This is a great place for birdwatching and sunsets. Entrance was free when I drove through to park…read moreafter 6 pm. Earlier it would have been $20.

Somehow well maintained. Entrance fee per car. See images and videos for reference. Some roads are…read moreunder construction.

Super cute stores and great place to chil by the water. We went by the walk area to see all the…read moreboats it was very cool and tranquil.

A beautiful good vibe small city offers such a wide open easy access Harbor. Food and views are…read more amazing!

Biking around Roosevelt Island was one of the most relaxing and scenic moments of our NYC trip…read more With fewer crowds and wide-open paths, it felt like a world away from the city--even though Manhattan is just across the water. The island is perfect for a leisurely ride: smooth, quiet, and full of stunning views of both the Manhattan and Queens skylines. You can coast past landmarks like the Smallpox Memorial Hospital, Four Freedoms Park, and Southpoint Park, all while soaking in fresh air and river breezes. At the northern tip, we reached the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse--a small but striking structure with over a century of history. Built in 1872, it once guided ships around the treacherous waters near Hell Gate. Now it stands as a peaceful beacon surrounded by water and skyline views. The area around the lighthouse is calm and open, perfect for resting, snapping photos, or just watching the river roll by. Whether you rent bikes or bring your own, biking the island is a beautiful way to slow down and experience a quieter side of New York City--with history, nature, and space to breathe

Roosevelt Island Lighthouse has fascinated me for years. I sit by the East River and take photos of…read moreit. Once when I went to Roosevelt Island I walked to see the lighthouse. It's okay but you can't get close enough to fully enjoy this landmark. I wish they would fix it up and make it a tourist attraction. I want to get close enough to touch and go inside. I'd be glad to pay for the privilege. Maybe the Roosevelt Island residents are tired of us wandering in their neighborhood looking at the many historical places. Personally I can't wait to return to see the changes since my last visit. Sounds like an adventure for a Fall Day. I'd like a travel companion if anyone wants to go!

Driprock Arch connects the area around Wollman Rink with Heckscher Playground and is named for a…read moremassive rock outcrop in the vicinity. I come here a lot. It's a really cool place to visit. I often see a musician here. Something about the arches brings the musicians underneath the arches, other than protecting them from inclement weather! It's a magical enhancement to the sound of their instruments. This arch was built in 1859. Driprock Arch carries Center Drive over what was formerly a bridle path. The bridle path was demolished in the 1930s when Heckscher Playground was expanded. I love the beautiful red brick of this arch. The red brick makes it one of my favorite arches to visit and photograph. I hope you visit too!

Nice little archway. Driprock Arch connects the area around Wollman Rink and Heckscher Playground…read more It's named for a massive rock outcrop in the vicinity. It's a picturesque setting made from mainly red brick and you'll sometimes see a lone musician playing under it . It's a simple but effective structure that carries people ans carriages over what used to be a bridle path.

Looking to take a break amongst the hustle and bustle of NY City.....this is a great area. Various…read moreseating all around. If you're lucky to be there at Christmas, you'll just happen to notice, a rather famous Christmas Tree is in back of the gold sculpture!

A sweet lil chilled spot located right at Rockefellers. This is what I found out about these pretty…read moregardens and fountains.,. The Channel Gardens are a celebrated formal garden where Midtown's architectural grandeur, seasonal artistry, civic elegance, and cultural tradition create one of Rockefeller Center's most enchanting public spaces. Set at the heart of Rockefeller Center between 5th Avenue and the Lower Plaza near 50th Street and just steps from Prometheus, this beautifully landscaped promenade welcomes visitors into a refined sequence of fountains, seasonal floral displays, sculptural plantings, and elegant sightlines leading toward one of New York's most iconic plazas. Symmetrical gardens, flowing water, and meticulously curated horticulture create an atmosphere where nature softens the grand scale of Midtown's Art Deco skyline. Every season transforms the landscape into an entirely new visual experience. The result is an experience defined by landscape excellence, urban beauty, and one of New York City's most beloved garden promenades.

Formerly known as Thomas Paine Park. Named after Thomas Paine (1737-1809) patriot, humanitarian,…read morepolitical visionary and author of a pamphlet "Common Sense," published January 10, 1776. This triangle plaza public space park operated by NYC Parks is located in New York's Civic Center was the site of the most notorious slums in the country: Five Points. (source: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/thomas-paine-park/history) Every time I think of Thomas Paine I think of the 2004 movie "National Treasure" where his pamphlet "Common Sense" was mentioned. This triangle plaza is within vicinity to many historic landmarks State and Federal court buildings. There are park benches for resting in transit of one's travels can intake lunch while waiting for jury duty or awaiting for trial; waiting for disposition of inquest; waiting for Law & Order exterior filming locations NY County Court House at 60 Centre Street; and mindfulness walking in passage of one's travels. A small park, yes. This park does provide a sense of "the calm before the storm" or a moment of solitude during New York's daily grind upheaval.

