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Summer in New York City hits differently—and now, there’s data to prove it. A new study from BetMGM Casino has crowned NYC the second-best feel-good summer city in America, just behind Los Angeles. It beat out sun-drenched favorites like Miami, San Diego and Denver. The index, which ranked 15 U.S. cities, factored everything from sunshine and temperature to ice cream access, outdoor fitness and live music gigs. (All the essentials, really.)
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According to the report, New York’s average summer temperature of 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit makes it one of the most comfortable cities for warm-weather adventuring. But weather alone didn’t clinch the city’s silver-medal spot—it’s the overall vibe. With 2,363 parks to explore, 240 wellness centers to stretch, sweat, and meditate in and 197 outdoor fitness zones scattered throughout the boroughs, NYC offers no shortage of ways to feel your best.
There’s also the city’s walkability and bikeability, ranked best in the country, which means feel-good moments are often just a stroll or Citi Bike ride away. Add in the 158 dog parks (puppy therapy, anyone?) and 29 “feel-good” summer music festivals planned for 2025, and it’s easy to see why we’re all about to have a very good season.
Perhaps the most New York stat of all? We ranked first in the country for ice cream access, with more than 100 parlors within just two miles of the city center. From Chinatown soft serve to Upper West Side gelato, cooling off has never been more convenient or delicious.
While L.A. topped the overall list thanks to its sunny weather and strong concert scene, New York made a strong case for the East Coast summer experience: a city that mixes wellness with walkability, culture with community and nature with non-stop action. And with more than 800 hours of sunshine expected this summer, there’s plenty of time to soak it all in.
Whether you’re stretching in Central Park, dancing at a waterfront show or simply licking your way through West Village scoop shops, this new ranking confirms what us locals already know: no one does summer quite like New York.