Located in the Bronx, the Wave Hill public garden and cultural center is a great summer day destination, offering 28 acres of sprawling gardens to wander. Here, families can enjoy carefully cultivated grounds, views of the Hudson River and Palisades, family programs, and more. Not to mention, the gardens would make great backdrops for family photos, so bring your camera! Children under 6 get in free, and children over 6 get in for only $2.
The Gardens
There are 15 different gardens, grounds, and woodland to visit at Wave Hill. While all of them are lovely in any season, many have seasonal highlights that make revisiting worth it. Visit the Aquatic Garden to see a variety of tropical water plants and resident fish, frogs, and dragonflies, and in the summer especially, the Hard Water Lily, Mosaic Plant, and Sacred Lotus!
For a great view of the Hudson River, head over to the Kerlin Overlook, Wave Hill’s most recently planted garden area. In the Conservatory, visitors can see ferns, rain forest cacti, and more in the Tropical House, and other cacti in the Succulent House. Wave Hill’s hillside, the Wild Garden is another must-see, with its informal, “planted-by-nature” effect, rare species from around the world, and views of the river. For more information on the other gardens offered, click here.
Exhibits
Wave Hill currently offers two exhibits. Ending August 24, the Gregory Crewdson: Fireflies exhibit presents acclaimed photographer Gregory Crewdson’s photo series, Fireflies, which captures the spirit of summer evenings, the time between sunset and when the fireflies come out.
You can also drop by the Sunroom Project Space 2014 exhibit which ends December 7. It features artwork commissioned from New York-area artists, in rotation throughout the year. This summer, visitors can see work by Reade Bryan and Lauren Carly Shaw from July 13-August 24.
Programs
With a wide selection of family-oriented programs and events at Wave Hill, there is something fun to do for everyone. Mom or Dad can bring their baby age 8 weeks to crawling, to Mommy and Baby Yoga classes, held every Wednesday in July. And at Sunset Wednesdays, the whole family can experience summer at its best with garden walks, yoga, concerts, and more.
Get creative at Wave Hill’s Family Art Project, held weekends year-round, from 10am-1pm. This summer, kids will make paper lanterns, fancy fireflies, river rafts, garden paintings, and more. If you have children ages 3-6, enjoy Stories in the Garden with them! Each week in July and August at 2pm, there will be interactive readings, sing-alongs, puppet shows, and more. Both programs are free with admission.
The Café
Make a day of your visit and grab lunch at The Café, open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4:30pm. Here you can enjoy great views of the Hudson River while you dine either inside or out on the Kate French Terrace.
Seating at 2pm-2:30pm, there is an Afternoon Tea service at The Café, where they offer the four elements of a traditional tea service: savory, scones, sweets, and tea. The more expensive High Tea offers sparkling wine and strawberries. Note that reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance by e-mailing Manager Gary Chimelis at [email protected].
The Shop
If you are interested in unique gifts from local artists, fun and educational toys, nature-inspired ceramics, jewelry, and more, visit the Wave Hill shop. They also offer seasonal plants for your own garden, and fresh, local honey. In-store events include demonstrations and tastings! Onsite parking is free when you spend over $40 at the shop, and a downloadable order form is available here.
For more information, visit the Wave Hill website here.
