Manhattan
Bryant Park lets New Yorkers relax in the middle of midtown Manhattan. In summer, crowds attend lunchtime readings and performances of Broadway excerpts, screenings of classic films on Mondays, and even yoga classes. In winter, a skating rink and holiday market are big draws.
Alley Pond Environmental Center
Queens
Nature hikes and birding, lessons in astronomy and geology, art workshops, cross-country skiing and even a tour of a city water tunnel take place at these 700 acres in eastern Queens.