Outdoors
in New York City, NY (showing 1 - 14 out of 14)

Take a walk on the wild side as a family at the Bronx Zoo. Around 4,000 animals live here in what is considered to be the nation's largest metropolitan zoo. The 265-acre park is home to a variety of exhibits and attractions that house animals like lions, zebras, tigers, elephants, giraffes and many others.

Stroll through the gardens of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to see over 10,000 species of plant life thriving in the city. The BBG sprawls over 52 acres near the Prospect Heights, Crown Heights and Park Slope neighborhoods. The garden is occupied by the Steinhardt Conservatory where the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum is located. The conservatory features three climate-themed plant pavilions, a white cast-iron and glass aquatic plant house and an art gallery. Fans of flora and fauna will appreciate the attractions in bloom here.

Central Park is one of New York City's best known landmarks, so visiting here with your family should be a shoe-in on your list of attractions to see. The park is home to several man-made lakes and ponds, walking and recreation trails, two ice-skating rinks, a wildlife sanctuary and many other natural amenities. Other must-see sights you can experience as a family include The Belvedere Castle, the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, and the Central Park Zoo.

Get a look at some of nature's most wild creatures in the middle of the Concrete Jungle and explore the attractions at the Central Park Zoo. The zoo provides habitats for animals like lemurs, snow leopards, peacocks, and polar bears. While visiting with the kids, be sure to explore the special area of the zoo made just for them, the Tisch Children's Zoo.

Take an underwater adventure as a family as you explore the attractions at the New York Aquarium. The seaside aquarium is the oldest in the nation and is home to over 350 species, including animals like sharks, sea otters, penguins, sea turtles, sea lions, and octopuses. Some of the exhibitions you'll see are Explore the Shore, Sea Cliffs, Conservation Hall, and Alien Stingers.

The New York Botanical Garden is one of the nation's premier botanical gardens, and a must-see destination for nature lovers in NYC. This outdoor paradise is located in the Bronx Park and showcases over 50 gardens and plant collections, along with some of the world's leading plant laboratories.

When you're checking out the sights of Brooklyn, be sure to spend some time at Prospect Park. The beautiful park occupies 585 acres and boasts a sprawling 90-acre meadow, aptly named Long Meadow, man-made waterways and lakes, the Prospect Park Zoo, a boathouse for Brooklyn's only lake, facilities for a variety of sports and the Prospect Park Bandshell concert venue. Musicians like Modest Mouse, Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan have played at the venue, so keep an eye on the park's calendar because you never know when your favorite singer may take the stage.

The Queens Botanical Garden refers to itself as "a living museum, a collection of gardens for the study, culture, exhibition, and display of plants." Explore this 39-acre botanical oasis of rose, bee, herb and perennial gardens. Among the floral attractions, you'll also see the Visitor & Administration Center, New York City's greenest building.

Wildlife makes its home at the Queens Zoo, and these exhibits are waiting to be explored by you and your family! See wild animals like alligators, bald eagles, cougars, lynx, spectacled bears, and California sea lions – all native to the Americas.

Hit the beach for family time and hang out at Rockaway Beach. Seven playgrounds, volleyball, surfing, swimming and tons of other outdoor activities are options at this beach. When you're enjoying fun in the sun as a family, be sure you all wear sunscreen!

Feast your eyes on a little piece of history at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. This attraction is a collection of architecturally significant buildings from the 19th century and was once a home for sailors. The 83-acre Snug Harbor is comprised of 26 buildings, built in the styles of Greek Revival, Beaux Arts, Italianate and Victorian. This National Historic Landmark District is considered to be the "crown jewel" of Staten Island.

Hang out at the Staten Island Zoo to see cool animal attractions like the Serpentarium, an exhibit that houses one of the nation's largest rattlesnake collections. There are around 858 animals that live at the zoo, including its most famous resident, Staten Island Chuck, the city's official Groundhog Day forecaster.

The High Line is a park on the lower west side of Manhattan. The park is built on a section of the freight railroad that runs 1.45 miles from the Meat Packing District up to 20th Street. After further development, the park will stretch through the neighborhood of Chelsea to the West Side Yard. The park offers attractions and design, garden, family, art and history programs.

Another of New York City's floral oases, Wave Hill is a 28-acre estate in the Bronx committed to celebrating the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscapes and exploring human connection to the natural world. The estate includes a public garden, greenhouse and cultural center. As you explore the attractions throughout area, you'll see a perennial flower garden, the Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory, pergola and vistas of the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades, a wild garden, an aquatic and monocot garden, 10 acres of woodland, and more. The Wave Hill house has been rented by the likes of Theodore Roosevelt and Mark Twain.