NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, is encouraging locals and regional visitors to take a “NYC-cation” this weekend and beyond. 

As always, we encourage those visiting the five boroughs to follow the guidelines from NYC & Company’s Stay Well NYC Pledge. Wearing masks, social distancing and frequently washing/sanitizing hands remains key to a successful recovery for NYC.

Below is a brief selection of what’s open this weekend and beyond across the five boroughs, including suggestions for hotel stays:

The Bronx:

Wave Hill, Riverdale, Bronx, NYC

Public art and cultural center Wave Hill in the Hudson Hill section of Riverdale, reopened today, with required preregistration, reduced hours and fewer visitors. With safety taking precedent, the garden is reopening in phases, initially open Thursday through Sunday each week, with ticket reservations available to purchase in advance on Mondays. The estate, overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades, is a spectacular space with a mission to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscapes, to preserve its magnificent views and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

New York Botanical Garden, Fordham, Bronx, NYC

Among the most comprehensive botanical gardens in the world and an integral part of the cultural fabric of NYC, the New York Botanical Garden in Bronx Park reopened this week with access to the gardens—featuring one million plants—outdoor collections and natural features. The new, timed ticketing system and protocols in place will ensure the safety of visitors and staff. In addition to the many outdoor spaces that will be open to explore across the garden’s grounds, other amenities include the Pine Tree Café for outdoor seating as well as a pop-up in the Rose Garden, the Hudson Garden Grill terrace, family and kid-friendly activity guides and spaces, audio tours available via cell phones and more. 

Brooklyn:

Opened just over a week ago on the pier at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, the Brooklyn Drive-In—by Rooftop Films—is bringing the power of filmmaking to the greater NYC area. Ticket prices start at $35 per car and screening times vary by day and event, with safety protocols top of mind. Enjoy this exciting opportunity to experience a diverse collection of films this summer, including sneak previews of the best new independent and foreign films, with backdrops of the water and Lower Manhattan.

Greenwood Cemetery, Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NYC

Green-Wood Cemetery is a must-see location in Sunset Park, a neighborhood that is easily accessible by the NYC Ferry. In addition to stunning architecture, nature and history, there is a public art piece on display called Here Lie the Secrets of the Visitors of Green-Wood Cemetery. Near Green-Wood’s main entrance, artist Sophie Calle has created this ongoing site-specific installation in the form of a headstone. Visitors are invited to commit their secrets to paper and bury them in the artist’s plot. Over the project’s existence (through 2042), Calle will return periodically to exhume the paper and hold a ceremonial bonfire to dispose of the secrets.

Stay Overnight: The Wyndham Garden Brooklyn Sunset Park offers a prime location in the neighborhood.

Manhattan:

Bryant Park

Spend the day in Midtown experiencing some classic Manhattan sites. Start early in the day at Bryant Park, offering games and activity areas for all ages. Head over to Fifth Avenue to enjoy some shopping therapy at Saks Fifth Avenue and other locations, as well as restaurants that are now open for outdoor dining, all available under “now open” on the Fifth Avenue Association website.

Stay Overnight: Enjoy contemporary luxurious accommodations at the Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue. The property is currently offering a Safe Smart Summer staycation package.

Queens:

TWA Hotel

The TWA Hotel, located next to Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Jamaica, is a summer destination within itself. The soaring 200,000-square-foot TWA terminal transformed to hotel is ideal for social distancing. With period music, games, museum exhibits, vintage cars, special amenities in guest rooms and more, the hotel enables visitors to step back in time to the 1960s for an evening, or longer. The infinity pool overlooking the JFK runway is now open and a thrilling way to cool off this summer, with the pool bar and observation deck now in operation as well. These experiences can be enjoyed by booking a day or overnight stay online. 

Staten Island:

Snug Harbor, Randall Manor, Staten Island

Visit the serene grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, an urban oasis for wellness and solace during these challenging times. For those heading to St. George via the Staten Island Ferry, there are options to take a 9-minute car ride, 20-minute bus ride or even a 40-minute walk along the water. Snug Harbor is a place where history, architecture, visual and performing arts, gardens, agriculture and education come together and provide dynamic experiences for all ages. A visit to the Tuscan Garden will transport New Yorkers to Italy, and during the week guests can enjoy Wellness Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7:30pm on the South Meadow open space where fresh produce pickup, drop-in healing and meditation workshops, and more will be offered. 

On the Water:

Hornblower New York’s current offerings include lunch and dinner cruises, hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours and the ever-popular Alive After Five Cocktail Cruise. Whether looking to dine under the stars, soak up the City from a unique perspective or simply take to water for a fresh-air experience, there are plenty of options and several departure points on Manhattan (and New Jersey) to choose from.

For a much-needed date night, Classic Harbor Line is offering a NYC Jazz Cruise—complete with live music, champagne, NYC views and a starry sky—aboard a classic yacht, the 105-foot schooner America 2.0.

For additional suggestions on what to do across the five boroughs now, see NYC & Company’s “NYC-cations” launch press release from last week, including evergreen activities.

The “NYC-cations” initiative supports All In NYC: Staycation Guides, which is part of NYC & Company’s All In NYC local revitalization effort. 

For further details, visit nycgo.com/staycationguides, and follow @nycgo and #AllInNYC on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

For those unable to visit the five boroughs at this time, we have an array of virtual activities available at nycgo.com/virtualnyc.