Created at July 19, 2019

The Ultimate "Beat The Heat" List this Summer

Day Trips

NYC has been feeling some real heat since day one of summer this year, so it’s hard to believe we’re headed for our first heat wave. Ominously monickered the “Heat Dome,” We’re headed for temperatures in the 90s and a reel feel of 103. So, here's a list of Beaches, Pools, Lakes, Parks and more that will help you in your efforts to cool off in this heat.

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Long Beach

4.9

(7)

Long Beach, NY

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A chill 5 miles of sand that’s great for games like volleyball and frisbee. Lots of nearby restaurants and bars, some live music and an easy commute on the LIRR to Long Beach make it the perfect candidate for a beach day.

Cape May Point

4.8

(6)

Cape May Point, NJ

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Outdoor activities and all the scenic beauty of Cape May without the crowds.

Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk

4.8

(5)

37 Riegelmann Boardwalk, Brooklyn

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Iconic beach and boardwalk with carnival games, amusement park rides, aquarium and even a freak show. One of New York’s most famous spots for summer.

Ocean City Beach

4.8

(5)

Ocean City Beach, Ocean City

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A specific section of the beach is reserved for surfers. The beach has a number of washrooms and showers that can be used free of charge, and a nearby boardwalk offers a variety of opportunities for shopping, dining, and lodging.

Sandy Hook Beach, NJ

4.8

(5)

Middletown, NJ

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7 miles of beach with hiking, biking, fishing and walking tours and the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States. 45 minute ride on the Seastreak Ferry takes you to and from East 35th Street and Wall Street piers.

Brighton Beach

4.8

(5)

Brighton Beach, Brooklyn

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This Brooklyn Beach is right by Coney Island and offers plenty of summer sun and sand and great food options in the vicinity.

Round Valley Reservoir

4.8

(5)

Lebanon, NJ 08833

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This lake is perfect for swimming, boating and fishing. You won't miss the Beach either, with playgrounds, volleyball courts, changing areas with showers and food stands.

Atsion Lake

4.8

(5)

Wharton State Forest, Waterford

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The swimming area is beautiful and has lifeguards from 10 am to 6pm and three comfort stations nearby with shower and restroom facilities. It can get busy during the weekends.

Tomahawk Lake and Waterpark

4.8

(4)

Sparta Township, NJ 07871

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A family friendly park across 200 acres, this lake features a swimming area as well as a water park with rides, slides, bumper boating and an exciting one-person water coaster. There's also a special area for kids four feet and under called Papoose land. You can enjoy miniature golf, volleyball and horse riding.

The Hamptons

4.8

(4)

The Hamptons, NY

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Such a nice place. I went jet skiing at east end jet ski. And then visited the very famous wolffer estate vineyards. Absolutely loved it!!

Shepherd Lake

4.8

(4)

1304 Sloatsburg Rd, Ringwood

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This beautiful lake is is open for swimming while lifeguards are on duty between 10 am and 6 pm, between memorial Day and Labour Day. Recreation includes swimming, boat rentals for fishing and canoeing, picnic tables and food stands.

Long Beach Island

4.8

(4)

Long Beach Island, New Jersey

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Even at the widest point of this 18-mile-long island strewn with small shore towns and long stretches of white sand, you’re never more than half a mile from the other side.

Sunrise Lake Beach Club

4.8

(4)

Morris Twp, NJ

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A kid friendly lakeshore with an inflatable obstacle course, Zoom Flume and beach club. The sandy shores are ideal for kids to play and facilities include swimming and paddle boats. There are exclusive Tiny Tot Tuesdays in July and August for kids 4 and under and their parents.

Rockaway Beach

4.8

(4)

1-12--, 1-98 Cross Bay Pkwy

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It takes about an hour and half to get to this beach from downtown NYC. The waves make it popular with surfers while the snack shacks make it a foodie paradise. Definitely a great day trip.

Hooks Creek Lake

4.8

(4)

Cheesequake, Old Bridge Township

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A small 6 acre lake, Hooks Creek is a quiet and relaxing retreat with swimming, playgrounds, food stands, visitor facilities and plenty of nature trails and campsites in the area.

Shell Beach

4.8

(4)

Shell Beach, Shelter Island Heights

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Shelter Island has over 20 miles of coastline and numerous beaches but Shell Beach may be the prettiest. There are plenty of activities like kayaking, paddle boarding and kite sailing and there is some wildlife to be spotted along this sandy, secluded beach.

Newport

4.8

(4)

Newport, RI

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Historic beach town with mansions that can be visited. Scenic ocean drive. Newport Vineyards is like 5 miles away which is an awesome winery and brewery.

Stone Harbor

4.8

(4)

Stone Harbor, NJ 08247

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A super clean and beautiful beach with sandy dunes and a celebrity fan following.

