The best ways to cool off in NYC

You don’t need a boating license to glide on these waters! Hop aboard one of the Downtown Boathouse’s free kayaks at Pier 26 and paddle to your heart’s content.
Hudson River Park

Grab a refreshing choco-cherry float ($6) or a heavenly Berry Gibbs ($6), made of strawberry, Nilla wafers and sweet cream, from Mister Dips’ sleek ’70s Airstream trailer. It’s a throwback in the best way.

There’s no better place to enjoy a lobster roll than while drifting on the water and enjoying a river breeze. North River Lobster Company’s regular cruises are short but offer a full seafood menu.

Don’t have time to make it out to Rockaway? Hit up Dream Downtown’s artificial beach, which has chaise loungers, a glass-bottom pool and a cocktail bar that offers plenty of warm-weather tipples.

Escape the heat in a beautifully air-conditioned movie theater at Alamo Drafthouse and order a creamy spiked drink ($8) from the chain’s extensive spirits menu.

Don’t just taste the rainbow: Feel the damn rainbow with a plunge at Manhattan Park Pool Club, which local artist Elizabeth Sutton transformed into a Technicolor wonderland using more than 60 gallons of brightly colored paint.
Roosevelt Island (30 River Rd). $25–$60.

Don’t overthink it: Sometimes the best way to cool off in the city is to get soaking wet. Run through the water at the Unisphere, the 1964 World’s Fair icon,  then grab a shady spot to relax in the nearby park.

With a history that can be traced back to 11th-century Japan,Bonsai Kakigōri’s melt-in-your-mouth dessert pairs fruit syrup and extra-fine ice flakes.

Grab a table outside at the scenic Pier A Harbor House and work your way through a plate (or three) of bivalves while taking in the gorgeous view.