5 ways to enjoy spring in New York City

We can’t help ourselves. Although it’s still a bit chilly out, we are already sporting our spring outfits and spending Sunday mornings sitting outdoors at our favorite brunch spots.

It’s spring in New York City, my friends, and we are melting away the winter blues. The days are longer, the flowers are in bloom, the birds are chirping, and the list of things to do just got a little bit longer.

Here are my top five favorites ways to enjoy New York City in the spring.

Go on a food tour

This is a city where eateries come and go. You don’t know what has changed while you were huddled up in your warm apartment or since your last visit to the city. The best ways to revisit old favorites and discover new spots is to go out on a food tour. You eat, you walk, and then you eat some more. You also pick up a bit of the city’s cultural history along the way. Not a bad way to spend a day. Check out my list of favorite food tours in New York City to get you started.

Viewfinder Tip: Make sure to dress in layers. The temperature changes by the hour and you never know what to expect.

Take in a spring festival

From moviegoers to nature lovers, there are so many fun events taking place to appeal to a variety of interests. My two favorites are the Tribeca Film Festival, an event for movie watching, panel discussions, live performances, and so much more; and Sakura Matsuri, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden’s annual weekend-long cherry blossom festival celebrating traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. I tend to also enjoy nature more when I have a glass of wine in my hand, which is why the Daffodil Celebration and Wine Weekend at the New York Botanical Garden is also a definite must.

Sit back and relax

This is hard to do as a New Yorker, and visitors to our great city tend to get caught up in the busy energy we exude. But the city is rarely as beautiful as it is during the spring months and you really don’t want to miss it. So spend a day walking around Central Park. Take in the performers and colors. Arrive early to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and take it in at your own, slow pace. Make sure to stop by their wine bar—with views to the park—for a drink and appetizers. Catch the sunset along Riverside Park, made better with friends while drinking beer along the marina at the Boat Basin.

Dine alfresco

This is the season when rooftop bars open for business and restaurants extend their outdoor cafes. It is the time for people watching and taking in the rays of warm sunlight. The energy of the city changes, making it more festive and alive. Check out my favorite spots to dine and drink outdoors.

Go on a hike

Most people underestimate the number of hiking trails in and near New York City. For those wanting to stay close, the Blue Trail in Inwood Hill Park, New York City’s oldest living forest, is a 2-mile hike where you can enjoy sights of the majestic tulip trees. The Greenbelt in Staten Island has over 35 miles of marked trails. The park is the largest forest preserve in the city. If you want to go a bit farther, then the Appalachian Trail in Bear Mountain State Park has southern views of the Delaware Water Gap.

What is your favorite city to welcome spring in?