Summer Fun
Top Tips for Hiking in the Age of Coronavirus
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- Category: Advice - Activities, Activities Advice Articles, Summer Fun
Home is the safest place right now, but as the weather continues to warm up and cabin fever hits in full force, venturing into the great outdoors is growing more and more appealing. NYC is already struggling with overcrowding in our much-loved parks, so if you want to maintain social distancing while enjoying the fresh air, hitting the trails can be a wonderful option. We hope this advice sourced from PSP members will help you stay safe while immersing yourself in nature!
Summer Activities - Suggested by members
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- Parent Category: Advice - Activities
- Category: Activities Advice Articles, Summer Fun
What to do with all this free time!
It's Sooo Hot in the City! Cheap (or free!) Activities To Do With Kids of All Ages in NYC during the summer
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- Parent Category: Advice - Activities
- Category: Activities Advice Articles, Summer Fun, Kid Friendly New York
Looking for fun ideas on things to do with your toddlers and kids this summer? Here are some tips & suggestions that PSP members have shared. If you have more awesome ideas, and we'll make sure they're added to the list!
PSP Member Recommended Family Friendly Day Hikes
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- Parent Category: Advice - Activities
- Category: Activities Advice Articles, Advice - Activities, Summer Fun
This page includes tips and recommendations of where to hike close to NYC from members of the PSP Hiking and Camping Group, plus resources around the web they recommend.
Want to join the PSP Hiking and Camping Group? Head HERE. Not yet a member of PSP? Join HERE!
Lake Minnewaska is a favorite hiking destination for PSP members. Photo via here.
Coney Island
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- Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles
- Category: Summer Fun
PSP member, blog writer and photographer Amber Ceffalio visited the aquarium & Coney Island last weekend, and post Sandy, is still an ideal outing for young ones.
NYC Public Swimming Pools
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- Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles
- Category: Summer Fun
NYC's outdoor public swimming pools open the Friday after NYC public schools start their summer vacation. Here is important information of what to bring, where to go, and more.
When:
Outdoor pool hours are from 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m., with a break for pool cleaning between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Early bird and night owl lap swim hours are also available at select sites.
What to Bring:
- Don't forget a sturdy combination lock. Everything other than water, a towel and bound summer reading material is required to be locked away. You are required to lock your belongings up with a sturdy combination lock when you head out to the pool.
What Not to Bring:
- Leave food, glass bottles, electronic devices, and newspapers at home (according to the NYC parks and recreation website, "unbound periodicals tend to blow around and create litter, food can be messy to clean up after, and there’s too much water around to make sure your electronics stay safe. Just to be on the safe side, we also recommend leaving valuables like jewelry and credit cards at home.")
- No floaties, If you are thinking of bringing floaties, it’s safer to leave them at home and have your little one stay in the shallow end of the pool until everyone they learns to swim (if you are looking for swimming lessons, here are PSP member recommendations for classes)
What to Wear:
- A swimsuit is required to enter the pool area. NYC parks and recreation may check men’s shorts for a lining if they can’t tell if they are wearing a bathing suit. If you need to cover up from the sun, NYC Parks and Recreation recommends you "throw on a plain white shirt or white hat and you’re set. We don’t allow shirts with colors on them on the deck."
For the Kids:
- Babies or toddlers should wear swim diapers
- Some recreation centers may be able to find a place for you to park your stroller, but they can’t keep an eye on it for you. Park at your own risk.
From our members:
What parents have to say about Public Swimming Pools
Where to take Swimming Lessons
Important Links:
NYC Parks & Recreation information about pools
General Safety Reminders About Drowning
Note:
Indoor pools are open year-round. YAY!
2014 NYC Youth Guide to Summer Fun
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- Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles
- Category: Summer Fun
a PSP member shared that the NYC Guide is now available to download! "This indispensable guide is a collaborative effort between New York City
Agencies, museums, youth groups, libraries, arts organizations and cultural institutions. Many of these events are free or low cost.
And for some more PSP member suggestions of summer activities for kids, tweens and teens, go HERE.
Coney Island - what the kids say!
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- Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles
- Category: Summer Fun, Tween & Teen Activities
Sabrina and Samantha Van Putten had a recent adventure to Coney Island...
Hiking and Camping with Babies and Toddlers
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- Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles
- Category: Summer Fun, Activities Advice Articles
Our outdoorsy members share what they like best and least about camping with babies—and share a few tips about making a camping trip a success. We've also added PSP member ideas about how to hike with little ones, what to cook, and how to simplify a camping routine!
Hot Weather Food Strike
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- Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles
- Category: Summer Fun, Eating, New Parent Eating
"I got a great responses to my question about good foods for a hot weather food strike," shares a PSP member. "Some won't work for my pasta-hating, cheese-rejecting vegetarians, but I got several requests to post to list and I've included all responses below, from Mom to Two who subsist on breakfast and air..."
The PSP Guide to Socially Distanced Fun
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- Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles
- Category: Summer Fun, Activities Advice Articles, Kid Friendly New York
As the warm weather continues, our local area presents plenty of possibilities for Covid-conscious fun. Check out tips for planning, play, and safety below!
For a crash course on planning an awesome distanced meetup, download the Marvelous Meet-Up Tip Sheet; and for top hang-out spots, head to our interactive map of Best and Easy Meet-Up Spots!
Fun in the Age of Coronavirus: Playground Safety Reminders
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- Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles
- Category: Summer Fun, Activities Advice Articles, Safety in the Slope
After a dismally empty three months, NYC’s beloved playgrounds are once again up and running—but in the Covid era, even typically carefree activities like swinging from the monkey bars require an extra level of caution. These top tips can help keep your kids safe and keep you sane.
Beaching during Coronavirus: Member Recommendations
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- Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles
- Category: Summer Fun
Considering a day trip to the shore, but not interested in being jostled by hordes of maskless sunbathers? Before you make your getaway, read on for member reports and recommendations on the most and least crowded beaches.
Fantastic farms for family fun
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- Parent Category: Activities Advice Articles
- Category: Summer Fun, Activities Advice Articles
Craving some oinks, moos, and baaaa’s on your next family outing? Read on for PSP members’ advice on the best city-accessible spots to commune with some barnyard buddies.
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