There are 26 days until summer is officially over. 26 days before you have to store the beach towels, hang up your floppy hat, and finally shake the sand out of those cracks and er, hard-to-reach crevices. 26 days to do all the things you’d wanted to do this summer, but just didn’t get the chance. What’s on your bucket list? Here are our top 10 must-do Summer Activities to squeeze in before the chill comes.
1. Try the Matcha Green Tea Soft Serve From Mitsuwa Market. While toiling away on Instagram one day this summer (oh wait, wasn’t it every day this summer?) we stumbled upon this icey creation and have been craving it ever since. After our first visit failed to produce the craved concoction (the store closed early that day?), our second try was a success, and so worth it.
2. Eat a Farm-to-Table Dinner. Farm to table dining is all the rage among foodies these days. And with Heirloom tomatoes, Jersey corn, peaches and eggplant ripening at this very moment, this is THE time to indulge. We love Terre a Terre and Fresh and Fancy Farms Farm to Table Dinners which are being served up right here in Bergen County.
3. Walk the Grounds of an Outdoor Sculpture Garden. The deep freeze of mid-February had us longing for warmer days when we could toil around Grounds for Sculpture and Storm King’s Large installations of Art set among beautiful grounds. Fast forward to mid-August and it’s still on our to do list. This week, pack a picnic lunch, a blanket and the family and head out for a day trip. Summer culture fix. Check.
4. Day trip it to The Crayola Factory or Sesame Place– A mere hour and a half drive from Bergen County, Both The Crayola Experience and Sesame Place will provide oodles of fun for hours for your tots. Just pack the necessary changes of clothes and gear, buy the tickets online the night before and head towards PA. After 4-6 hours of fun and a break for lunch, they’ll be sufficiently tired enough to sleep the whole way home.
5. Visit the Renaissance Faire. They say chivalry is dead- but the maidens over at the New York Renaissance Faire would beg to differ. Step back in time when you walk through the fairgrounds and witness jousts, stage shows, enjoy rides and games, get your tarot cards read, and eat turkey legs til your heart’s content.
6. Dine Al Fresco- Our outdoor dining feature posted early summer was such a hit, we know you all definitely had “plans” to dine outside (summer cocktail in hand of course) this season. If you haven’t yet (or haven’t hit any of our picks) book a table to hold onto the last days of summer nibbling on fab fare under the stars at these fave spots.
7. Book a Pirate Experience: The eye patch he wore half of July was your clue that you should head over to the Jersey Shore Pirates Experience down in Brick Township, NJ. The just under two hour experience kicks off with facepainting and getting in costume before boarding the The Sea Gypsy, a pirate ship where kids will read treasure maps, get lessons in “pirating”, fire water cannons and hunt down a sunken treasure.
8. Cruise the Hudson (and eat a lobster roll): Couldn't make it to Maine this year for fresh Maine lobster? No matter. Step aboard North River Lobster Company's floating lobster shack at Pier 81 in Manhattan and feel like you've headed up the east coast for great raw bar, lobster and burgers. Dine at picnic tables and take in city views as you and the fam chow down new englander style.
9. Hang in Manhattan: You've probably missed the window to snag a summer reservation at Carbone or The Clam , but there's still time to catch the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Rooftop Exhibit of Dan Graham with Günther Vogt which runs through November. After ogling the maze of curved steel and two-way mirrored glass set between ivy hedgerows, you can head on over to Amali or The Cecil for dinner.
10. Visit a Winery- Didn’t make it to Napa this summer? Don’t sweat it. Visits to Unionville Vineyards and Old York Cellars will make you feel like you're out of state. Set on rolling hills in horse country, these vineyards invite guests to pop in for tastings of their award winning wines, enjoy picnics on their grounds, to hear live music or celebrate their harvest festivals- which kick off in early fall.
