Take a stroll through Central Park
Spread over 349 hectares in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park is free to explore every lush corner. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is an ideal backdrop for jogging, with trees and flowers blooming in the spring and changing colors in the fall, with the skyline as a backdrop.
Venture along the High Line
The High Line on Manhattan’s West Side sits on an old freight line that opened as a public plaza in 2009. His 2km stretch from Gansevoort to the West 34th Ward features seasonally changing artwork, stalls, gardens, and performances.
Go kayaking along the Hudson River
Many boathouses offer complimentary kayak trips through volunteer-run communities along the Hudson or East Rivers. Pier 96 hosts complimentary kayak tours hosted by the Manhattan Community Boathouse.
Go nature walking in Inwood Hill Park
At the northernmost tip of the island, Inwood Hill Park is Manhattan’s only park without a natural landscape. The area is also home to New York’s most legendary tale of 1626 Dutch settler Peter Minuit. Peter Minuitis said to have purchased the island of Manhattan from the Indian tribes of Lenape for a handful of gems.
Check out the outdoor theater in Shakespeare in the Park
Since 1962, New Yorkers (more than five million to be precise) have celebrated the start of summer with Shakespeare in the Park, the city’s premier free theater festival, held at Central Park’s open-air Delacorte Theater. Tickets are free, but you’ll need luck and patience to get your hands on a ticket, whether it’s the digital lottery or the morning queue.
Enjoy At Coney Island Beach
New York’s summer outdoors doesn’t get much better than Coney Island Beach, on the southernmost tip of Brooklyn. Breathe in the salty sea air at beaches and boardwalks that are open year-round. A trip to Coney Island wouldn’t be complete without a quick bite at Nathan’s, famous for its annual Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Relax At The Brooklyn Botanic Garden
This 55-acre garden is open year-round as greenhouses allow tropical plants and arid desert cacti to thrive in the New York climate. We also offer fun educational activities for families, such as the Discovery Garden, where children can explore different habitats and learn about plants and wildlife through hands-on experiences.
Try free yoga in Prospect Park
Finding a moment of calm in a busy city is key (just ask the locals). It doesn’t get much more peaceful than secluded Prospect Park. Take a pre- or post-yoga stroll through Brooklyn’s best green spaces, home to wildlife trails, fishing clinics, pools, lakeside ice rinks, Smorgasburg on Sundays, or the Brooklyn Roots Festival.
Go birdwatching at Marine Park Salt Marsh
About 325 species, including warblers, sparrows, and pheasants, live on 530 acres (214 ha) of wetlands and meadows in Brooklyn’s largest park. There are flat trails along the creek and around the reserve that offer great photo opportunities. The park offers fun outdoor activities for family and friends, including live entertainment from storytellers and musicians.
Go surfing at Rockaway Beach
The name Rockaway comes from his American dialect, a native of Delaware and Chippewa, which reflects the historical and geographic features of the peninsula. Reckonwacky (place of our own people), reckanawahaha (place of laughing water), lekau (sand), and lechauwaak (fork or branch) are all words that describe Rockaway Beach.