New York City is full of so much life and a plethora of activities to do, especially on the weekends. The best time of year here could be arguably any time of year, but one of the best things is when the weather starts to warm up and we can get back outdoors for warmer weather and all of the best sights to see in the big apple. The summer months are upon us and the spring season is fully here. One of our favorite things to do as a family is spend time together on warm and sunny days in the city. And with the new month, comes brand new activities and experiences do discover in the perfect place. New Yorkers and those visiting, keep reading to see everything to do in one of the best places in the world this early April and all month long!
Cherry Blossom Season
The annual festival is back at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden! If you haven’t been there before, you absolutely must check it out, as it is one of the most beautiful things in the city! It’s a celebration of Japanese culture and you can see the blooming Cherry Blossom trees. Tickets are on sale already! You can bring your kids, too, as this is kid-friendly! The cherry trees are quite the sight to see and we always look forward to cherry blossoms in late April.
Color Factory
Their confetti room changes each season to reflect the colors in Central Park. This spring, they’ve gone with a new color, which will be the color of the room until June, when they switch for the summer! If you aren’t familiar with this establishment, they are an interactive art museum located in Soho. They have different installations, immersive rooms, collaborate with new artists, the fun goes on! This is perfect to bring your kids to if you’re looking for something fun to do, or just yourself, as it’s totally for everyone!
Orchid Show
The Orchid Show is something my family looks forward to each year! It’s such a unique event at a great place! The Botanical Gardens are so serene and a spot the whole family can enjoy. The show was designed by the artists Hillary Taymour, Olivia Cheng and Kristen Alpaugh and is inspired by floral displays focused on orchids. If you’re looking for an artsy activity to do this month, you have to check it out! It will be taking place until April 21st, but tickets will fly!
International Auto Show
The auto show is in town! Running through April 7th, from 10-10, this cashless event is always a cool experience! They’re only taking cards for ticket purchases and it’s something that is great to even just walk around and look. If you are a huge car lover, this is the event of the year! I wish I knew more about cars, but even so, I still know this is the place to be this month! The New York International Auto Show is a great place to learn something new this month.
Union Square
Union Square has so many attractions that are a blast in the spring! Open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the Greenmarket has the freshest produce for you to shop from. If you’re looking for places to dine at with friends and family, abcV ranks #14 on the NYT top 100 list of places to eat and Casa Mono & Bar Jamón slides in at #21 on that list! For a bar, Pete’s Tavern is always our go to in the area. And finally, there’s loads of entertainment to be had. We love to see a comedy show in the city and Upright Citizens Brigade is one of the best in town! Plan a whole day around all of this entertainment for the ultimate day in the city.
Visit Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is always at the top of our list of attractions to check out in the city! Get a historical Rockefeller Center Tour Jr. for the whole family to enjoy and learn about architecture, art and more! Moreover, you have lunch at 5 Acres and delight in their seasonal menu before booking your spot for the Top of the Rock and get the very best views in town.
See the NY Tartan Parade
We love parades here! On the 6th, you can watch the Tartan Parade! At 4:30PM at Sony Hall, the post festivities will begin. There will be dancers, musical guests, a toast and open bar! Tickets are available now, but you can totally just watch the parade and not attend the after party if you want! It’s always a great time and such a fun way to kick off the best season outdoors!
Celebrate National Burrito Day
Now this one, I can get behind! April 4th is National Burrito Day- so you know what to get for dinner now! A bunch of places will be participating and offering specials that day, but to note, El Vez is known to have a great burrito, especially for National Burrito Day. Where is your favorite burrito in the city?
Macy’s Flower Show
The Macy’s Flower show is one of my favorite annual happenings! This is an event I look forward to every year because it’s always so stunning and inspirational. I think it couldn’t come at a better time, either, as it’s officially spring and we deserve something beautiful to look at. The winter months can feel long and a little dreary, so a great way to cheer up is to look at flowers and signs of spring. Located in Macy’s at Herald Square, this display is back and one of the more fun things to look forward to this month! It’s also fewer tourists here because it’s more of a local thing, so if you want to do what the locals are doing, check this out! This flower show is running through April 7th.
