Good breeze, great views, and lovely cafes. A perfect start to a city morning.
Pure joy and great views of the Statue of Liberty. You can take the ferry to Red Hook from Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn. Get your frozen key lime pie dipped in chocolate then head to one of the three great spots on the water - Brooklyn Cidery, Red Hook Winery, or Strong Rope Brewery. Afterwards, take a stroll through Red Hook and pop into as many shops as you can.
Summer in NYC is for long days in the park, with trips into a well air conditioned museum to escape the heat. Stroll through Central Park with a large and very iced coffee and bagel (toasted, everything, scallion cream cheese for Bryn; bacon, egg, and cheese on a sesame bagel for Wyatt). After you're done sweating through your clothes, head to the Natural History Museum. Must sees include Hayden's Planetarium, the new Butterfly Vivarium, the Titanosaurus, and a quick rest laying down beneath the Blue Whale. When you're all done, hit one of the many diners on the Upper West Side - you can't go wrong.
Underrated first date location. Make your way there with an extended walk along the Hudson, right off the West Side Highway. After perusing the museum, head east to Tea & Sympathy for fantastic scones and killer treacle pudding. If your diet requires more substantial food, don't worry, A Salt & Battery is right next door and the fish and chips is a Prieto sister favorite..
Did you want Colombian food? Take the 7 train out to Jackson Heights and eat your weight in chorizo. arepas, and buñuelos. Bryn and Wyatt both opt for a bandeja paisa most days, and a Colombian empanada starter. Wash it down with a Pony Malta or an Aguila - then spend the next 48 hours walking it all off.
On your way out, make a stop at the Bronx Zoo and let your inner child free. The snow leopards are incredible, and the gorilla exhibit is always a hit. Once you've had your fill, drive by Bryn's alma mater (Hi, Fordham!) and find parking on Arthur Ave. There you'll find any number of Italian restaurants where you can eat a bowl of pasta the size of your head. After, pop into a bakery and buy no fewer than three cannolis and experience pure bliss.
Bryn will NOT declare any bookstore her favorite, but if there were a ranking Troubled Sleep would be close to the top. Tiny, and a hop and a skip away from Park Slope, Troubled Sleep is filled with great secondhand books and a smattering of new releases. Bryn leaves with no fewer than 4 books each time. Honorary mentions include Liz's Book Bar, The Strand, and Mil Mundos.