This is a true hidden treasure! Rockleigh Woods Sanctuary is one of those places that surprises you…read morein the best way. The trails are beautiful and run alongside a peaceful, flowing river, making the whole hike feel calm and scenic from start to finish. Everything is well marked, so it's easy to navigate without having to second-guess where you're going. It's also a very welcoming spot--lots of families out enjoying the trails and plenty of dogs, which adds to the friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The hike itself is easy, but still really enjoyable and refreshing. Parking is plentiful and convenient, which makes the whole experience even smoother. Definitely a spot worth coming back to again and again.

Beautiful place, but far too many off leash dogs and pack walkers . I abide to leash laws, and…read morereally do not appreciate when someone's dog approaches my dog on a trail of any sort. It is dangerous, and to say "don't worry, he's friendly" does not justify it being okay for anyone's dog to approach someone else and/or their leashed dog on a wooded trail. Folks, abide to the law and use your own backyards for unleashed exercise, not a public, densely wooded trail.

It was a nice spring day so we decided to come for a hike. It's a shame how poorly maintained these…read moretrails are. For a state park it is particularly disappointing. The paths are very very poorly marked. They are old school - painted on the tree. But the marked trees are few and far between. You have to hunt to find the trees and even so they are missing. And the path is not obvious. We and others we happened upon along the way were off the trail a few times. And there is only one map at the start. So don't go here if you're not experienced. You will get lost in these woods. It's funny because we went to Rockleigh recently and the difference is like night and day. Those trails are all marked. Frequently. Such a shame.

The Palisades Scenic Byway in Bergen County offers some of the most impressive views New Jersey has…read moreto offer. Situated in the northern section of the Palisades Interstate Parkway just after exit 2 northbound, State Line Overlook is the highest point at an elevation of 532 feet, about half a mile south of the New Jersey-New York state line. This site offers astounding views of the Hudson River and Westchester County from Yonkers to Tarrytown at the Tappan Zee Bridge. The lookout itself is open year-round, from dawn to dusk. Metered parking is in effect at $2.50 per hour on weekends. One could pay at the destinated pay station or parking app. It offers birdwatchers plenty to look at; in particular, the fall months offer a chance to spot hawks and provide access to some of the best hiking, which is where my partner and I came on this beautiful Saturday afternoon. Following the North to Shore Trail, we hiked for about a mile north before ending at the New York border with the NJ boundary stone marker. On our return heading back to the parking lot, we followed trail E, ending up on Old Route 9W. This truly offers an escape from the hectic city life as one hears birds chirping, which we can recommend.

Untermyer Gardens is one of the most beautiful hidden gems in the New York area. The grounds are…read morealways stunning, but they're especially spectacular in September when everything is in full bloom and the gardens are filled with vibrant colors. Admission is completely free, although donations are accepted to help preserve this incredible place--which is amazing considering how well maintained it is. It's the perfect destination to spend about two hours, whether you want to enjoy a peaceful stroll, take plenty of photos, or do a little of both. The breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Palisades make the visit even more memorable. There's also plenty of free parking, which makes getting there easy. The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five is that it can get fairly crowded on beautiful weekends, but it's absolutely worth visiting and returning to throughout the year.

Untermyer Gardens Conservancy is widely celebrated as a breathtaking, 43-acre hidden gem in…read moreYonkers, NY. Visitors like me rave about the stunning, Greco-Persian walled gardens, dramatic Temple of Love, and sweeping Hudson River views, it offers a peaceful, cinematic, and highly rated escape for locals and out-of-state visitors. The landscape perfectly blends ancient-style ruins with vibrant horticulture, resulting in a peaceful, immersive retreat. I like the spectacular architecture, fountains, and beautiful floral arrangements. It is a tranquil escape from the city that delivers immense historical charm. Because the property is a former millionaire's estate undergoing a long-term revitalization, some guests note that portions can feel slightly unkempt or dilapidated. Parking can also become limited on busy, peak-season days. It holds an impressive 4.5+ average rating across travel platforms, with many reviewers calling it a "must-see".

