Happy first day of summer! After a brutally cold winter and unseasonably wet spring here in New York, I was starting to think that summer was never going to arrive, but here we are!

To celebrate the kick-off of summer, the great people over at Hershey’s Ice Breakers were nice enough to send me an adventure bag to celebrate breaking the ice this season! Perfect additions for my summer go-to bag! :) Each year, I like to put together a bag of items I call my go-to bag because I never know exactly where my days might lead me. Inside, I keep basic necessities for anything I might need for a trip to the park, beach or just rooftop lounging — a towel, sunglasses, reading material, sunscreen, and usually a bottle of water. My new beach ball, iphone speakers and DUO mints (which are so yummy!) are just what I needed for a refreshed bag this year too! Thanks guys! :)

Once you have your go-to bag ready, it’s time for adventuring! And there is really no better season to get out, explore and make some new friends along the way than summer!

Something I get asked a lot about relocating to the city is how easy it is to meet people and make friends. I’ve always stood by the standpoint that New Yorkers are really friendly when given the chance, and I stand by this viewpoint even more in the summer. Something about the vitamin D from the sun tends to bring out the best in people!

So what’s my tried and true advice when it comes to breaking the ice in the summer? I’ve narrowed it down to my top 3 for you!

Have a Ball!: I mean this in both manners of having fun and actually packing a football, soccer or baseball. There’s a reason NYC just ranked number 2 in the country (next to Minneapolis) for the best parks in the United States, according to The Trust for Public Land. There are parks everywhere throughout the city and I don’t just mean the more obvious choices like Central and Prospect Park! Find the park closest to you or check out a new one and pack some snacks and a ball or two. It never fails when you start throwing around a football between a couple of friends that a few other people near you will want to join in the fun. You can also put your shyness behind you and be proactive by asking a few people to join in even before they ask!
Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone: Try something new! What better way to meet new people than doing something you’ve never done before. Don’t be afraid to try new things solo either! Living in NYC, no matter what you’re doing you’re never really alone and sometimes it’s easier to put yourself out there with others when you aren’t surrounded by people you are already good friends with. This concept kind of freaked me out when I first moved, but I’ve met a lot of people this way and encourage others to do the same! Always wanted to take a cooking class? Crazy about spin class? How about joining a book club? Whatever you are passionate about, go after it! There’s no shortage of options living in the city so take advantage of them! Plus, by choosing to do something that you are really excited about, you’ll meet others that you already have something in common with, which is a great conversation starter.
Encourage the BYOF Policy: The next time you’re planning a get together with your friends or planning a party, encourage your friends to BYOF (Bring your own friend). There’s no better way to make great new friends than inviting your friends to bring along another friend. 2’s a crowd and 3’s a party right?!

There’s a second part to this too… BYOD (Bring your own dog)! Scoots wanted to show everyone that humans aren’t the only ones that get excited for the summer ;-). Really though, getting out and taking your dog for a walk is another great way to meet people! Scoots is a little picky about what dogs he wants to be friends with, but people with dogs LOVE to talk to other people with dogs.

And there you have it! My tips for getting out there and kicking your summer off in the right direction!

How do you plan on breaking the ice this summer? Share your ideas and your fun summer memories this year with the hashtag #Breaktheice on Twitter and Instagram!

Make sure to also check out Ice Breakers on Facebook and find out more about their latest flavors on their website!

*I was not financially compensated for this post and all opinions are based on my own ideas and experience.

Breaking the Ice this Summer!