The East Meadow in the Summer -…read more Green grass, expansive lawns, beautiful trees, families playing with their kids, couples having picnics, friends chatting on benches lining the pathways, and sun worshipers enjoying life. It's a picture of serenity and peace. The East Meadow in the Winter - Barren, snow covered, empty, and dreary. No one around. Blah. I totally like the Summer here much better. Can't wait to bring my blanket along with some snacks here again to decompress on the weekends.

The East Meadow is only a few blocks from my apartment. It's a beautiful section of Central Park…read morewith spacious grassy views. I can sit on a bench and people watch. The trees are beautiful. It's nice to look out and not have a skyscraper looming in your view. If I follow the path I can walk from the East Side of the park to the West Side. Nice straightforward walk passing through East Meadow. I have photos from different seasons. I need to find them and post once more. I'm not sure why the East Meadow listed previously was deleted. If you get to East Harlem near 96-97 Street and Fifth Avenue, enter the park. You'll see the sign for the Meadow. Enjoy the peace, quiet and beautiful views. Hug a Tree!

Located in Palisades Interstate Park just north of the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, Ross…read moreDock Picnic Area is a beautiful waterfront park that juts into the Hudson River. It's a popular spot for both locals and visitors who want to enjoy a day outdoors with a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline. On nice weekends during the warm weather months, it is by far the busiest area in the park. This pristine, sprawling 1000s of acres has boat launching spots with well-maintained restrooms. River breezes are spiced by dozens of barbecues and the happy uproar of families at play; it often fills to capacity by noon. A paved path along the river makes it easy to wander, jog, or push a stroller. More ambitious visitors can link up with longer trails toward the Palisades or up toward the bridge itself. It feels like one's far away from everything even though the city is right there where my partner, his family, and I stopped by, hoping to see the GWB fully lit, two towers with 600-watt LED bulbs, on the eve of America's 250th birthday. We were anticipating to stay a bit longer, but an impending thunderstorm was approaching.

Ross Dock is one of the spots I take visiting friends and family to. It's a waterfront park with…read morepicnic tables, grills, a playground, and stunning views of the George Washington Bridge and NYC skyline. The view is absolutely gorgeous!!! I've lived in this area all of my life and I never get tired of it. Plenty of photo opportunities here. There's grassy areas to host picnics in or play sports. If you want to walk, there's a walkway right along the Hudson River and there's a hiking trail adjacent to it. The trails are all connected to the Palisades Interstate Park. Parking isn't difficult to find here, but it is metered ($1.50 per hour). They also have public restrooms and a seasonal concession stand. There are a lot of geese though so.... watch where you're walking because their droppings are everywhere. Whether you want to hike, relax, take photos, or just enjoy the beautiful scenery, you can't go wrong with coming here. ... and yes, it's doggo friendly! :)

The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center is my favorite Discovery Center to visit with my friends and…read moretheir children. I'm not posting photos inside as I don't like to post photos of children. When my daughter was growing up I enjoyed taking her to the discovery center in any city I lived in. Now I live near this Discovery Center in Central Park. It's a decent walk from my apartment with my friends and their children. First we check online to see the schedule of activity and the hours of operation. With the pandemic going on most activity is remote. Typically there's fun filled educational opportunities for all ages. The atmosphere is always joyful and the employees knowledgeable and helpful. There's not much more to add. I'd advise you plan a visit if you're nearby. This Harlem Meer area of Central Park is one of my favorites. It's the perfect location for a Discovery Center.

This terrific little building that has been restored to it's original state is a wonderful reminder…read moreof what makes Central Park so magical. Situated at the far northern point of the park on the banks of the Harlem Meer this structure hosts some wonderful live music events during the summer season. Having been there on a few occasions it makes for a relaxing time to sit under the shade while listening to world music and local musicians. This educational center is a spot to attend different programs during the year, and you can also rent fishing rods for catch and release fun in the Meer during fishing season. There are plenty of benches and places to sit at to enjoy the view along the Meer and around the center. Decently clean bathrooms can also be found in the Dana Center. Mostly locals come here which is nice as it never seems overly crowded with tourists. It's also close to some great spots to eat a few minutes away up in Harlem.