This is a wonderful place to bring the whole family. They have about 12 different trails, all…read moreseparated in different levels of difficulty. The trails are free to enter but they do request for volunteer donation for non members. Different tiers of annul membership available to purchase at main office that comes with some wonderful perks, such as free access to trails and special events. The main office also has some of the exhibition items like insect box and turtle box. Outside the office there's also bird and butterfly cages. We went to the center for our daughter to participate in butterfly feeding event. Upon arrival we found out we had to buy the tickets for one of the two scheduled events. Luckily there were slots available to the second event on the day. The ticket was reasonably cheap, only $8. It also came with an additional bird's exhibition that took place right in front of office deck. All the stuff members were very friendly, informative and interactive. We spent wonderful couple of hours here on beautiful warm summer day.

This place is huge!!!! Visit and buy a membership and go often! The staff is kind, dedicated and…read moreknowledgeable! Sign up for a program or hike today!

I love nature. Anytime we get to enjoy a walk outside in such a natural outdoor setting is a true…read morejoy and a privilege, and this was no different at Closter Nature Centre. It's kinda odd that the park essentially is divided by the one-lane road, so crossing the road was a bit of a hazard but once we were on the other side of the park across the road from the pond, the actual trails began. I believe we walked through the red, white, and orange trails which ended up taking about 30 minutes at most. There was good boardwalk coverage in many of the muckier areas, and although it wasn't exactly lush, the enjoyment of nature was such that I finished the walk feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I hope the nature preserve will be around for many decades.

This was a much bigger nature center than I thought. Several lakes, not just the one in the front…read more Parking, two log cabins, many trails, several bridges, clean paths. Nice place to kayak and fish, too. Free Parking and paper maps available

Tibbetts Brooks Park is a nice park in Yonkers that features a few streams, walking trails and a…read moregreat bathhouse; though, I did not swim on this occasion. My church held its annual family day cookout on a beautiful Saturday morning and afternoon. The park ingress and egress demand good bus drivers at a few tight corners within and just outside the park. Tibbetts has plenty of parking to accommodate a large number of visitors and the bathhouse is as much a draw as the rest of the park. The pool features a few sections with different tiers outside the pool for lounging and families gathering. It's not all concrete, rather many of the lounge areas are covered in AstroTurf, which makes for a more relaxed and comfortable surface upon which to lay towels and blankets. The restrooms are kept clean, but they have a rather heavy duty check-in for access to the bathhouse. They are controlled by park employees and park police. The pool access fee is $12pp for non-Yonkers residents, even if you think you have a different understanding for group access. Many of our church members were turned away, unless they paid the individual fee. The park employees regularly removed the trash in the vicinity of our family day outing and wherever other groups gathered. They are setup well to handle large groups at Tibbetts Brooks Park. 3.8 stars!

Love to walk the trails in this park very picturesque and I feel very safe while doing so. I also…read morebring my pets for walks and they really enjoy the watching the ducks on the pond watching the squirrels and chipmunks play. Great selection of birds for bird watching.

A summer favorite. There is the paved trail that is convenient to walk on or ride your bike. But I…read morelove the long path trail for a nice hike. It's about 2-3 miles total to loop around via long trail. There's lots to do here too. Miniature golf. Pool. Picnic and more. If you want to spend an awesome day in nature Definately give this place a try. Parking is $8. The pool is $20 for the whole day but you cant bring food inside. They do have plenty of food for sale tho.

What a great spot for a day hike. We love going to Tallman because of the diversity in hiking…read moreoptions. Our favorite spots are the picnic areas which offer ample parking, table and grills.

Gorgeous park. I biked here from Bushwick Brooklyn and it was worth the soreness! Absolutely…read moreincredible views of the Hudson River. What a peaceful place to bird watch, relax and get some fresh air. Reading about the history of the site really makes being present on the same land feel quite significant.

Always wondered where people got those super close views of the George Washington Bridge in their…read morereels, and finally found this place! People might get confused by the two names--Palisades Interstate Park and Fort Lee Historic Park--but it's the same location. Parking is metered, and the rates vary by day. On weekends, it's around $2.50/hour. We spent almost 2 hours here, and it was totally worth it. The park is very clean and well maintained. There are several viewpoints where you can enjoy beautiful views of the George Washington Bridge and the Hudson River. There are also a few historical displays that tell the story of the area, which makes the visit even more interesting. There are plenty of benches to sit, relax, and enjoy the scenery. It was peaceful and not too crowded when we visited. On the other side of the park, you'll find old cannons, restored military buildings, and other historic structures from the Revolutionary War period. The views from that side are just as amazing. Overall, it's a great place to spend a couple of hours if you're visiting the Palisades.