Wades Beach

4.7

(3)

114 S Midway Rd, Shelter Island

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Wades Beach is a very family friendly beach with the perfect sand castle building shores, comfort stations for families and plenty of lifeguards.

Lake Wawayanda

4.7

(3)

885 Warwick Turnpike, Hewitt

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This is a scenic lake, with many nature and adventure trails including a section of the Appalachian trail. Its open for swimming every day from 10 am to 6 pm during the summer months.

Manasquan

4.7

(3)

Manasquan, NJ

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Bruce Springsteen had his first adult beverage at the Osprey in Manasquan back in the early 70s. This beach has a great all-round vibe.

Hempstead Harbor

4.7

(3)

Hempstead Harbor, New York

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Great for kids and families with well maintained facilities, walking promenade and a playground.

Lake Nummy

4.7

(3)

Belleplain Rd, Woodbine

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Set in the thickly wooded Belleplain state forest, this lake allows swimming and has plenty of facilities for visitors including picnic areas with tables and charcoal grills.

Sea Gate Beach & Cabana Club

4.7

(3)

3700 Surf Ave, Brooklyn

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A front row seat to the New York Harbor, a great beach with cruises ships and sail boats adding to the ambience.

Orchard Beach

4.7

(3)

Orchard Beach, The Bronx

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This is the only public beach in the Bronx and has courts for basketball, tennis, volleyball and handball as well as picnic areas and a great boardwalk.

Lake Absegami

4.7

(3)

Bass River State Forest, Bass River

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This gorgeous lake is in the heart of the Bass River forest and offers swimming, boating and canoeing. Lifeguards are on duty from 10 am to 6pm. There are plenty of nature trails around for a day of exploration.

Lake Marcia

4.7

(3)

1480 NJ-23, Sussex

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Lake Marcia is a natural spring fed lake, with a vantage view of the High Point monument amidst farmland and dorests. The lakeside offers swimming, a bathhouse, plenty of nature trails with picnic and camping facilities.

Lake Carnegie

4.7

(3)

Princeton, NJ

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A beautiful reservoir in the midst of picturesque woodlands, Lake Carnegie was created for the rowers of Princeton University.

Hopatcong

4.7

(3)

Hopatcong, NJ

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Just 40 miles from New York city, this is New Jersey's largest freshwater lake, with facilities for swimming, water sports, boating and even some fishing. The shoreline is as fun as a beach with restaurants, marinas, volleyball courts and playgrounds.

Swartswood Lake

4.7

(3)

1091 E Shore Rd, Swartswood

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This is one of New Jersey's largest freshwater lakes and offers swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking. A very clean and kid-friendly facility, ideal for families.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

4.5

(2)

334 Furman St, Brooklyn

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Small pop-up pool with a capacity of 60 people and a time limit of 45 minutes.

Roberto Clemente State Park

4.5

(2)

301 W Tremont Ave, The Bronx

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Not only does this Bronx park feature and Olympic-size pool (which opens at the end of June), you'll also find a new sprayground with more than 20 spray features in a rainbow of colors and multiple shapes. The 25-acre waterfront park runs along the Harlem River, and charges a nominal fee ($2 for adults, $1 for kids) to use the pool complex.

Travers Park

4.5

(2)

76-9 34th Ave, Jackson Heights

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Travers Park got a facelift back in 2010. Founded in 1948, it was named after community leader Thomas J. Travers. Kids love being in a life-size garden oasis with the leaf-and-vine shaped spray showers. Nearby there is also an area for handball, tennis and roller hockey for the big ones.

Bethesda Terrace

4.5

(2)

72 Terrace Dr, New York

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This angel hovers above the “blessed gift of pure, wholesome water” from the Croton Reservoir. Next to her are the four figures of Temperance, Purity, Health and Peace. The fountain is the work of Emma Stebbins, who in 1873, was the first woman to create a New York City public sculpture.

Floating Pool

4.5

(2)

Tiffany St, The Bronx

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Formerly known as Barretto Point Park, has great views to look at.

J.J. Byrne Playground

4.5

(2)

3rd St. & 5th Ave, Washington Park

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Park Slopers have a unique and fun splash park suitable for kids of all ages. Here, any toddler can get button-happy by pushing a button that controls the water sprinklers in the two sprinkler areas. Older kids love the aim-and-shoot water canons and the runnel, which is a manual water pump that is used to fill the mill stream

Water Lab

4.5

(2)

Brooklyn Bridge Park Greenway, Brooklyn

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For water-soaked fun, the Water Lab teaches kids about the physics of water. Close by, Slide Mountain has a climbing dome with long and fast slides. In addition, this Brooklyn park has a water channel and a water jet field.

