Feel Like You Are Outside NYC Without Leaving

Sometimes you just want to get away from all the hustle and bustle, but you can’t. Fret not! There are little hideaways and spots where you can get a little piece of mind and feel like you have stepped away from New York City, without actually leaving the five boroughs.

Hudson River / Battery Park

I didn’t even realize this place existed until 5 years into living in NYC when I started dating a previous boyfriend in the Financial District. He showed me the area, and it was like a whole new world opened up. It remains one of my favorite areas today. Granted, when he first showed me it, there was still a lot of construction, but now it’s a lovely place to walk, run, or picnic with little activities and places to eat along the way.

South Street Seaport

Right before you hit the Staten Island Ferry, there’s a cute little area (that has been blowing up) known as the South Street Seaport. This area is ripe with history, and it feels like you are walking through an old town. Off by the river are some piers with period ships that can be explored. Learn more about the ships here.

Central Park — North

Take a stroll away from the main lawn where everyone seems to congregate (and it can be lots of fun in the summer!), and get into some bush. You can even fire up the grill on these holidays (with special conditions here):

• Memorial Day
• July 4th
• Labor Day

I would suggest getting there early though as many may have the same idea 😉.

The Beach

One of the beauties of NYC is that there is a nice stretch of beach around the corner, further east, where you can relax or take part in various activities. (Talk about surfing lessons, fire island, etc, possibly Coney Island).

• Head over to Coney Island where you can get your fill of rides at Luna Park, view fish at the NY Aquarium, lounge on the beach or eat as many Nathan’s Hotdogs as your stomach can handle.
• Looking to get your surf on, listen to some music and hang on the beach? Rockaway might be for you. I personally prefer this beach over Coney Island because it is less hectic and more clean. It will generally be packed on summer weekends with groups of people tenting out and creating pockets of parties.
• Explore Fort Tilden at Jacob Riis Beach. Technically still a part of the Rockaways, this beach is an old-time favorite of mine to get even further away from the crowds of Coney Island and Far Rockaway. When I had a car in NYC (not an easy feat), it was my preferred beach because there’s a huge parking lot that is just $10/day per regular sized vehicle.
• Other beaches outside NYC, but still reachable, include: Long Beach, Jones Beach, Fire Island, and the Hamptons

Head out on a summer day via train, and you will often see the cars full with aspiring sunbathers touting shades, floppy hats, carrying beach towels, and sometimes coolers filled with their favorite beverages.

Feel like going north? Orchard beach by City Island (see below) could be a great bet.

South? Hello, Jersey shore (don’t let the TV show scare you).

Botanical Garden

I’m a firm believer that greenery is good for the soul. If the concrete jungle gets overwhelming, NYC has botanical gardens to explore in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.

Battery Park

I love running along the river through this area. Sometimes all you need is a view and some space to decompress. There are also a few spots to grab some eats and a cold beverage, if you should please.

Pier A is a fantastic place to do this. At the tip of Manhattan and a wrap-around deck giving amazing, open views, it is a prime spot to camp out with a cold brew. They also have a full menu to choose from, if you are hungry. Word on the street is that their oyster happy hour is a good one.

Further up the Hudson, you can find Brookfield place. Besides being a shopping center with a food court (and sometimes event and activities), it is home to a restaurant on the ground floor called Le District. I love this place because it reminds me of a food market that I went to when I was in Barcelona. Furthering its charm is the open outdoor seating facing the harbor. Take your cushioned spots as the sun goes down. You will feel like you have front row seats.

City Parks

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• Prospect Park
• Pelham Bay Park
• Central Park

City Island

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