The "Beach" at Times Square in New York City

Used to be that you'd have to take the LIRR or drive out to the beach in order to stretch out and relax on a New York City summer day. No more. The City has gone to great lengths to create islands in the stream of people, cars, trucks, and buses all over Midtown.

One of my favorite "beaches" is right in Times Square, where you can chez lounge around on lawn chairs right in the middle of the vertical graphical extravaganza.
And if you want to get an upper deck view, climb up the wide red staircase above the Tickts booth and watch the FREE show below. It's so peaceful up there, really, you'll see. New York City streaming all around you as you sit peacefully taking it all in.