Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
It's just not healthy for humans to go too long without a break from the concrete jungle. New York has some
great parks, but the spaces there tend to be highly cultivated. Our community gardens are nice, too, but they're
small and usually don't let the public in for more than a couple of hours a week. Botanical gardens are the best
way to inhale fresh country air, and they're closer than you might think. Time your visit right, and they're also
completely free.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Fifty-two acres of cherry trees, roses, formal gardens, and ponds in the heart of
Brooklyn is nothing short of a miracle. This is the city's most popular botanic garden and it's spectacular almost
year-round. April to early May are particularly worth noting, with the tulips poking out and the blossoms riot-
ing. Don't miss the Fragrance Garden, designed for the blind, and one of the world's largest collections of bon-
sai. Free tours run on the weekends at 1pm with no reservations necessary, leaving from the brand-new Visitor
Center. When the cherry blossoms are out, there are also free tours as part of the Hanami celebration. Regular
admission is $10, but Tuesdays are free, as are Saturday mornings from 10am to noon. In winter, you can add
Tuesday through Friday to the free list (mid-Nov to early March).
1000 Washington Ave., at Eastern Pkwy., Brooklyn.
718/623-7200.
www.bbg.org
.
Tues-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat-Sun 10am-6pm; closes at 4:30pm
Nov to mid-March. Open Mon holidays, except Labor Day. Subway: 2/3 to Eastern Pkwy./Brooklyn Museum; B/Q to Prospect Park; S to Botanic
Garden.
Parking It
Parks are among the city's best freebies, and we're fortunate to be in an era of expansion. Some 550 acres (!) of new
parkland have opened up along the
piersnearChelsea.
The city did a gorgeous job with these urban beaches, including
planting some actual slender-leaved vegetation called “grass.” Across town, restoration continues on the
EastRiverPark.
When it's finally completed, epic Brooklyn views will complement benches, ball fields, and a wide jogging path. Everyone
knows about the great Manhattan views from the
BrooklynPromenade,
but Queens has an equally impressive skyline
vantage that many New Yorkers have never seen. The
GantryPlazaStatePark
in Long Island City is fitted with piers
that jut out over the East River, facing the U.N. and Empire State Building, standing tall among Midtown's architectural
jumble (and sinks to clean your catch, should you decide to cast a line into the East River). My favorite city spot for breath-
ing country air is actually
Green-WoodCemetery
(
718/768-7300;
www.green-wood.com
), on the south side of Park
Slope. In addition to landscaped hills, venerable trees, glacial ponds, celebrity graves, and Revolutionary War history,
your (free) price of admission also entitles you to the surreal sight of flocks of wild monk parrots, which have infiltrated
the intricate Civil War-era front gate and surrounding grounds. For a dirt cheap meal afterwards, stop by the nearby
Sea
Witch
(
347/ 227-7166
), a neighborhood watering hole with killer cheeseburgers at just $5.50.
New York Botanical Garden
Visions of the Bronx don't conjure up uncut forests, rhododendron valleys, water-
falls, ponds, and wetlands. But for over a century the Bronx has been home to one of America's premier public
gardens. With over 250 acres of rolling hills and landscaped gardens, if it's flora you can probably find it. Ad-
mission to the grounds is $10 ($20 gets you a tram tour and the run of everything), but all day Wednesday and
Saturday morning from 10am to 11am you can get into the grounds for free.
200th St. and Southern Blvd., the Bronx.
718/817-8700.
www.nybg.org
. Tues-Sun and Mon holidays 10am-6pm; closes 5pm mid-Jan through
Feb. Metro North ( 800/METRO-INFO [638-7646] or 212/532-4900) runs from Grand Central Terminal to the New York Botanical Garden station;
it's a 20-min. ride. Subway: B/D/4 to Bedford Park, walk southeast on Bedford Park Blvd. 8 blocks.
Queens Botanical Garden
This little-known park is an oasis in the heart of busy Flushing. Formal gardens are
joined by a 21-acre arboretum, plus rose, bee, and Victorian gardens. A gorgeous new visitor center, complete
with environmentally friendly technology, opened in 2007. Spring is the natural time to visit—the entire garden
is awash with color. Admission is just $4, and that's waived from November through March. During the warmer
months, entry is also free from 3 to 6pm Wednesdays and 4 to 6pm Sundays.