Thomas Paine Park / Foley Square It's a beautiful park with…read morewater fountain and interesting sculpture near the court house. The court house and the surrounding buildings are all amazing architecture to enjoy. Now has enormous interesting sculptures in the park, come and check them out!

It's the small country that we learned about in grade school that is snugly situated between…read moreSwitzerland and Austria. It doesn't appear to be a major tourist destination. I say that because it wasn't all that busy while we there. It's still an interesting place to visit if you happen to be in the area. We crossed over to Vaduz after visiting Appenzell & St. Gallen earlier that day. Make sure that you check out the Alte Rheinbrücke and the Rhine River before continuing on to Vaduz. It's a cool structure to see along the way. It was a beautiful day to explore the city. We sampled some chocolates at the Läderach shop, and then continued on to the Liechtenstein Center. You'll know you're at that visitor center when you see the red & white umbrella decorations in front of the building. It's a great photo opportunity. This is where you can get your passport stamped for a fee. I guess most people do that here. We were more interested in the model of the castle and the historical landmarks along the main street of Städtle. Honestly, the best part of our visit was lunch at Café-Restaurant Engel. We had the Viennese schnitzel. The restaurant primarily serves Asian food, but the local dishes were actually pretty good. There's also a nice city view from their outdoor balcony terrace. It was a nice lunch! As for the castle... well you can't really go inside it since the Prince still lives there. He only allows limited access (by invitation) to the castle on August 15th during the National Day celebrations. You can take a hike up a mountain to see it, or just view it from below. But hey, we did get a partial view of it from the city. Yay! It was worth visiting for a few hours just to take in the culture and view of the castle from Vaduz. It was a nice visit!

When most people hear of Liechtenstein, they probably think of it as a skippable little area…read morebetween Switzerland, Austria, and Germany - but let me tell you, it is NOT skippable! Liechtenstein has the gorgeous Alps, rolling green hills, delicious food options, and even a castle you can explore, so there's definitely enough to make a stop or stay out of it. We even found a beer that was brewed right there in Vaduz, which was very cool as I like to try the local brews anywhere I travel. If you'll be in one of the neighboring European countries, and traveling around, definitely make a stop in Liechtenstein to check it out even if just for a day or two!

Ridgewood Reservoir use to be a freshwater wetland on the border between Brooklyn and Queens. What…read moreis now the upper area of Highland Park. I either go for a walk or run along the trailway all the time. Just recently after doing some research the 3rd basin used to be Ridgewood Reservoir until 1989 when the reservoir was drained out. One of the many fascinating history of this once Reservoir. There use to be a waterfall. At a certain distance while walking on the trail way you get to see portions of the abandoned and once waterfall. At first you would assume it was used as stairs to get to somewhere down, but nothing like it. I could only image the view. Another fascinating history behind the Ridgewood Reservoir, there used to be a keepers house and guest house. Only a small part of that house remains while the other part is long gone. Not sure if people while out running or just taking a stroll notices these tiny historical fragments distance away. Ridgewood Reservoir is very peaceful, quiet, and very well preserved naturally. If you are the walker type it can take you about 20 minutes to walk Ridgewood Reservoir. For those bike or running enthusiasts less.

One of my good friends who lives in East New York recently told me about this magical place just a…read morefew months ago. While visiting my folks the other day in Fresh Meadows, I decided to bike to the Reservoir and see what all the hype was about. I have friends who live nearby and they are always telling me to visit. While visiting my parents the other day, I borrowed my dads old 79s Italian road bike and went for it. It was about about 8 miles but it was worth it. The reservoir is not to be confused with Highland Park though they are right near each other. If you've ever have noticed a bike path on the right hand side of the Jackie Robinson highway going east bound (nearby exit 2 or 3 perhaps), this it where that leads to. If you're biking like I was, there's a pretty decent amount of bike rack space on both sides of the water. The bike racks are also pretty publicly facing so seemed decently safe to me, as long as you have a decent or good lock. With by bike secured, I was able to walk around and take in the spectacular views of the water while enjoying the sounds of hundreds of singing birds, who too decided to spend the day relaxing by the reservoir. I couldn't help but forgot that I was still technically in New York City. Seriously, it felt like I was somewhere here on Long Island. The best part about this park, is that if you're adventurous, it turns out there are some really cool hidden paths all around. I found one that gave took to this unobstructed and extremely private view of the water. I had the entire one half of the park to myself. It was just me, my thoughts and nature. Bring some binoculars if you have any and go bird watching. I spotted some beautiful Red Robin's and blue jays. If you're ever out this way, I HIGHLY suggest you check this place out.