Teardrop Park

4.5

(2)

Warren St, New York

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Considered a hidden gem among the concrete jungle of high-rises, kids can slide their way into Teardrop Park in Battery Park City. The main attraction is the park’s mega-slide, which turns into a wet slip and slide when the sprinklers go off. Naturalistic rock beds surround the water area. Your little climber will have a great time exploring. Be sure to wear good grippy shoes

John V. Lindsay East River Park

4.5

(2)

FDR Dr, New York

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he 57-acre East River Park Playground is home to an amphitheater, playgrounds, sports fields and courts. A favorite among the little ones is the bronze harbor seals to climb over. The unpredictable spouting water is also a fan favorite as kids love trying to stomp on the next water spout and try to predict where it’s going to be.

McCarren Park Pool

4.5

(2)

776 Lorimer St, Brooklyn

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It is one of the city’s newest renovated pools. Located at the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, the 37,571-square-foot pool and spacious deck and lounge area makes it a great place for tourists and locals alike to stay cool.

Heinrich Heine Fountain

4.5

(2)

E 161 St, The Bronx

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The Lorelei Fountain is inspired by a Heinrich Heine poem about a sea siren who lures sailors to their deaths with her magical voice. The lovely fountain, which depicts Lorelei amid mermaids, dolphins and seashells, was installed in 1899. The years weren’t kind to her, but fortunately she underwent a major renovation. Now Lorelei presides over this Grand Concourse park in all her marble glory.

Pier 51 at Hudson River Park

4.5

(2)

Hudson River Greenway, New York

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This play area, which received an upgrade a few years ago offers water fun for all ages including giant, kid-activated water gushers and buckets. The little ones can bring their favorite sand toys into the tot-friendly sand area. This area features a replica of the Minetta Brook, which runs during the summer.

John Jay Pool

4.5

(2)

77 Cherokee Pl, New York

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Decent pool for the whole family

Red Hook Pool

4.5

(2)

155 Bay St, Brooklyn

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This is another full sized Olympic pool with a recreational area

Domino Park

4.5

(2)

300 Kent Ave, Brooklyn

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One of the newest outdoor spaces to cool down in New York is Domino Park. The five-acre park built on the former site of the Domino Sugar Factory in North Williamsburg. (The addition of the park marks the first time the waterfront has been accessible to the public in 160 years!) With gorgeous views of the East River, Domino Park is home to a one-of-a-kind playground designed by Mark Reigelman that's inspired by the sugar refining process, as well as an elevated walkway, beach volleyball, a bocce court, and play field. Plus: Mexican food courtesy the Union Square Hospitality Group's Tacocina. The park has two water features offering very different experiences from one another. The first is located in front of stadium-style seating at the heart of the park, and consists of 88 independently programmed water jets, that are illuminated at night. The second is more atmospheric, but very cool: "Fog Bridge" produces a fine mist that envelopes visitors from an elevated perch, where you can also take in the factory's old massive syrup tanks.

Battery Park

4.5

(2)

New York, NY 10004

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Designed by Weisz & Yoes Architecture, this $1.4 million fountain features 35 in-ground, interactive illuminated jets laid out in a spiral pattern. With views of the river, it really is water water everywhere — the kids are sure to get soaked, and cool off.

Rockefeller Fountain

4.5

(2)

Bronx Park Rd, The Bronx

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In 1902, William Rockefeller purchased the fountain and invested an additional $25,000 to bring it to the City of New York, where it was installed at the Bronx Zoo in 1903. Later, the esteemed architectural firm of Heins and La Farge designed a new a ceremonial setting, and in 1910, the fountain was moved to its present location on the north side of the zoo at the Astor Court. In 1968, the fountain was designated an official New York City landmark, and is one of the few local monuments to be honored in this way.

Ancient Playground

4.5

(2)

Museum Mile, New York

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Located nearby the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this playground has climbing pyramids and other play features inspired by the museum’s collection of Egyptian Art. The Ancient Playground has two user-activated water feature. Big kids can enjoy the main climbing structure where water runs down an obelisk and cascades like a mini-waterfall into an open area with water jets. The other is a semi-circular area for younger kids with spray nozzles in a wall.

Hamilton Fish Recreation Center

4.5

(2)

1844, 128 Pitt St

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The Hamilton Fish Pool is great for the whole family. An Olympic sized lap pool is juxtaposed with a wading pool for younger swimmers.

Pier 25 at Hudson River Park

4.5

(2)

West St, New York

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This 25,000 square feet of gated play space has 8 seasonal water features, including an elevated water-wheel. There is something for all ages. A favorite for the kids is a water play area that has water guns, sprayers and buckets to fill and dump. Spend the morning at the playground, grab a rest and then enjoy “tee time” at Manhattan’s only 18-hole mini-golf course.

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