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🌳 Nature Spots in New York City
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items Some of my favorite green spaces and places to enjoy nature in New York! Even in the concrete jungle there's a ton of places to get outside. A few of these are recommendations from local New Yorkers, but most are spots I've visited as well.
Map
Sections
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Where to find nature in NYC
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Central Park
Other Parks & Outdoor Places
Where to find nature in NYC
A list of 10+ places to enjoy nature with a bunch of recommendations from locals! This includes several boroughs.
14 ideas for where to find green space and enjoy the outdoors in New York City (several ideas from locals!)
14 Beautiful Spots to Escape to Nature in New York City
📌 PIN | 10+ Places to Get Outside in NYC This Summer
Brooklyn Bridge Park
I spent a few days exploring the beautiful BBP. This place is such a gem and is a great add-on if you're walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, and especially if you've been to NYC before and want to visit somewhere different.
Overview of the park, plus best photo spots and a custom map! I spent two full days just exploring the park, including a guided tour, biking, and getting up at sunrise for a beautiful view.
Underrated NYC Gem: Top Tips and Best Views from Brooklyn Bridge Park
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📌 PIN FOR LATER | Tips and Best Views from Brooklyn Bridge Park
Loved my visit to this park and I learned so much! It's a really cool spot with a lot to see.
7 Reasons Brooklyn Bridge Park is a Magical NYC Park to Visit
Classic postcard view of Brooklyn Bridge with Manhattan in the background! When I visited there was a construction barge in the way, so I had to go up the stairs to a nearby overlook. Sunrise meant I had it all to myself and the bridge was lit up. I ...
📷 Pebble Beach
Another cool photo spot as you walk toward the woods with the skyline in the background.
📷 Squibb Park Bridge
Probably the coolest pier in the park. It looks like you’re going to get engulfed by trees as you enter from the north side. There are pathways, a lawn for picnicking, a wide open plaza on one corner, and a section with picnic tables.
Pier 3
The green space on Pier 6 is mostly meadows (with a beautiful wildflowers), so it feels open and airy as you look out over the river towards Manhattan.
Pier 6 Meadows
Central Park
Central Park isn't the only place to find nature in New York, but I can't not include it! Here are a couple of places that locals suggested in the list above. If you want to explore other places in the park, I recommend going early if you want to avoid crowds.
This is a unique wooden structure on a hill with good views of Central Park and the city
Cop Cot
A quiet escape nestled in Central Park. The entrance is a little hard to find as it's not well marked on Google Maps. Great little spot recommended by a New Yorker in this nature in New York post.
Hallett Nature Sanctuary
Helpful tracker for spring cherry blossoms 🌸
Central Park Cherry Blossoms Tracker
Other Parks & Outdoor Places
A few more recs of my favorite spots (mostly around Manhattan)
This is such a fun way to see Manhattan! A great experience if you're going to NYC for the 2nd or 3rd time and want something different.
Car-Free NYC Biking? The Hudson River Bike Path Is the Best Way to See Manhattan
Fun spot to bike around (car-free) and enjoy nice views of Manhattan! When we visited one September, there were some food/drink stands. You can get Citibikes on the island and there are no cars. Super fun spot!
Governors Island
Chill spot in Lower Manhattan - you really have to be looking for it to find it.
Elevated Acre
This is a little “pocket park” - super cute spot to duck in with some lunch or a book and drown out the Manhattan noise with a waterfall.
Paley Park
This spot has been a public space since 1686 and became a public park and green space in 1847!
Madison Square Park
I love stopping here to just people watch or to eat outdoors. There are some food spots across the street as well as within the park, and there are tons of tables (though it does get really busy). It's also next to the public library, which has exhib...
Bryant Park
Incredibly beautiful grounds and conservatory (in February - April they have an orchid show). Right near the Bronx Zoo!
New York Botanical Garden
Waterfront park on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The Hudson River Bike Path goes through this, but it's also a great spot to watch the sunset with a drink!
Riverside Park