The rings here for swinging are my kids favorites in the city…read more When the bar is open it's great place for parents as well

As a visitor, I was delighted to find this park on the Upper West Side. It is full of walkable…read morepaths and lots of trees. I love seeing all of the people, dogs, and children basking in this peaceful setting. It is a balm for a bustling world.

I love coming here to walk around or just to enjoy some fresh air on a bench. Park is kept clean. I…read morealso love to take pictures here. I have captured some great shots here

Really awesome park with plenty of parking in the area. Small restaurant next to the large pond…read morein the middle with outdoor seating. Very safe and family friendly neighborhood

An oasis in Morningside Heights which the rest of Manhattan doesn't seem to know about…read more Sitting beside St. John the Divine Cathedral, many folks don't seem to realize that there's a gorgeous, secret garden hiding behind the infamous Peace Fountain. I was on my way to the Cathedral when I suddenly noticed some people walk into this lovely garden.It didn't look private and made a mental note to check it out afterwards. And boy am I glad I did! Scattered with spiritual art and statues (i.e St. Francis of Asissi feeding the birds), take your time to walk around a bit and you'll be rewarded with some very unexpected, pleasant surprises here, especially if you are into spiritual art like I am. I bought my lunch at a nearby market and spent a delightful, hot sticky afternoon, underneath the shade of a cool oak tree, eating my lunch with the soaring spires of the Cathedral in front of me, surrounded by trees, flowering bushes and the sounds of children playing. It is a lovely spot with some great mojo.

Once upon a time, I was working a difficult job and walked city on foot from Downtown to the end of…read moreCentral park and Amsterdam Ave... Tired and wary, I was looking for place to sit and rest. The gates and the greenery caught my eye - but what was beyond those gates was simply incredible... This small area, with unexpected complexity fountain and sculptures - both in central piece, along the edge of the fountain, and on the walls surrounding the area is most beautiful thing I've seen lately. The detailing, the imagination, and just sheer wander of it - is something you rarely find in the city. It's a quiet oasis of wonderful in the middle of hustle and bustle of metropolitan area - and I tip my hat to creativity and beauty of it.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park…read more Great. Free.Great place just walk around and do nothing. You can go all the way to the top and walk the bridge. Waterfall was perfect. Clean place but needs some love. Great place for a picture. Just beautiful. FYI, the show "The Sopranos' was filmed here too. Highly Recommend

The waterfall itself has an impressive amount of water, but everything else was disappointing…read more The biggest issue was the condition of the river. There was floating trash everywhere, a lot of foam on the surface, muddy brown water, and a strong unpleasant smell. Instead of enjoying the scenery, I just wanted to leave. Parking was also difficult, especially during busy hours. I understand this is a historic landmark, but based on my experience, it wasn't worth the drive. The waterfall has potential, but the cleanliness and overall maintenance really need improvement.

Love going for a hike here with the doggies !!! Great elevation and breathtaking views !! Lots of…read moreshade from all the beautiful trees

This review is specifically for the dog park as I've come here twice in the past two months just…read morefor that. I had to meet some family halfway to drop a few items and this park ended up being the halfway for me. It's pretty convenient off of Route 3, and only minutes away from the Garden State Parkway. Additionally, it's only 15 mins or so away from the American Dream mall. The park is huge, most of which I've yet to explore (including the views of the NYC skyline). The dog park is just past the first parking lot (I believe the main lot) you see. You can park on the street (there are two huge spots) right in front of the dog parks or you can park in the parking lot and walk right down the hill towards the dog park. There are two dog parks - one for small dogs and the other for larger dogs. Both look equivalent, except one is obviously bigger. My dog was mostly sniffing the leaves that fell in the fall and perhaps has gotten to the age where he's uninterested in anything outside of sniffing things. For younger, more active dogs, this is a fun place to just play. You can definitely give your dog some good exercise going up and down ladders and such. The people also are pretty nice and the dog park is largely clean. People do pick up their poop, which is very important. This is a pretty good place to let your dog loose for a bit.