Photograph: Courtesy Scott McDermott
Photograph: Courtesy Scott McDermott

Indoor things to do to keep that summer feeling year-round

Head indoors, where the sunny season lives on

Advertising

Ignore what you may have heard about the imminent return of the polar vortex: Summer in New York is still alive and well in our hearts. There’s no better way to delay the cold than to get out while the weather is still nice with our last-minute summer bucket list. But as the temperatures fall, you can always run inside and still feel like you’re enjoying the summer. Check out these five indoor things to do to make sure the lazy, hazy days never have to end. 

  • Sports and fitness
  • Chelsea
Grab a partner and head to Chelsea Piers’ indoor sand volleyball court to do your best Misty May/Kerry Walsh impression. The center offers periods for open play as well as classes for every skill level, and suggests that playing on sand functions as a good resistance tool for fitness training. But we all know the real draw here: being able to trick your feet into thinking it’s still summertime, long after the beaches close on Labor Day.

Ford Foundation Garden Atrium

The atrium of the Ford Foundation on 43rd Street provides a leafy idyll away from midtown’s swirl of activity: more than 14,000 square feet of lush vegetation within the building’s glass-enclosed lobby. Bring a book and find a spot on the tree-lined stairs leading down to the garden’s shallow pool, where, thanks to the marvels of modern architecture, you can quietly pass a few hours in the great outdoors, indoors.

Advertising
  • Seafood
  • Red Hook
  • price 2 of 4
Brooklyn Crab
Brooklyn Crab
Brooklyn Crab’s expansive outdoor space is a big draw during the warmer months, but even once the weather forces you inside, there are plenty of reasons to head out to Red Hook and crack a few shells. The enclosed second-floor deck features a gorgeous harbor view, which provides a great backdrop for enjoying the seafood shack’s classic take on coastal fare in all of its steamed, fried, raw (and delicious) forms.
  • Hotels
  • Chain hotels
  • Midtown West
  • price 3 of 4
Rooftop Pool at Le Parker Meridien
Rooftop Pool at Le Parker Meridien
If you’re planning on doing a few cold-weather laps in Le Parker Meridien’s rooftop pool, you’re going to have to drop some pretty serious cash: $100 for a day pass during the off-season. But the panoramic views of Central Park are tough to beat, and the Parker is one of the few hotels that open their indoor pool to nonguests. Save a few bucks by skipping the pricey poolside food, and hit up Burger Joint in the lobby for your pre-dip bite instead.
Advertising
  • Lounges
  • Hell's Kitchen
  • price 2 of 4
Réunion Surf Bar
Réunion Surf Bar
Taking its name from a tiny, surfing obsessed island off the coast of Madagascar, Réunion flaunts a laid-back tropical influence in its menu and in its tiki-surf decor. Order up interesting twists on the usual beach grub (including the Dodo Dog, an all-beef frank topped with iceberg lettuce and a slab of pork belly, $6) and wash it down with one of the bar’s wide selection of summery cocktails and frozen rum drinks.
Recommended
    You may also like
    You may also like
    Advertising