Summer in the city is arguably my favourite yet (minus the humidity and skin scorching temperatures).

We have been so fortunate to have three of our nearest and dearest come to town to explore a New York summer with us.  My dad and his wife Maureen, came at the start of July to help us settle in and explore our new neighbourhood.  Then last week my brother, Sean, ventured over to help us tackle many of the items on our NYC tourist bucket list. We loved having them along to explore our surroundings.  Sharing the energy and pulse of the city with those we love, and exposing them what has made us fall love with New York really is the best treat. We SO loved having them. All bias aside I think Jameson and I have a pretty awesome family.

What follows is a few of our top picks for summer activities in the city.

1. Baseball Games

There is something wonderful about summer nights, cold beer and baseball games.  We took in the Mets with my dad and Maureen, and the Yankees with Sean. I can’t remember the score of either game, or even who each team they played.  What I do remember is that the company was exceptional, and the nights were perfect. I may not be a huge sport fan but I loved every second.

2. Eating Your Way Through Fort Greene

As you know we just moved to Brooklyn, so we took the opportunity of having family in town to dine our way through many of the exceptional establishments Fort Greene has to offer.  So far Habana Outpost tops our list for best frozen margs.  While Mo’s takes the prize for best happy hour/spot to watch the world cup.  My brother sent his accolades to The Smoke Joint for excellent BBQ. Late night pizza at Not Ray’s Pizza did not disappoint either. Well my dad and Maureen frequented both 67 Burger  and La Bagel Delight , and their repeat appearances are a testament to the good food offered at both. My personal favourite is the Annex for the best iced coffee, which followed closely by second place contender, Hungry Ghost.

3. Free NYC Activities

I am not going to deny it New York can be pricey.  However, there are so many free events and activities offered by the city that are amazing ways to spend your time.  Sean and I grabbed coffee (from the Annex obviously) and walked the Brooklyn Bridge.  The Staten Island Ferry is an amazing way to see the skyline and Statue of Liberty. We grabbed dinner from Chelsea Market and had a little pic nic on the Highline.   The Brooklyn Flea has great finds, good food and even better people watching.  In a similar vein so does the Fort Greene Greenmarket.  Each of the parks also host a swatch of free activities throughout the summer.  We checked out Yoga in Bryant Park, live music at South Street Seaport and Fourth of July fireworks in Fort Green Park.  If none of those events  appeal to you Bryant park also hosts free movies on certain nights of the week and Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park is not to be missed.  So although NYC can get a touch expensive there are so many amazing activities that won’t cost a dime.

4. Taking Time with Those You Love

There is so much to do in NYC, and we were active in tackling so many incredible summer events.  However, the moments that stick out the most are the times we laid low and caught up with those we cherish.  We were privileged to savor a whole lot of family time this summer and those are the best memories of all.  We have spent a lot of time lounging at parks, sunbathing at beaches, sipping a beverage on patios and chatting over snacks in our apartment.  Those are my favourite moments of all.

So a huge thank you Dad, Maureen and Sean for taking the time to come visit us.  We love you.