions you’ve ever had about cameras and gear. They are closed on Saturdays. From there head over to the newly opened Hudson Yards to check out The Vessel. There is typically a wait to get onto it. Allow for extra time. This area gives sweeping views of the Hudson River and of New Jersey.
Once you’re done at Hudson Yards step onto The Highline and start making your way downtown….and that is where our next city guide will pick up.
For this trip we stayed at The Everlyn in Midtown. We found the deal with HotelTonight. HotelTonight now allows you to book any time anywhere and offers extra daily discounts on one hotel in your desired area. We ended up getting an amazing discount on our hotel simply by using the app. On HotelTonight use code “BASHBY8” for $25 off your next hotel stay!
PHOTOGRAPHY: ME + @ethanbarber.co