Spyscape
Museum experiences in the city are like no other. They are a great way to spend time on the weekends and they don’t last long, so you have to check them out while they’re here. Spyscape is an experience where you can feel like an actual spy. Go through lasers, watch surveillance footage, break codes and so much more to fulfill your mission. It’s fun for families, too!
MLB
Major League Baseball is back! Yankees and Mets games will begin this month! This is such a fun activity to do with friends or bring your kids to. What’s more American than going to a baseball game and enjoying some snacks in the spring weather? It’s a great family-friendly activity and you don’t have to even be a sports fan to enjoy a day watching the Yankees.
Bar Hop at Rooftop Bars
It’s rooftop bar season! The best way to spend the warmer nights is to be hanging out on a breezy rooftop bar, enjoying the day or night with good friends. It’s the perfect time to get back into the swing of rooftops, from your local guide! While there is no such thing as a bad rooftop bar in NYC, there are a few honorable mentions that I’d like to include, as they are some favorites of mine: JIMMY, Loopy Doopy, Refinery Rooftop, Republica, The Ready Rooftop, Elsie and the Spyglass. Check these out and let me know which are your favorites or if there are any I should add to my list!
Moonrise
Have you ever been to an immersive circus experience? Only in NYC would something this cool be happening! Watch the performance and enjoy some of the coolest cocktails in the city. We love a good dinner and a show experience- this is just that with drinks instead. Bring your friends or bring a date and have a magical night!
Brooklyn Marathon
Finishing up with a great event: the Brooklyn Marathon! This will be taking place on April 28th in North Brooklyn and will run through to Prospect Park. It’s a full and half marathon. You can check out this site for all the details, including how to watch and support friends if you aren’t running. It begins at 7AM!
Pier 57 Market and Rooftop
I love food markets in the city! Market 57 is located at Pier 57 and has so many amazing options from local and independent establishments. It’s under the mentorship of the James Beard Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that helps support those behind America’s food culture and elevate good food in equity and sustainability. I highly recommend stopping by and enjoying a bite.. or a few! One of the best parts is that they have an entire grassy rooftop where you can not only get some of the best views in town, but it’s the ultimate spot to hang out with friends.
Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Day is April 22nd, and it’s a day where we make sure we focus on the importance of our planet and keeping it clean. If we take care of our planet, it will be a better place for our children and grandchildren. There are a ton of sustainability events going on that you can check out here! But if that’s not your thing, you can work on a zero-waste project or watch an informative documentary. Any time and energy put into bettering this planet is never a waste!
Opening of Grand Banks
One of our favorite restaurants is back open! The Grand Banks is a restaurant on a boat! Yes, you read that right. Personally, I love the lobster roll, it makes me feel nostalgic about summer and the Hamptons. You will need to get a reservation because it’s a hot spot! I can’t forget the drinks- they are outstanding! It officially opens on the 15th for the season and you can bet we will be there to kick off the spring!
Smorgasburg
Calling all foodies, you are going to want to check this one out! Smorgasburg is the largest open air food market here! This is one of the more popular attractions food-wise in the city. They have a ton of different vendors with food ranging from BBQ to cookies to ice cream to sandwiches and all the way back. You’ll want to keep up with their schedule, though, to make sure you know which locations are open on which days and times and that’s all on their site here. They also have their full list of vendors to scope out on there. With several different locations, you can find the closest to you and head over! This is also one of the more popular events for families and is super kid friendly! They are reopening April 5th-7th!
Harry Potter Exhibition
Calling all Harry Potter fans! My kids love the books and movies, so whenever we have some free time, we enjoy popping over here to have some serious fun. Enter the immersive wizarding world and view storytelling through technology through exclusive experiences. It includes characters and locations from Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Tickets are currently on sale, but run don’t walk because it is a hot commodity!
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