Summer Travel: Tourism Heats Up in New Yorkby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 24 May 2008 05:05 PM Summer is typically the time of year when New Yorkers leave the city in droves and tourists take over the streets of Manhattan... and the Bronx... and Brooklyn... and Queens. I can't say I blame the city's residents... or the tourists. Each summer my family would fly from our home in Hawaii to New York to spend time with my grandparents in the Big Apple and at the Jersey shore... and we weren't alone. Millions of other families did the same and are still doing so to this day. With an extra hundred thousand clueless travelers congesting city streets on a daily basis during the summer months it's no wonder the locals waste no time getting out of Dodge. If you are planning to visit New York this summer be happy for the added space. With all of the family-friendly attractions and activities available in the city during the summer months, space is at a premium. So where do you start? If you have children I would suggest heading to Brooklyn and New York City's largest amusement park--Astroland. The city has plans to revitalize Coney Island's amusement district so this could be the last season you can experience the thrills and chills of riding the 81-year-old Cyclone. The popular thrill ride is considered as one of the nation's most revered roller coasters with 2,640 feet of track and gut-wrenching drops of up to 85 feet. For the more timid riders in your family Astroland is also home to spinning teacups. Deno's Wonder Wheel amusement park also draws big crowds. It is home to a massive 400,000-pound Ferris Wheel that stands 150 feet and offers riders panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, the New Jersey shore and the New York City skyline. If you follow the beach and the boardwalk from Deno's Wonder Wheel you'll end up at the New York Aquarium where you can join in the birthday bash planned for the soon-to-be one-year-old Akituusaq, the incredibly adorable walrus that was born there last June. The 2-day birthday party gets underway on June 14th with games and activities planned for pint-sized visitors. If your kids love hands-on activities I would recommend heading over to Queens and the New York Hall of Science. From June 21-Septmeber 14th the popular attraction is hosting a special exhibit on magic that covers mind reading, levitation and the mysteries of a disembodied head. In addition to the video presentations by magicians Penn & Teller and Jade, who provide a behind-the-scenes peak at some of their touring shows, there are more than 400 interactive exhibits on display designed to teach kids lessons in biology, chemistry and physics. The Hall of Science recently doubled the size of its outdoor playground to 30,000 square feet. The area caters to children ages 6 and younger with exhibits such as a giant bird's nest; three sandboxes and a gigantic water play area. Planning a trip to New York? Check out these other Big Apple-related articles: One More Reason to Visit New York City Traveling to New York? Think Broadway New York's Must-See Attractions---The Empire State Building New York's Must-See Attractions---The Statue of Liberty Little People in the Big Apple: Central Park Zoo and FAO Schwartz Little People in the Big Apple: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Patriotic Travel Destinations-Taking A Cruise of New York Where To Get Your Chocolate Fix In New York Summer in New York: Superheroes Invade Gotham Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags Amusement Parks, family travel, new york, queens, summer travel Discuss this article
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