This is a pro tip, but also a summer tip, take the ferry from Lower Manhattan to Rockaway and spent the day. The beach is great and the area is impossible to gasp that it's 30 min from Manhattan (without traffic) - Eat as many tacos you can, cause it's the best in the state of New York!
I love how I walk around the city and bump into so many musicians. It's nice to see them rocking in the street and stopping busy New Yorkers from walking.
On the west side highway...I don't ride much anymore but I stlll love hanging there, meet people, take pictures, look at the new school and old pros (It's Steve Olson on the pix) also one of the top spot to look at the sun come down...