Nature Calls!

The beautiful weather that’s been shining on NYC is just perfect for getting out into nature! And while a city as urban as New York may not seem to be a natural jumping off point for au naturel experiences, we’ve found that there’s quite a bit of outdoor fun and fresh air to be enjoyed right in our “backyard!”

For nature-loving fams…

Visit Alley Pond Park and enjoy weekly workshops with opportunities to pet animals, take nature walks, get educated in animal care classes, and lots more. This neighborhood park will keep you and your family entertained for hours on end. This park has the highest public ropes course in the Northeast for those who love heights. They offer a low course and higher course challenge. For those who would rather stay on the ground can take a walk through the parks scenic trails and hikers into their forests filled with breathtaking landscapes.

The Animal Room is a best bet, where you can meet and greet more exotic animal friends like Loke the Prairie Dog, the Blue Tongued Skink, and Bernie the Corn Snake. This year the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens are celebrating the centennial of their Children’s Garden. BBG was the first botanic garden to create a program exclusively for children, from toddlers to teens. Another great garden option is the New York Botanical Gardens, with the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. The new family favorite, the High Line, offers kids programs to play, create, and learn, and mark your calendar now for a carnival-inspired summer party on June 14. In the meantime, don’t miss the Arty Hours hands-on art projects. Plus, be sure to secure your delicious Melt Bakery ice cream sandwich while there on these hot, summer days!

Escape the concrete jungle and head to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, the only wildlife refuge in the National Park System. There is always something to do at Jamaica Bay, which is part of Gateway National Recreation Area. This summer you can visit the bird sanctuary that holds more than 330 bird species! The park is also the home to reptiles, mammals, crabs, and over 60 different butterflies species. There is so much to discover at Jamaica Bay. Become a bird detective, go horseback riding, or become a junior ranger (ages 7-12) this year!

There are regular presentations on seasonal wildlife, sunset tours, hikes, boat trips, family programs, and an annual lecture series. Queens County Farm is another haven for families who want a fun farm visit without leaving the city. Stroll around the farm, check out the seasonal farm stand, and peruse fields, livestock, vineyard, and farm implements, but the highlight for the kids will be the goat feeding and the hayrides (offered on Saturdays and Sundays).

If you love to hike…

Hiking is great exercise that your family can enjoy together. Jamaica Bay has multiple trails that will take you on a journey through the natural landscapes. Prospect Park has multiple hiking trails that will make you forget that you are in a busy borough of New York.  Five hiking trails can be found in the Van Corlandt Park that vary based on levels of difficulty.

If you want to camp out…

Black Bear Campground, in Orange County, is the nearest full-service campground to NYC with expansive campsites. Black Bear has a beautiful, natural setting but with all modern conveniences. It also has numerous activities available to entertain such as mini golf and a children’s playground.

Camp Orenda, in the heart of the Adirondacks, offers a genuine rugged camping experience while simultaneously offering modern luxuries (think heated showers, and open-air kitchen with a chef, and private canvas cabins decked in cozy decor). An all-inclusive, guests will enjoy a safe and comfortable wilderness experience in a scenic, mountain setting.

The Delaware Water Gap in the Appalachians is close to the city but feels light years away. The vast 70,000-acre park will feel like home as you hike, bike, paddle, swim, and picnic while you camp. Enjoy the magnificent mountains and endless outdoor activities that meet a range of family interests. Looking for something even more remote? Inside the Delaware Water Gap, escape to the Dingmans Campground. A large campground within the acreage, it offers basic amenities like clean water and electricity to allow for a rustic stay at any of the 133 sites.

Or seek out Mongaup Pond in Livingston Manor, a campground situated on an expansive lake, complete with forested campsites, swimming, picnicking, and boat rentals. According to the experts, the campgrounds become an outdoor classroom for young children and their families.

And for more of our nature-inspired picks…

For flowers & gardens, click HERE

For awesome parks picks, click : HERE

For the latest on Wave Hill, click HERE

For biking, boating, animals, and more, click HERE