The warm weather is finally here, and our favorite parks, nature centers, and hiking trails (yes, there are hiking trails in the city!) are beckoning families to come visit. To encourage everyone to get outside and play, we’ve assembled a guide to some of the best kid-friendly, outdoor activities in NYC–from zoos and nature centers to family hikes and minor league ball games:
Nature In The City
Central Park: The first public park in America has over 21 playgrounds, 58 miles of pedestrian paths, 7 miles of benches, and more than 26,000 trees. A great place to ride bikes, look for butterflies in the Ramble, catch a concert, rent a boat, or just sit and take it all in. Central Park Conservancy, 14 East 60th Street, 212-310-6600.
Prospect Park: In addition to the ball field, forested ravine, and freshwater lake, there are plenty of great places for kids, including the Garfield Tot Lot designed for toddlers, the Imagination Playground filled with statues and platforms, the old-fashioned Carousel and the Prospect Park Zoo. Between Prospect Park West, Flatbush Avenue, Prospect Park Southwest, and Parkside Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-965-8951.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden: On the northeast border of Prospect Park lies a world-renowned horticultural oasis. Walk through hundreds of blooming cherry trees, admire the waterfalls in the Japanese gardens, and check out the collection bonsai trees in the greenhouse. 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-623-7200.
Wave Hill: An expansive 28-acre public garden filled with strolling lawns shaded by draping trees, quiet woodland trails, lotus ponds, flower and herb gardens and a dramatic view of the Hudson River. West 249th Street and Independence Avenue (front gate), Bronx, 718-549-3200.
Alley Pond Environmental Center: Rugged forested acreage filled with streams, marshes, and diverse wildlife. Take a casual stroll on the trails or enroll in one of the many family-friendly nature education programs. 228-06 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, 718-229-4000.
Queens County Farm Museum: Visit the only working historical farm in the city! The 47-acre farm is the longest continuously farmed site in New York State and includes a greenhouse, farm vehicles, orchard, planting fields, herb garden, livestock, and historic farm buildings. Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, 718-347-3276, www.queensfarm.org.
Staten Island Greenbelt: A mix of natural areas and traditional parks, this area is ideal for hikes and picnics and offers space for outdoor sports like golf, archery, and baseball. 700 Rockland Avenue, Staten Island, 718-351-3450.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden: Once a home for retired seafarers, Snug Harbor is now a unique blend of theaters, educational opportunities, museums and gardens. The 83-acre park has a botanical garden portraying particular periods and contemporary styles, a Chinese Scholar’s garden, and an Italian garden modeled off of the Villa Gamberaia in Florence. Grounds are open dawn to dusk, buildings and gardens open Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, 718-448-2500.
— Shaina Gopen and Brittany McNamara
Take A Hike
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge: The wide, level 1.8-mile loop around scenic West Pond in the rustic Jamaica Bay bird sanctuary is a great introduction to hiking. For more info, 718-318-4340.
Native Forest, New York Botanical Garden: Fifty acres of Yosemite-size timber, the largest tract of virgin forest left in New York City, lies at the heart of this Bronx oasis better known for orchids and roses. Easy trails meander amid centuries-old trees beside the restored Bronx River. For more info: 718-817-8700.
Old Croton Aqueduct Trail: A wide, easy path traces the linear route of New York City’s historic water pipeline. The most interesting 5.5 miles run from Ossining (train-accessible site of historic bridges, weirs and a visitor center) north to Croton Gorge Park (crowned with a 300-foot dam at the Croton Reservoir). For more info, 914-693-5259.
Shore Trail, Palisades Interstate Park: This waterfront path on the Jersey side of the Hudson River sits in the shadow of the sheer Palisades cliffs just north of the George Washington Bridge. For easy access: Park near the Englewood Picnic Area and walk north, following the white trail blazes. For more info, 201-768-1360.
David Weld Sanctuary: Easy trails through The Nature Conservancy’s compact 125-acre preserve near Nissequogue, Long Island (north of Smithtown), run past swamps, fields, shoreline bluffs and examples of the region’s glacier-scarred geologic past. For more info, 631-367-3225.
Staten Island Greenbelt Trails: The Greenbelt is one of the world’s largest all-urban parks. Take a walk on one of its 6 trails ranging from 1 to 12.3 miles long. Open daily, dawn to dusk, 200 Nevada Avenue, Staten Island, 718-667-2165.
John Kieran Trail: Created in 1987 in honor of the famed naturalist and newspaperman, this 1.25 mile trail journey’s through Van Cortlandt Park’s lake area and freshwater wetlands. Van Cortlandt Park, Broadway and West 246th Street, Bronx.
South Preserve Trail: A 3 mile trail among numerous others winding through the native hardwood forest in Cunningham Park. Cunningham Park, Francis Lewis Boulevard and Union Turnpike, Queens.
— Skip Card and Brittany McNamara
This Place Is A Zoo!
Bronx Zoo: As the largest zoo in the city, the Bronx Zoo features over 600 species from all over the globe. Check out some of their famous exhibits such as Congo Gorilla Forest, or view their newest exhibit, Madagascar. Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekends, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, 718-220-5103.
Central Park Zoo: Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekends, 5th Ave. and East 64th Street, 212-439-6500.
Prospect Park Zoo: Visit the farm for animal encounters such as milking a cow or feeding a sheep. Details: Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekends, 450 Flatbush Avenue, 718-399-7339.
Queens Zoo: This zoo features only species native to the Americas. View domestic animals, coyotes, sea lions, or Andean bear among others. Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekends, 53-51 111th Street, Flushing, 718-271-1500.
Staten Island Zoo: Open daily, 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m., 614 Broadway, Staten Island, 718-442-3100.
New York Aquarium: Home to over 300 marine species. Enjoy sea stars at the Touch Pool or peak in on the Giant Pacific Octopus. Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekends, Surf Ave. and West 8th Street, Brooklyn, 718-265-3474.
— Brittany McNamara
Take Me Out To The (Minor League) Ball Game
Staten Island Yankees: Games begin June 18th, 2010. Visit the website for a full schedule. Richmond County Bank Ballpark, 75 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, 718-720-9260.
Brooklyn Cyclones: Games Begin June 18th, 2010. Visit the website for a full schedule. 1904 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-449-8497.
