Best Days Out in New York: Spring Time

As the old saying goes, New York is the city that never sleeps. That adage could be applied to the seasons, too.  From summer, through winter and on into the warmer months again, there’s never a shortage of things to do in New York City. That said, there is a different edge to the events on offer depending on the season, and springtime does herald some different types of activities. So, with that in mind, we’ve put together this Gray Line New York list of the best springtime days out in New York City. 

Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Ferry

At the start of your springtime visit to New York, you may like to get your bearings first. If so, then I’d recommend a hop on, hop off sightseeing ferry tour – it is the perfect option, especially in springtime. From the water, you’ll get incredible views of New York – especially Manhattan and Brooklyn – as well as seeing iconic sights like the Statue of Liberty. You can hop off and back on again at any of our stops. It’s a clever combination of sightseeing, transportation and relaxation! 

As the weather warms up – head aboard a Hop on, Hop Off ferry cruise with Gray Line New York. The perfect way to soak up the Manhattan skyline (Credit: Unsplash @stigottesen) 

St Patrick’s Day in New York

Right at the start of the spring season, on March 17^th, New York will be toasting the Irish with our own St Patrick’s Day celebrations. A sea of green, accompanied by the skirl of pipe and drum will march all the way up Fifth Avenue from 3pm. The atmosphere is fantastic – and the party will carry on into the wee small hours in bars all around NYC. 

The New York St Patrick’s Day parade dates all the way back to 1762. It draws 150,00 participants and around 2 million spectators (Credit: Pixabay @12019) 

Museum of Natural History

Right before you take in Central Park, you could visit its neighbour – NYC’s American Museum of Natural History. I’d highly recommend everyone spend some time here. However, springtime means spring break here in New York, which in turn means that the museum is busier than normal – but you can beat the crowds with a VIP visit. This ticket allows you access to this amazing museum before opening hours. You’ll quite literally have the museum’s world famous exhibits all to yourself – including the Blue Whale and the largest dinosaur that ever lived. That early morning will be so worthwhile!  

Luna Park – Coney Island

Coney Island’s Luna Park reopens on March 24^th 2018 – which is perfect timing for a springtime day out in New York. It’s historic, nostalgic and offers a whole heap of fun for all ages. My particular highlight is the Coney Island Cyclone – a showstopper of a rollercoaster that dates back to 1927. It may be 91 years young – but it still offers 2,630 feet of pure adrenalin. You can recover from all that fun with a walk along the boardwalk by the beach. 

Central Park

For something a little quieter – then do make time to visit New York’s parks. Some of my best springtime memories are from days spent in New York’s glorious green spaces – particularly Central Park – arguably our most iconic outdoor space. When the weather warms up – having a picnic on Central Park’s great lawn is wonderful. Those people rollerblading around the park look like they are having such great fun – Although I’ve never done it myself! If you’d prefer something less taxing, then a horse and carriage ride creates a long lasting memory, or the Friedsam Memorial Carousel offers a far more sedate ride on one of its 52 saddles. It’s a timeless classic. 

Central Park is the perfect place to enjoy springtime in New York. Stretching for 3.5 square miles and over 800 acres, you’ll find both excitement and tranquillity (Credit: Pixabay @Pexels) 

Smorgasburg

Luna Park is open each weekend until Memorial Day weekend (when it opens for longer).  So before you head down, you could stop by Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg. Spring heralds the return of New York’s street food festivals and flea markets. Smorgasburg in Brooklyn is one of the best – the street food is incredible. There are over 100 food vendors – so my advice is to have a look at what’s on offer before you go, as the variety is so impressive that making a decision on the spot can be difficult! 

Baseball: Yankee Stadium

Springtime also means sport-time here in NYC, and visiting New York in spring means perfectly placed to catch a ball game. New York is the ultimate baseball city thanks to The Yankees and The Mets. The atmosphere of a Yankees game in particular, over in the Bronx, is special. Mets play at Citifield in Queens  – their grounds are like a new version of a classic ballpark – so, it’s a different experience, but it’s equally atmospheric. Whichever you choose, hearing the crack of the bat in either of these stadiums will live long in the memory. 

The New York Yankees baseball team is one of the most successful major league baseball teams of all time. If you visit New York in spring, you’re perfectly placed to catch a Yankee or Mets home game (Credit: Unsplash @Chanan)

We’d be delighted to show you around the city when you arrive. One of the best ways to see the city and our sights and attractions, is the Gray Line New York  Hop-on Hop-off Double Decker bus tours – a perfect way to get unlimited travel all around New York, including Uptown, Downtown and Brooklyn – either over 48 or 72 hours. From the comfort of our buses, our guides will point out all the main attractions, and you can hop-off at your favored stop, before stepping back on board our buses again when you are ready to go to your next destination.