Given that the mercury hit 70 degrees on Christmas and January was the most abnormally warm month ever recorded, we’re not sure last summer ever technically ended.
Regardless, we feel it’s time to break outta the gates and take to the great wide open.
Hence: eight outdoor adventures every New Yorker should partake of this summer.
Included: North America’s largest climbing wall, a motorcycle meetup and an obstacle course that involves mud runs, a cave crawl and jumping through fire.
Come Sail Away
Miss the America’s Cup? Calm down. The aptly titled “Living on the Edge” returns in June, and it’s the Atlantic Cup Competition’s most sustainable race to date (read: completely carbon neutral). Award-winning New York Times investigative journalist Ian Urbina will give opening remarks on June 1st, while the 10-team field will contest the two-leg race on June 2nd and 4th before making their way to Portland. Shine the Sperrys and saddle up at New York Harbor’s One 15 Marina for the best views.
Climb to the Top
North America’s largest outdoor bouldering rig has come to Brooklyn. The Cliffs, in partnership with Brooklyn Bridge Park, is a haven for the scrambling set, with various routes, “problems” and hand- and footholds. Fear not, there is soft padding at the bottom.
Get Gritty in the City
Rugged Maniac is more than just your mama’s mud run. On June 25th, gather a team that doesn’t mind gettin’ a lil’ dirty for a 26-obstacle adventure under the sun. Between you and the checkered falg: an over-water Leap of Faith, the Balance or Bust beam, a claustrophobic cave crawl and a Ninja Escape run. Oh — and literally jumping through fire.
Make 12-Year-Old You Proud
The August 1st Aviator Water Balloon combat is a publicly sanctioned excuse to douse your enemies. Teams will be divided in twos and provided with a gracious amount of balloons amid a range of inflatable obstacles for duck-and-covering. A beer garden on site will offer the liquid courage you might need to really go full bore.
Live to Ride
The Americade Motorcycle Touring Rally (June 7-11) is the world’s largest multi-model moto tour. An Adirondack adventure with rides, tours, a world-class trade show, a fashion show and more. It’s your chance to hit the open road or simply peruse the models with your drool bib on.
Take to the Hills
Spectacular views of the city just got more spectacular. Atop the spankin’ new man-made hills on Governor’s Island, you’ll find 300,000 cubic yards of grassy splendor opening July 19th. Rising from 25-70 feet, each grassy slope differs in function: there’s one for romantic picnic lounging and another with a path to a summit for 360-degree lookouts. The one that’s got us eager is fitted with a zippy 48.5-foot slide — the longest in the city.
Set Out to Pasture
On June 4th, it’s time to break out the bow ties, pastels and fanciful fedoras. The well-to-do Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic returns. Saddle up to watch sharp-fitted jockeys push balls around a field in a show of masterful horsemanship. Hop to it, though, as tickets go fast. Need an alternate option? Head up to Saratoga for their polo tourney season, which runs from July to September.
Hunting Season
Race meets scavenger hunt. The NY Challenge returns for its seventh season to test teams quizzical and physical prowess. The team to take the purse on July 24th will quality for the Challenge Championship, with thousands of dollars on the line.
This is but only one installment of 37 Things a Man’s Gotta Do This Summer, our annual compendium of everything worth seeing, doing, eating, drinking and generally making time for in your neck of the woods between now and September
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