When your heart says “go” but your bank account says “no,” consult our nine great ideas for a New York City staycation. A beach getaway, European escape, and more adventures can be found much closer than you might think. Set up your “out of office” message—you’re going on a staycation.
Have an Asian-inspired spa day at the Mandarin Oriental
Spa, Health Spa
Have an Asian-inspired spa day at the Mandarin Oriental
Like vacations, staycations should be indulgent. No New York City hotel does indulgence better than the five-star Mandarin Oriental. Here, spa days consist of traditional Oriental treatments using custom-blended Oriental oils, individualized Áyurvedic-inspired rituals, Thai yoga massages, and more, all best followed up with herbal infusions from the Oriental Tea Lounge.
Mandarin Oriental, 80 Columbus Cir, New York, NY, USA, +1 212 805 8800
Explore the real Little Italy on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx
An Italian experience isn’t out of reach for staycationers, thanks to the Bronx’s Arthur Avenue. In this Italian-American neighborhood, streets are lined with bakeries piping cannolis to order, cheesemongers making mozzarella before your eyes, butchers slicing fine meats, and just about every other Italian cliché you could hope for. The best part yet is that Arthur Avenue is something of a local secret, meaning you can enjoy vacation vibes without the tourists.
Arthur Avenue, Bronx, NY, USA
Learn to cook Italian food at Eataly’s La Scuola
Restaurant, Italian, $$$
Learn to cook Italian food at Eataly’s La Scuola
If you like to get your hands (and not just your plates) dirty, learn to prepare your favorite pasta dishes, cheeses, and more at an authentic Italian cooking class. Surrounded by fine Italian products, Eataly’s La Scuola offers a mouth full of Italian in the heart of Manhattan. Classes like “Hands-On Fresh Pasta Intensive Workshop” and “Lots of Mozz(arella)” are the staycation experiences you’ve been craving.
Eataly NYC Flatiron, 200 5th Ave, New York, NY, USA, +1 212 229 2560
Enjoy sun and surf at Rockaway Beach
During New York’s warmer months, Rockaway Beach is a top destination for vacationers and staycationers alike. You can go surfing (Rockaway is the only beach in New York City where the activity is legal), feast on fish tacos and fresh coconut juice at the famous Tacoway Beach, and swap the city for sand and sea—even if only for a few hours.
Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY, USA
Experience a not-so-urban jungle at New York Botanical Garden
Park, Botanical Garden
Experience a not-so-urban jungle at New York Botanical Garden
If your relationship with nature consists only of browsing bodega flower stands, this outdoor adventure may be for you. At the New York Botanical Garden, 250 acres feature flowers and plants from Thailand, Japan, and beyond. Tip: While you may be staying in New York City, you can still travel through time in the Thain Family Forest, home to historical Native American hunting trails.
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY, USA, +1 718 817 8700
Discover Staten Island
The fifth and often-forgotten borough of Staten Island may be the only area in New York City yet to be overexposed. The tourist industry’s loss is your gain as you’ll have sights like miles of beaches, Historic Richmond Town, and Snug Harbor Cultural Center largely to yourself.
Staten Island, NY, USA
Have a timeless night out at the Metropolitan Opera House
Opera House
Pretend you’re on Cape Cod aboard the Frying Pan
Bar, Pub Grub, American, $$$
Pretend you’re on Cape Cod aboard the Frying Pan
The Frying Pan is a historic vessel permanently docked in New York City’s Hudson River. Sitting at the onboard Pier 66 Maritime Bar & Grill, however, you’d never know that. The buckets of ice-cold beer bottles, peel-and-eat shrimp, clam bakes, and Old Bay fries taste like pure Cape Cod.
Frying Pan, 207 12th Avenue, Big Red Boat in Park, New York, NY, USA, +1 212 989 6363
Fly above the city on a helicopter tour
Is it technically still a staycation if you have to board a flight? We’ll let you decide, but one thing is certain: soaring above one of the world’s most famous cities and enjoying a bird’s-eye view of icons such as the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park feels like the most epic escape you’ve never considered.
