Your Guide to a NYC Summer Bucket List

Long Branch Beach, New Jersey

As a local New Yorker, my family is always planning vacations to escape the concrete jungle we call home during the summer months. However, this summer was going to be different. My extended family was visiting from Canada and I had gotten a student worker position at the Undergraduate Admission Office. I knew it was going to be impossible to take an extended vacation so my friend, who was also staying in at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, decided to come up with a summer bucket list to complete. We complied our list based on two things: the events had to be free or cheap and within two hours of driving distance for any day trips. So over the month of June, we participated in free yoga and Latin dance classes that were taking place in Bryant Park. Also, many parks around New York City were screening free outdoor movie nights. We caught the all time classic Back to the Future at Bryant Park and Frozen at Randall’s Island. You can drive into Randall’s Island if taking the RFK Bridge from Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx. If coming in from Manhattan, a cheaper option is to take the walking passageway or one of the MTA local buses that frequently make trips to the island.

For my water lovers, I was able to able to take multiple free kayaking trips in the Hudson River. The two most popular locations are Pier 96 uptown and Pier 26 downtown. What I really love about the NYC free kayaking program is how accessible and easy it is. I went to Pier 26 a total of three times and every time I went before 10 am, I barely had to wait in line. There is a waiver that you have to sign but the good news is that you do it once, and it’s good for the rest of the season. There are single and double kayaks available as well as free lockers, lock, life jacket, and a changing room. For the perfect afternoon activity with your partner in crime or significant other, Central Park offers daily boat rides that you can enjoy right at the heart of the city. While not free, boating was a lot of fun because of the beautiful location and atmosphere. For people seeking a little more thrill, we did drive out to the Six Flags Great Adventure Hurricane Harbor water park in New Jersey. If you don’t have a car, not to fear! There are group buses that take folks into six flags from Manhattan. For the perfect day beach trip, we headed out to the shores of Jersey to Long Branch Beach. It’s a cute little resort town about two hour drive from NYC but also accessible via the NJ transit as well. Long Branch does a really good job at making us forget we’re still in the tri-state area with its gorgeous sand dunes and palm trees.

Smorgasburg eats at East River State Park, Williamsburg

   Last but not the very least, no vacation is complete without exploring the local food scene! Summer is a great time to dine out in NYC because of the many different food festivals and events that take place. Taking advantage of Restaurant Week, I tried out Korean, Mexican, and Mediterranean fine dining. Another really cool way to explore new kinds of food was going to the Smorgasburg food fair that takes place in various locations around the city every week. They promote 100 local vendors of various world cuisines and it’s basically a one-stop shop for any form of food craving you could possibly want. I tried vegan burgers, Ethiopian food, Hawaiian food, Vietnamese food, as well as a variety of ice cream shops in my visits. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to enjoy NYC that doesn’t have to include going to all the tourist attractions. I completed my first summer bucket list here in my “hometown” and I can’t wait to see which city to explore next year! 

Summer at LIFT and the City

A major attraction to Fordham for me was the fact that it’s so close to Manhattan. This provides an endless amount of opportunities—academic, social and professional! Since Manhattan is just a short train ride away, The Bronx is sometimes overshadowed by this bustling city. The Fordham community itself is an excellent hub of rich opportunities. This past summer, in fact, I had one of the most rewarding experiences of my life right here in the Bronx.

Just three short blocks down Belmont Avenue, is a non-profit organization called LIFT, the place that I interned at this past summer. LIFT has the ambitious goal of “lifting people out of poverty for good”. People in the Bronx community utilize its service to help with things like finding jobs, finding a place to live, and learning how to live on a strict budget. Everyday I got to meet with these community members, help them with whatever they needed, and learn a ton in the process. What first drew me to this internship was the convenience of being able to walk to work in less than five minutes.

Other than the rewarding work itself, interning at LIFT came with plenty of benefits. I got to work every day with an amazing group of people who I wouldn’t have otherwise met at Fordham. My fellow interns commuted to LIFT from all over New York, including Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and Washington Heights. We bonded outside of the office and would make fun trips together into Manhattan on the weekends. My favorite day was the one we spent at the American Museum of Natural History. This iconic museum is right across the street from Central Park, which allowed us to grab food from a street truck and eat on the green grass of the Park after touring the museum.

A couple of my coworkers, Caralie (middle), Laura (right), with me at the American Museum of Natural History

All of the Bronx interns in front of an Aztec exhibit at the AMNH

Central Park is such a beautiful place to have lunch, hang out with your friends, take a walk, or just breathe in the fresh air.

Interning at an organization like LIFT was such a great way to gain valuable experience while really giving back to my community. Fordham is located in one of the most culturally rich and diverse places in New York, and I am so grateful to have been able to better connect to it this summer. Walking around outside the gates of Fordham, I now feel more connected to the place I live, and I sometimes even see familiar faces! You can apply to places such as LIFT no matter what degree you are pursuing at Fordham. The Bronx really does have so much to offer!

Blog By: Abby Collins