Summer is the best time of year to hang out in the great outdoors, and there’s nothing more fun to do than watch -- or play -- sports during the dog days. Here are some of our favorite places to shop for sporting goods, from apparel to accessories and equipment, as well as great places to pick up electronics, the latest Wii games, gifts for friends (of all ages) back home, and much more.

Whether your preferred board is for the waves, the slopes, or the sidewalk, Quiksilver is an excellent stop for clothing, accessories, and footwear for “young-minded people.” Their stores are like no other in New York City, offering full lines of Quiksilver and Roxy brands. Quiksilver’s signature use of rich visuals and bright colors infuses the urban surroundings of their stores with imagery depicting the beauty, passion, and adventure of the board riding lifestyle.

NYC Racquet Sports has burst onto the sporting-goods scene as the city’s newest and most exciting racquet shop. Located in the heart of Herald Square near the Empire State Building and Macy’s, they offer a perfect selection of equipment for tennis, squash, racquetball, badminton and platform tennis, as well as clothing, footwear, and accessories. And if you have any questions, their expert staff is always glad to assist you.

If you’re a golfer, head to the New York Golf Center. Whether you’re looking for the latest drivers from TaylorMade or Callaway, this is the ultimate destination for the discerning golfer. The professionals who staff the store will make gift buying easy, and whether you’re looking for great clubs or the latest golf accessories, the 13,000-square-foot New York Golf Center offers a huge selection of top-quality equipment.

The Nintendo World store is a 10,000-square-foot interactive paradise featuring the Wii from Nintendo (and a fun Wii Interactive Area on the first floor) as well as the Nintendo DSi and other systems. Visitors can hone their skills on classic games as well as test out newly released titles at over 40 individual stations, where you can play dozens of Nintendo games. It is also home to Pokémon Center, and they’ve got tons of licensed Nintendo apparel and collectibles, some only to be found at Nintendo World.

As film adaptations of graphic novels such as Watchmen and American Splendor have proved, comics are just for the young ones anymore. Voted the city’s best comic-book store by NY Press, Cosmic Comics specializes in both new and old titles, action figures, trading cards, T-shirts, trade paperbacks, models, videos and much more. Stop in Sunday -- new comics are half-price for kids under 16. Seems like a great way to introduce a new generation to the increasingly popular art form.

If technological gadgets are what you’re look for, one of the best electronics stores in Manhattan is DataVision, one of the city’s largest computer and video retailers. Its three levels encompass 30,000 square feet of savings, featuring a full selection of computers, software, peripherals, cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, DVDs, video players, TVs, handhelds, GPS solutions, desktops, notebooks, carrying cases, and mobile phones -- perfect for any tech-nut.

Manhattan Judaica is a gem of a resource in the heart of Midtown. Browse to your heart’s content; whether you need ceremonial items for the holidays or an upcoming event, or a gift for someone special back home, this store has an unparalleled selection of Judaica and gift items. From jewelry to art, souvenirs to sterling silver, talleisim to mezuzahs, music to books, they have it all.