Summer in the city

Summer fun is happening all around New York. The beaches have been really friendly this year with great weather overall. Not too hot and steamy, but just hot enough to make being at the beach simply delicious. The beach is great for everyone in the family, but especially for kids. It’s, after all, a really big sandbox, and what kid doesn’t love the sandbox?

I was out at the beach last weekend as usual and was marveling at the amount of work and talent some of the kids had put into building one of the most beautiful and intricate sand castles I had ever seen. Then there are the boogie boarders and even really young surfers. By the way, what’s really changed is the number of adults who have gotten into the joys of boogie boarding. It’s not just kids anymore, which makes trying to swim or take a dip sometimes fairly hazardous.

It’s been a great summer for picnicking in the park and if one walks or drives by our parks on any weekend, you can see for yourself how many families are taking advantage of our beautiful facilities and wonderful lawns. One doesn’t even have to see it, usually you can smell the aroma of grilling going on.

New York City is wonderful in the summer. With lots of families going in and out of town on vacations and many of the kids away at sleep away camps, most of the neighborhoods are less crowded, and if you have a car, it’s a lot easier to park and get around. Public transit is lighter, too, and that makes everyone happier who takes it on a daily basis. But watch out for the cyclists. They are everywhere.

Our calendar is full of wonderful ideas for you and your family, and if you want to have an even greater expanded look around town for happenings beyond your own borough, log onto to our website, NYParenting.com, click on the calendar, and also sign up for our newsletters on the homepage.

Have a great August and happy Labor Day, too!

Thanks for reading.