This is what New Yorkers are doing this summer

Is there a city on this planet where more is organized in the summer than in New York? I don't know, but it seems unlikely. I have a love-hate relationship with the New York summer. Yes, the endless to-do list beckons, but the thought of leaving my cooled apartment to brave the godawful heat doesn't really warm me up. I may sound like a whiner, but believe me: I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Complaining about the weather is just as popular here as it is in the Netherlands.

If you have a trip to New York planned this summer and you don't want to be stuck in the middle of Times Square glued to your fellow tourist, take a peek at this list to see where New Yorkers are willing to leave their cool apartments.

Shakespeare in the Park

Shakespeare in the Park is a New York tradition. For almost sixty years, The Public Theater group has been performing Shakespeare classics in the middle of Central Park. Tickets for the performances are free, but that also makes them very popular. You can't get them online and you have to stand in line at an ungodly hour on the day of the performance. But hey, standing in line is part of the tradition, so bring a picnic blanket and reading material and let it come to you. If you really don't feel like it, you can hire a professional to take your place (easiest side job ever?).

Rooftop drinks with a view

At the first ray of sunshine, every Dutch person promptly sits on a terrace. Since this city grows upwards and there's no space on the street, you have to go up to the roof to find a terrace. I miss bitterballen and cheese sticks at every drink, but the view makes up for a lot.

Watch a movie in a park

Watching a movie in the cinema is fun, but it feels a bit wasteful to squander sunshine by sitting in a dark room. Behold the solution: outdoor movies. In New York, outdoor movies are such a success that you can find them literally everywhere: along the rivers, surrounded by skyscrapers, between two basketball hoops, or on a roof.

Seaport & Pier 17

Seaport District is a historic location (once part of New Amsterdam!). The cobblestones are still there, but due to a recent renovation, it is now a vibrant neighborhood with nice shops and restaurants. Right next to Seaport is Pier 17, where you can have a drink by the water and attend concerts during the summer.

Botanical Gardens

Want to swap the concrete jungle for a ‘real’ jungle? New York has no less than three botanical gardens, all of which are grand and impressive. The Hortus Botanicus in the tenth square, if you will.

Food markets

What is always fun to do? Eating. At least, that's what I think. If we're looking for an alternative to a mimosa brunch on Sunday morning, a food market is the perfect option. Smorgasburg is a favorite. They set up on Saturdays in Williamsburg along the East River, giving you free views of Manhattan's skyline with your food. On Sundays, you can find them in Brooklyn's Prospect Park,

also not bad. If you don't want to stand in line for half an hour for a ramen burger or spaghetti donut, make sure you're there around opening time.

Beach day

If the heat is unbearable and you don't have access to a pool, fortunately, there are plenty of beaches where you can cool off. Brighton Beach, Coney Island (with terrifying rides that have been around for about ninety years), Rockaway Beach, and the Staten Island beaches are all reachable by public transport in about an hour and a half. If you go to Staten Island, you have the added bonus of sailing past Lady Liberty on the Staten Island Ferry, so you can say hello to her right away.

Visiting museums

Original idea? No, not really. But visiting a museum is the best way to see something cool while staying cool at the same time. My personal favorites are The Frick Collection, The Morgan Library and The Met (where the fashion exhibition ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’ is currently on display, which is definitely worth it). On my to-do list are The Met Cloisters and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum (phew, that's a mouthful).

Shopping in Hudson Yards

It's new, it's happening: Hudson Yards. From Chanel to Zara; you can find everything your fashion heart desires here. And that without melting away on the street because of:

air conditioning. Shopping in a mall is more American than American, but HY knows how to do it in a classy way, with nice restaurants and art installations. Added bonus: you can immediately catch the latest Insta-sensation. The Vessel is that beehive-shaped staircase that leads nowhere. You've probably seen it pop up in Stories. It's located right between the mall and the Hudson River. Another advantage: it's at the northernmost point of the High Line, so you can walk over it to the Meatpacking District after a shopping session to visit the Whitney Museum or have a drink on top of The Standard Hotel for a phenomenal view. (There, a half-day plan in 142 words. You're welcome.)

Free concerts in Central Park

Concerts are fun. And the word ‘free’ makes our stingy Dutch hearts beat even faster. How great is it that in Central Park free concerts are organized throughout the summer? As soon as the sun disappears behind the skyscrapers, bands from all corners of music perform in the middle of the park.

Go upstate – Art in Beacon

Even the most avid New York lover sometimes wants to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. My tip: take the train north and spend a day ‘upstate’.

In the middle of busy Manhattan, you hop on the train, and a few stations later, you step into another world. Beacon is an incredibly cute, typically American village that consists almost entirely of a main street called Main Street. Here is Dia: Beacon, a gallery that is worth visiting even for those who are not art lovers. An alternative is Storm King Art Center, an outdoor gallery near Beacon.

A tip against: forget the MoMA, as it is unfortunately closed this summer for renovations.