Outdoor Fun In New York City

New York City is one of the best places to visit almost any time of the year. With the vast array of stores, libraries, parks, historical statues, tours, theaters, and bars, anyone of any age can find something appealing.

Build some family memories with free tours. Big Apple Greeters offers tours, as does the Federal Reserve Bank, Central Park, Grand Central Station, Municipal Arts Society, Grand Central Partnership, Times Square, Lower East Side Talking Street Tours, Brooklyn Brewery, and Trinity Churchyard. There's also the Bob Dylan Tour in Greenwich Village.

If you want to visit the cream of the crop, the Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Park is top-rated. Located at Fordham Road and Bronx River Parkway, the closing hours vary with the seasons. It opens daily at 10 am. This park is the largest metropolitan animal park in the United States of America! (The animals are more active earlier in the day.)

The Bronx Zoo park charges no admission on Wednesdays; otherwise, tickets cost $14 per adult and $10 for kids ages 3 to 12. There's a scenic ride above the zoo that you can purchase for $3. A ground shuttle costs the same price. Car parking is $10.

Have you considered biking? You may want to exercise with scenic outdoor touring, getting up close and personal with New York City in its natural environment. The Brooklyn Greenway offers 40 miles of biking trails. If you want to see the city's seaport, you could tour Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Queens Greenway links 13 city parks.

Make sure that if you do choose biking, you remember that you are there to enjoy your stay. Wear your protective gear, carry a water bottle, and don't bite off more than you can chew!

You can rent a bike at places like the famous Central Park. A helmet and map, locks and ponchos are included with bike rental fees of $20 per 2 hours or $40 for all day rentals.

New York has other outdoor fun such as the summer concerts, which are free in parks around the city. There's an almost endless list of summer music festivals for your vacation enjoyment. Jazz, soul, gospel, orchestras, R & B, and even the live guests of Good Morning America are there to entertain the public.

If you prefer a tamer sort of outdoor fun, try the beautiful botanical gardens of the city. The Old Westbury Gardens has the Charles II style mansion with 18th century furnishing and 50 years worth of fine arts to see. There are formal gardens, tree-lined walks, ponds, and statuary. Family activities and events are scheduled with your admission of $10 per adult, $5 per child ages 6 to 12, and free for those under 6 years. There's a picnic area, café, and handicap accessible provisions.

Maybe you can't resist and want to hop on a trolley while you're on vacation! Tour packages start at $20 and can go up according to how fancy you want your tour. Make sure you check the length of your tour ahead of time to avoid schedule conflicts.

If all else fails to entice you, just sitting on a city bench to watch the foot traffic can be entertaining in itself. All this costs is the price of a drink to keep you hydrated and your time. Even so, you're sure to still find enjoyment.