We can think of a million activities for when skies are blue and the sun is shining, but we stopped at 27—the better to leave some room for your own creativity and imagination. The important thing is to get out to the parks, beaches and other outdoor attractions of New York City and start making the most of the warm weather.1. Check the surf at —and then master it. A few places offer lessons for hanging 10, including , and .2. Browse the goods—and buy a few—at the . Scores of vendors line the park four times a week with fresh baked goods, produce and flowers.3. Walk across the . Opened to foot traffic back in 1883, the graceful span connects waterfront Brooklyn with Lower Manhattan and is an easy, popular stroll.4. Enjoy a pint and a brat in the . This Astoria warhorse has been around for more than a century, and its umbrella- and grill-filled backyard is still a lively scene on a summer afternoon.5. For that matter, have a cocktail or refreshing beverage somewhere . Between the City's rooftops, piers and parks, we've got your sunny-day drinking agenda covered.6. Go up in an observatory on a clear day to see as far as the eye can. The , and provide vantage points for eyeing the skyscrapers, shorelines and boroughs of New York City.7. Listen to a waterfall in Snug Harbor's . The expansive it's part of has plenty of museums and attractions, but the tranquil spaces of this Ming Dynasty–era re-creation might be its most enticing features.8. Board a ferry and ride somewhere—to , or , or just along the Brooklyn and Queens' waterfront. You'll find some cool neighborhoods along the way.9. Grab some handheld street food—, , …let's face it, the list is long—from a sidewalk vendor or to-go joint and blend into the workaday scene.10. Stroll the Boardwalk in . It's as picturesque and carnivalesque a scene as you'll find, flanked by the beach on one side and the vintage rides of the on the other. May as well give the a fling while you're at it.11. Take a close-up look at the in Long Island City. It's in , a waterside green space and walkway that's one of the jewels of this Queens neighborhood.12. Get lost in the streets of the . And we mean that; after all, West 4th and West 10th Streets intersect as the city grid loses its bearings in the area. Fortunately, nearly every block is picturesque and lined with historic town houses and charming restaurants.13. Plan a picnic in . The crest of the hill in this Brooklyn green space marks one of the highest points in the borough, meaning you'll have a great view of New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline; plenty of Asian and Latin American takeout spots nearby can provide the sustenance.14. Find a , or to watch. Or play a quick round of golf—mini or pitch and putt—in . It's a sporty city.15. See some public art. NYC's artistic side doesn't only come out in museums: there are the , the displays in , the installations on the , the eye-catching pieces outside the and a certain near Wall Street for a very quick start.16. Settle down in the Tenth Avenue Square (at 17th Street), with its amphitheater-like seating. You'll have a scenic place to eat lunch and watch the action on the street below.17. Cool off in an or, less ambitiously, a splash pad. The latter exist in Prospect Park's and Brooklyn Bridge Park's and a half-dozen other spots around town.18. Roller-skate the day away. Speaking of and (this time at Pier 2), those are also two prime outdoor places for playing a disco soundtrack in your mind and trying your luck at .19. See how many of 1,600 lampposts you can use as navigation. In other words, try to cover as much ground as possible in Manhattan's favorite spot for recreation and relaxation.20. Take a run around the , which offers excellent skyline views in all directions. Make sure to go counterclockwise around the 1.58-mile oval, which you may recognize from its starring role in the .21. Watch the yachts from . NYC's New England–style getaway is a small jewel of the Bronx: a fishing village that's loaded with marinas and low-key lobster restaurants.22. Bike your way along the . The dedicated path here is among the City's most popular for cyclists, but you can find to pedal throughout the five boroughs.23. Paddle around in the rivers. Numerous piers and landings in , and offer kayaking lessons that get you out on the water.24. Explore the old-growth forest in the . This section of the garden dates back centuries, when it was inhabited by the ; it's always a good day to check out what's in bloom here and at its counterparts, and .25. Find the City's —and sample some at each one. Ample Hills, Blue Marble and Big Gay Ice Cream (deservedly) get a lot of press, but poke around and you'll find more, plus great and (, anyone?).26. Listen to the buskers in . This central hub is a quintessential piece of the Village, a place to relax by the fountain and take in the lively scene. Just don't challenge one of the sharks in chess.27. Wrap up your day with an outdoor or . These mostly take place in city parks during summer months.
