New York City

With no shortage of bustling urban landscapes and familiar landmarks, it might be surprising that New York City is also home to bucolic outdoor spaces, blossoming botanical gardens, expansive beaches and parklands bursting with wildlife. Surf the waves at the Rockaways, ride the Cyclone in Brooklyn, see the Yankees play in the Bronx, stroll the picturesque grounds of the Cloisters in Manhattan and immerse yourself in culture and greenery at Staten Island’s Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden—among many other experiences. See a list of the best outdoor activities in NYC here.

Carving out a swath of 843 acres in the middle of Manhattan, Central Park has provided New Yorkers and visitors a calm respite since its first section opened in 1858. Make sure to visit if you have time: the endless green space packed into the surrounding steel and concrete skyscrapers is truly a sight to behold. Follow one of the only straight lines in the park on a saunter down the elm-lined Mall and Literary Walk (known to locals as the Promenade). Save some time to see Strawberry Fields if you’re a Beatles fan, or have a picnic on the Great Lawn and explore the North Woods, one of the quietest and most secluded sections of the park.

Each of the boroughs is, of course, packed with groundbreaking art exhibits, must-try restaurants and revered landmarks. And as you’ll see in the following pages, each borough also offers a natural landscape in which to play, wander, wonder and discover.